Schottky CdTe nuclear detectors are affected by bias-induced polarization phenomena when operating at room temperature. A space charge buildup occurs at the blocking contact causing the degradation in detection performance. By means of Pockels effect, we study the electric field distribution inside the detector and its variation with time and temperature. The analysis of the space charge has allowed us to point out the role of the Schottky contact and of carrier detrapping from deep levels in the polarization mechanism. Moreover, measured current transients have been quantitatively accounted for by the increase in the electric field at the blocking junction.

Experimental photoresponses and electrical characteristics of metal/ beta -FeSi₂/Si structures are presented. Three kinds of samples are compared: two with a thin epitaxial silicide layer (180 AA), prepared by two different methods, and one with a thick polycrystalline silicide layer (2500 AA). The rectifying behaviour and the photoelectric response of the three kinds of samples are different. In the thin samples these properties are governed by those of the beta -FeSi₂/Si interface, whereas for thick samples bulk mechanisms dominate. Analysis of the photocurrent in one kind of thin sample shows that two contributions exist. Their intensities follow similar temperature behaviours but the two transition thresholds do not. These considerations allow assignment of the initial and final states of the transitions, and the upper threshold is shown to correspond to an internal photoemission effect at the beta -FeSi₂/Si interface. The conduction band offset is deduced from the difference between the two thresholds. The valence band discontinuity is less than 50 meV between 360 K and 260 K, whereas it changes sign when the temperature decreases below 260 K, the two bandgaps becoming nested within each other. These properties are also discussed for the other kinds of sample and related to the mechanisms which are responsible for the electrical characteristics.

We investigate the photodetection properties of individual core/shell GaAs/AlGaAs nanowires (NWs) and, in particular, their behavior under linearly polarized light. The NWs are grown by Au-assisted metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy and electrical contacts are defined on NWs by electron beam induced deposition. The spectral photocurrent of the single NW is measured and the dependence of the polarization anisotropy ρ (varying from ∼0.1 to ∼0.55) on the absorption wavelength is found to be clearly affected by the core/shell structure. High quantum efficiency values (10% at 600 nm) are obtained which are attractive for a wide range of optoelectronic devices.

Schottky CdTe X-ray detectors exhibit excellent spectroscopic performance but suffer from instabilities. Hence it is of extreme relevance to investigate their electrical properties. A systematic study of the electric field distribution and the current flowing in such detectors under optical perturbations is presented here. The detector response is explored by varying experimental parameters, such as voltage, temperature, and radiation wavelength. The strongest perturbation is observed under 850 nm irradiation, bulk carrier recombination becoming effective there. Cathode and anode irradiations evidence the crucial role of the contacts, the cathode being Ohmic and the anode blocking. In particular, under irradiation of the cathode, charge injection occurs and peculiar kinks, typical of trap filling, are observed both in the current-voltage characteristic and during transients. The simultaneous access to the electric field and the current highlights the correlation between free and fixed charges, and unveils carrier transport/collection mechanisms otherwise hidden.

Moderation of internal quantum mechanical energies, such as exchange energy of an unconventional contact, comprised of a system of 2-D charge carriers, improves performance merits of variable capacitors, varactors, mainly in tuning ratio (TR), and sensitivity, S. Energy transfer from the unconventional contact to the dielectric increases the energy density and enhances the capacitance of the varactor. Here, we analyze the performance of an unconventional varactor based on a planar metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) structure with an embedded layer of high-density 2-D electron gas (2DEG). Through localized field-assisted manipulation of the 2DEG density, a twice larger equilibrium capacitance and a minimum capacitance, less than the geometric capacitance of a conventional MSM, are achieved. Moreover, the maximum capacitance increases through a Batman-shaped capacitance enhancement at a threshold voltage. Therefore, giant is attained while maintaining quality factors of up to 30. Capacitance-voltage characteristics exhibit a switched-capacitor behavior with S as high as 350 that is due to localized transitions from a dense 2DEG to a complete depletion. This MSM 2-D varactor combines the unconventional features of 2DEG with superior electrical properties of MSMs.

The electron cloud that is formed in the narrow gap material in a modulation-doped heterostructure affects the Schottky contact made to the wide gap material. It also influences absorption and collection of the optically generated carriers. Photocurrent spectra, current–voltage, and current–temperature measurements show that the increase in electron cloud density decreases dark current flow while increasing photoresponsivity. We propose that the Coulombic interaction between the confined electron cloud and the emitted electrons from metal to the wide gap material increases the barrier height. The electric field in the direction of growth due to modulation doping accounts for the increase in photoelectron collection efficiency. Implementation of this effect increases efficiency of photodetectors while, simultaneously, reducing the noise due to dark current.