Measurements of the Field Effect in Amorphous Switching Materials

Abstract

Conductivity modulation was observed in thin films of chalcogenide glass by applying an electric field through the (mica or plastic) substrate. At room temperature, the surface potential could be varied through ± 3kT, the surface being always p type, in agreement with the Seebeck coefficient. Comparison of the field‐effect curves with equilibrium space‐charge theory suggests a bulk density of localized states in the range from 10¹⁹ to 2 × 10²⁰ cm⁻³ eV⁻¹ within ± 0.1 eV of the Fermi level.