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From generating electrical power and radio communications to forming part of thermal and optoelectronic sensors, photovoltaic (solar) cells, lighting, and display devices (such as computer and mobile screens). These are just some vital roles of semiconductor diodes.

Semiconductors are essential for the functioning of the electronic devices we use in our day-to-day lives.

Practical two-terminal electronic devices called heterojunction semiconductor diodes are created by adding specific wires to a given semiconductor or an array of semiconductors. The contact between a metal and a semiconductor SC often forms a Schottky junction, named after the German physicist Walter Schottky, who first studied it in detail in the early 19th Century.

Bridging the gap in semiconductor diode parameters

Despite significant advancements in the field leading to our current understanding, Schottky junctions remain incompletely understood. Identifying a gap in the most common methods of extracting parameters of experimental Schottky diodes, the newly introduced Ocaya-Yakuphanoglu (OY) method outperforms existing methods by simplifying the description of complex devices and making parameter extraction a trivial exercise.

The method is named after Prof Richard Ocaya, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics on the Qwaqwa Campus. The OY method is a generalised method proposed in 2021 for analysing the Schottky diode equation within the thermionic emission model in the presence of appreciable series resistance, with the express purpose of extracting the parameters of the diode. The method is applicable to metal-semiconductor, metal-semiconductor-metal, and metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) diodes.

Prof Ocaya’s book a standardised point of reference in the field of semiconductor research

Prof Ocaya’s new book, titled Extraction of Semiconductor Diode Parameters: A Comparative Review of Methods and Materials, presents a comprehensive treatise on the extraction of semiconductor diode parameters using various methods.

“This book is inspired by three primary goals: firstly, surveying in one place all contemporary used extraction methods, contrasting their strengths and shortcomings; secondly, highlighting recent contributions to extraction methods, particularly introducing the innovative unifying OY method; and finally, discussing the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques for expeditious parameter extraction.

By bringing these methods together in one place, this book provides a much-needed standardised point of reference for the field, making the book a central hub for comparatively reviewing methods used for device characterisation and providing a rich description of current developments in the field.

“With its thorough coverage and critical analysis, this book fills a large void in the field of semiconductor device characterisation, lending itself as a valuable resource for practising microdevice engineers, researchers, postdocs, students, and lecturers who want to optimise the understanding and use of semiconductor diodes in our ever-evolving field. My interest in semiconductors was sparked as a precocious eight-year-old building crystal radio sets to detect AM radio signals. As my circuit-building abilities grew, so did my understanding of the theory of electronic devices. Few people today can say that their hobby has become their career. I am doing everything to encourage young children to follow this rewarding path,” he said.