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Journal ArticleDOI

Electrochemical Behavior of Semiconductors under Illumination

01 Nov 1966-Journal of The Electrochemical Society (The Electrochemical Society)-Vol. 113, Iss: 11, pp 1174-1182
TL;DR: In contrast to metals, the average free energy of electrons can be changed in semiconductors to a great extent by illumination Especially the concentration of minority electronic carriers can differ by orders of magnitude from the equilibrium value.
Abstract: In contrast to metals, the average free energy of electrons can be changed in semiconductors to a great extent by illumination Especially the concentration of minority electronic carriers can differ by orders of magnitude from the equilibrium value This has two major effects on electrode processes: (a) change of charge distribution and potential drops in the space charge layer; and (b) variation of the rate of electrode reaction in which minority carriers are involved Some examples are given for those effects at various semiconductors
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