Theory of space charge limited currents

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2012 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.266602· OSTI ID:1047010

Zhang, Xiaoguang ^[1]; Pantelides, Sokrates T. ^[2]

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1. ORNL
2. Vanderbilt University

Space-charge-limited currents are important in energy devices such as solar cells and light-emitting diodes, but the available theory from the 1950's finds it necessary to postulate an exponential density of defect energy levels to match data. Here we revisit the theory and show that this postulate is not warranted. Instead, we demonstrate that dopants and the concomitant Frenkel effect, which have been neglected, control the shape of measured current-voltage characteristics. We also account for the observed peak in the noise power. Finally, the new theory can anchor efforts to develop experimental techniques to measure deep-trap levels.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1047010
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 108, Issue 26; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
DEFECTS
ENERGY LEVELS
SHAPE
SOLAR CELLS
SPACE CHARGE