halbleiterkörnern

Halbleiterkörnern, a German term, translates to "semiconductor grains" in English. This refers to the small crystalline regions within a polycrystalline semiconductor material. In such materials, the semiconductor is not a single continuous crystal but is composed of numerous individual crystallites, or grains, which are separated by grain boundaries. The properties of polycrystalline semiconductors are significantly influenced by the size, shape, and orientation of these grains, as well as the characteristics of the grain boundaries themselves.

Grain boundaries act as defects within the semiconductor lattice. They can introduce electrical states that trap charge carriers, hindering their movement and reducing the material's conductivity and performance. The density and nature of these grain boundaries are directly related to the grain size. Smaller grains mean a higher density of grain boundaries per unit volume. Consequently, controlling grain size during the manufacturing process is crucial for optimizing the performance of polycrystalline semiconductor devices.

Applications of polycrystalline semiconductors with their inherent halbleiterkörnern are diverse. They are commonly found in thin-film solar cells, where their lower manufacturing cost compared to single-crystal silicon makes them attractive for large-scale energy production. They are also utilized in certain types of transistors, such as those in thin-film transistors (TFTs) used in displays, and in some sensor technologies. The understanding and manipulation of halbleiterkörnern are therefore fundamental to advancing these technologies.