The high field electrical conduction of β rhombohedral boron measured by a single voltage pulse

Abstract

The current-voltage characteristics of a β rhombohedral boron crystal (Wacker-Chemie) were measured between 96 and 294 K with a single voltage pulse. It seems that the measurement with a single pulse can reduce the build-up of space charge, because switching phenomena were not observed until 60 kV cm −1, at which field a discharge along the surface took place. From 1 to 60 kV cm −1 only non-ohmic currents were observed over the whole temperature range. At low temperatures the conduction may be explained by an activationless hopping mechanism at high electric fields.