A critique of a recent thin-film field-effect experiment using detached electrodes

Abstract

As a result of a study of the dc electric field effect on vapor‐deposited metal films using electrodes detached from the substrate, Murr and Singh recently observed no significant effects for fields applied in the plane of the substrate, ranging from 10 to 10³ V/cm. It is demonstrated in the present paper that a linear gradient did not exist during these experiments, and that due to a counteracting influence of the displacement current, the potential gradient at the substrate surface probably approached zero almost instantaneously at elevated substrate temperatures. An analysis of the field conditions attendant to thin‐film field‐effect experiments with detached electrodes indicates that the effect of dc electric fields on nucleation and growth of vapor‐deposited thin films in such an experiment can only be established when the substrate temperature is relatively low.