In the realm of energy and plasma physics, a recent study has shed light on the interactions between light and semiconducting barrier discharges (SeBDs), potentially opening new avenues for energy applications. The research was conducted by Ayah Soundous Taihi and David Z. Pai, both affiliated with the University of California, Berkeley. Their work was published in the Journal of Applied Physics.
Semiconducting Barrier Discharges (SeBDs) are known for generating uniform ionization waves in air at atmospheric pressure. In this study, the researchers investigated how externally applied irradiation, synchronized with the discharge, can influence the interaction between the plasma and the semiconductor surface. By illuminating the silicon-silicon dioxide (Si-SiO2) interface with nanosecond pulsed irradiation at various wavelengths, the team employed fast imaging, optical emission spectroscopy, and current-voltage measurements to observe the effects.
The researchers found that photoexcitation of charge carriers in silicon enhances plasma emission and increases the reduced electric field, without any detectable change in the electrical energy. The magnitude and thresholds of these responses were found to depend on the wavelength of the irradiation. To explain these observations, the researchers drew a comparison between the SeBD and a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) photodetector. They concluded that the absorption length of the light in silicon plays a crucial role. If carriers are photogenerated within the depletion region at the SiO2-Si interface, they are efficiently separated and undergo impact-ionization amplification. However, if carriers are generated deeper in the silicon bulk, carrier separation is weaker, and free-carrier absorption diminishes the quantum efficiency.
The practical implications of this research for the energy sector are significant. Understanding and controlling the optoelectronic properties of silicon can influence surface ionization waves, which could lead to more efficient and controllable plasma-based energy devices. This could have applications in areas such as plasma-based lighting, surface treatment, and even energy conversion processes. The study provides a deeper insight into the microscopic processes governing plasma-semiconductor coupling, paving the way for innovative energy technologies.
Source: The research was published in the Journal of Applied Physics, titled “Photonic Interactions with Semiconducting Barrier Discharges.”
This article is based on research available at arXiv.