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A p-n junction is formed when p-type and n-type semiconductor materials are joined together. At the interface of the p-n junction, holes from the p-side and electrons from the n-side begin to diffuse into the opposite sides due to the concentration gradient. This diffusion of carriers leads to a region around the junction where there are no free charge carriers, known as the depletion region. The charge density within the depletion region for the n-side and p-side can be described by the...
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Alternating Current Photovoltaic Effect.

Haiyang Zou1, Guozhang Dai1, Aurelia Chi Wang1

  • 1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0245, USA.

Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|February 4, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

A new alternating current (AC) photovoltaic effect generates power when light periodically illuminates semiconductor junctions. This AC effect, distinct from direct current (DC) generation, offers potential for sensitive photodetectors and novel power sources.

Keywords:
AC photovoltaic effectalternating currentexcessive carriersnonthermal equilibrium statephotovoltaic effectquasi-Fermi levels

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Area of Science:

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Materials Science
  • Photovoltaics

Background:

  • The conventional photovoltaic effect generates direct current (DC) via charge carrier separation at p-n junctions under solar illumination.
  • Established photovoltaic mechanisms do not account for alternating current (AC) generation in semiconductor junctions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize a novel photovoltaic effect generating alternating current (AC).
  • To explore the potential applications of this AC photovoltaic effect in optoelectronic devices.

Main Methods:

  • Investigation of photovoltaic responses under periodically modulated illumination at material junctions/interfaces.
  • Analysis of charge carrier dynamics and energy level shifts under non-equilibrium conditions.
  • Characterization of device performance as a photodetector and power source.

Main Results:

  • Discovery of a new AC photovoltaic effect occurring in non-equilibrium states under periodic illumination.
  • Observed AC peak currents at high switching frequencies exceeding conventional DC photovoltaic currents.
  • Attributed AC generation to the relative shift and realignment of quasi-Fermi levels at the junction/interface.

Conclusions:

  • The novel AC photovoltaic effect provides a new mechanism for light-induced current generation.
  • Devices utilizing this effect demonstrate high-performance broadband photodetector capabilities with high sensitivity.
  • This effect enables devices to function as supplementary remote power sources.