Evaluation of Correct Value of Richardson's Constant by Analyzing the Electrical Behavior of Three Different Diodes at Different Temperatures

Abstract

Various attempts have been made to evaluate the correct value (A*=146 A/cm2.K2) ofRichardson's constant. In 2005 S. Ferrero et al. published their research in which they performedan analysis of electrical characterizations of twenty Ti/4H-SiC(titanium on silicon carbide) Schottkydiodes with the help of thermionic emission theory and evaluated the value of Richardson's constantto be 17±8 A/cm2.K2; which is very low as compared to the theoretical value of 146 A/cm2.K2.Wehave tried in this paper to evaluate the Richardson's constant's value by nearly same experimental tech-niques followed by S. Ferrero et al. and additionally, have applied Tung's theoretical approach whichdeals with the incorrect value of A* in the perspective of Schottky barrier inhomogeneities caused bythe presence of nanometer size low barrier patches present in the uniform high barrier of the Schottkydiode.We have fabricated two Ti/4H-SiC (titanium on silicon carbide) Schottky diodes with differentareas and oneMo/4H-SiC (molybdenumon silicon carbide) Schottky diode. In this paper we have pre-sented a comparative analysis of forward current-voltage characteristics of all three Schottky diodes.In all three cases we were successful in the evaluation of nearly correct value of Richardson's constant.This work emphasizes the effects of differentmetal-SiC combinations and laboratory environments onthe evaluation of Richardson's constant and the effective area involved in the current transport. As pre-dicted by Tung's model the effective area is seen to be substantially different from the geometric areaof the Schottky diode. Evaluated values of A*, with an error of ±2, come out to be 145.39, 148.33and 148.33 A/cm2.K2for Ti/4H-SiC(large area), Mo/4H-SiC and Ti/4H-SiC(small area) Schottkydiodes, respectively.