Films of catenated phosphorus materials, their preparation and use, and semiconductor and other devices employing them
US5032472A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 13, 1989 |
| Grant date | Jul 16, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 13, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10K71/164
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
High phosphorus polyphosphides, namely MP.sub.x, where M is an alkali metal (Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs) or metals mimicking the bonding behavior of an alkali metal, and x=7 to 15 or very much greater than 15 (new forms of phosphorus) are useful semiconductors in their crystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous forms (boules and films). MP.sub.15 appears to have the best properties and KP.sub.15 is the easier to synthesize. P may include other pnictides as well as other trivalent atomic species. Resistance lowering may be accomplished by doping with Ni, Fe, Cr, and other metals having occupied d or f outer electronic levels; or by incorporation of As and other pnictides. Top contacts forming junction devices doped with Ni and employing Ni as a back contact comprise Cu, Al, Mg, Ni, Au, Ag, and Ti. Photovoltaic, photoresistive, and photoluminescent devices are also disclosed. All semiconductor applications appear feasible. These semiconductors belong to the class of polymer forming, trivalent atomic species forming homatomic, covalent bonds having a coordination number slightly less than 3. The predominant local order appears to be all parallel pentagonal tubes in all forms, including amo…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.