Analytical Theory of Thin-Film Schottky Diodes

Thin-film electronics straddles the border between bulk electronics and the quantum realm. Though thin-film devices are increasingly prevalent, our understanding of their operation remains incomplete. Recent research has highlighted inconsistencies between the established theory and practical operation of thin-film Schottky junctions, a key constituent of many electronic devices. In thin-film devices, the entire semiconductor film can be depleted; thus, the standard depletion approximation no longer holds as the boundary conditions of Poisson’s equation are changed. The effects of these changes upon the current through the Schottky diode were investigated using both analytical theory and device simulations, with particular focus on the dependence of the reverse current upon semiconductor thickness. As thin-film electronics is increasingly geared toward the use of disordered materials and low-cost processing, it is of foremost importance to develop a theory of inhomogeneous thin-film Schottky junctions. A ...