Non-equilibrium thermodynamics of thermionic emission processes in abrupt semiconductor junctions, including the effects of surface states

TL;DR

This paper applies non-equilibrium thermodynamics to model thermionic emission in abrupt semiconductor junctions, accounting for surface states and various system conditions, providing a comprehensive phenomenological framework.

Contribution

It introduces a complete phenomenological model for thermionic emission processes at semiconductor interfaces, including surface states, surpassing limitations of previous models.

Findings

Model covers unipolar and bipolar systems, degenerate or not.

Includes steady and non-steady conditions.

Accounts for effects of surface states on emission processes.

Abstract

The methods of non-equilibrium thermodynamics of systems with an interface have been applied to the study of thermionic emission processes in abrupt semiconductor junctions, including the effects of surface states . Our analysis covers different situations of interest, concerning unipolar and bipolar systems, either degenerate or not, with or without interface states and under steady and non-steady conditions. In this way, a complete phenomenological modelling of thermionic emission-interface states processes has been proposed, overcoming some of the inherent limititations of the currently existing models.