The investigation of surface space-charge properties (charge depletion, accumulation or inversion etc..), defect states (which have a detrimental effect on doping) and electronic properties of  InN-based quantum wells and heterostructures (electronic transport at interfaces, quantum confinement) are among the main objectives of the RAINBOW Project.

Surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS) is a powerful method for obtaining a detailed picture of the electronic structure of surfaces, defects and interfaces [1]. In SPS, changes in band bending (both at the free semiconductor surface and at buried interfaces) are monitored as a function of external illumination. Surface photovoltage spectroscopy can provide detailed, quantitative information on bulk properties (e.g. bandgap and type, minority carrier diffusion length and lifetime) and can be used for a complete construction of surface and interface band diagrams, including the measurement of energy levels in quantum structures. A particular strength is that a comprehensive analysis of surface and bulk defect state distributions and properties is made possible. Measurements using SPS are contactless and non-destructive.

In the present contribution the relevant surface and interface theory, the physical principles of the method and the experimental details will be discussed, together with several applications concerning a wide variety of materials, alloys and low dimensional semiconductor structures.

[1] L Kronik and Y Shapira, Surface photovoltage spectroscopy of semiconductor structures: at the crossroads of physics, chemistry and electrical engineering, Surf. Interface Anal. 2001; 31: 954–965.

• Legal notice:
  

  Copyright (c) Pielaszek Research, all rights reserved.
  The above materials, including auxiliary resources, are subject to Publisher's copyright and the Author(s) intellectual rights. Without limiting Author(s) rights under respective Copyright Transfer Agreement, no part of the above documents may be reproduced without the express written permission of Pielaszek Research, the Publisher. Express permission from the Author(s) is required to use the above materials for academic purposes, such as lectures or scientific presentations.
  In every case, proper references including Author(s) name(s) and URL of this webpage: https://science24.com/paper/21057 must be provided.