LIGHT-TO-ELECTRIC ENERGY CONVERTER BUILT AROUND HOT BALLISTIC CARRIERS Russian patent published in 1999 - IPC

FIELD: light-to- electricity conversion. SUBSTANCE: converter has electrodes 4, 5, first and second extreme photosensitive semiconductor layers 1, 3 of reverse polarity of conductivity contacting them, and intermediate semiconductor transport element 2 placed in- between in proportion complying with equations E_g2< E_g3, E_g1< E_g3, α₂d₂< 0,1, l₂> d₂ and one of equations E_c1-E_c2≥ 0, E_v1-E_v2≥ 0, first one being used to form p-type layer 1 and n- type layer 3; other equation is employed to form layers whose polarity of conductivity is reverse to that above-mentioned. In these equations E_g1, E_g3, E_g2 are widths of forbidden gaps of layers 1, 3, and layer of intermediate element 2, respectively; E_c1 and E_c2 are electron energies at bottom of conduction band of layer 1 and layer of intermediate element 2, respectively; E_v1 and E_v2 are energies of holes at ceiling of valence band of same layers, respectively; α₂d₂ is, respectively, coefficient of light absorption in layer material of intermediate element 2 and thickness of this layer; l₂ is free path length of carriers in it. EFFECT: increased short-circuit current due to additional generation of electron-hole pairs under shock ionization conditions. 11 cl, 3 dwg, 1 ex