Space Charge Layers in Semiconducting Ceramic Materials

The chapter begins with a review of space charge models, and how standard assumptions must be modified to address shrinkage in dimensions to the nanoscale. 

semiconducting materials are considered, with treatment later extended to include MIEC materials. These models are examined in the context of examples drawn from relevant technologies, including SOFCs, lithium batteries, solar cells, and gas sensors. Finally, promising areas for future research are suggested. 

Space Charge Layers in Semiconducting Ceramic Materials 

There are various driving forces that result in the formation of space charge across surfaces or interfaces. Perhaps the simplest example is the case of a Schottky diode that is formed from a metal-semiconductor heterojunction. For an ideal metal-semiconductor contact, the height of the potential barrier is given by 

Space charge potentials also arise due to inhomogeneities that occur within a single material, as is the case of p-n junctions in single crystalline materials. The so alled built-in potential () (,( of a p-n junction is given by [9]  

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