Chapter 10 The Staebler-Wronski Effect

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the joint discovery of the Staebler–Wronski effect wherein the dark conductivity of a-Si:H can drop by orders of magnitude after prolonged exposure to visible light. The lowered value of dark conductivity persists until the material is heated above 150°C. Evidence is presented that the Fermi level moves close to midgap, which leads to the conclusion that light creates 10 l6 –10 17 new states near the middle of the energy gap. It is demonstrated that the effect is a bulk phenomenon. Extensive measurements lead to the conclusion that, in the temperature dependence of conductivity, the preexponential factor and the activation energy are related by the Meyer–Neldel rule. The Meyer–Neldel rule is also obeyed if the conductivity changes are induced by doping rather than by light. Wronski examines the consequences of light-induced centers on the performance of solar cells.

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