Title: Effect of the surface recombination and the depletion region on the electron beam induced current at a Schottky nanocontact

Authors: Noura Ounissi; Mohammed Ledra; Nouar Tabet

Addresses: Laboratory of Metallic and Semiconducting Materials (LMSM), Biskra University, BP 145 RP 07000, Biskra, Algeria ' Laboratory of Metallic and Semiconducting Materials (LMSM), Biskra University, BP 145 RP 07000, Biskra, Algeria ' Center of Research Excellences in Renewable Energy, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), 31261 Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: An analysis of the depletion region that is induced in a semiconductor by a circular nano Schottky contact perpendicular to the electron beam is presented. The electron beam induced current (EBIC) collection efficiency η was calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) approach. The nano Schottky of radius rc is surrounded by a zero or an infinite surface recombination velocity (vs = 0 or vs = ∞). The depletion region of the contact has a hemispherical form of radius zD. The EBIC was obtained by simulating the random diffusion and collection of the minority carriers that are generated at point-like sources Si randomly distributed within the generation volume. The profile of the EBIC collection efficiency versus the distance to the nanocontact is obtained. The results show that the values obtained for vs = 0 are greater than those obtained for vs = ∞ and increase with the increase of zD.

Keywords: electron beam induced current; EBIC; Schottky nanocontact; Monte Carlo simulation; MCS; surface recombination; depletion region; semiconductors; nanotechnology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2013.054999

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2013 Vol.6 No.2/3, pp.232 - 238

Published online: 31 Mar 2014 *

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