When a p-n junction is illuminated by intense light beam in a condition of band gap energy larger than photon energy, electromotive force is induced across the p-n junction with the polarity opposite to ordinary photo-voltaic effect such as a solar cell. Such an anomalous photovoltaic phenomenon has been explained as optically excited hot carrier-voltaic effect by studying the induced voltage across the p-n junction due to hot carriers excited in electric field parallel to the junction plane. As useful applications of the hot carrier-voltaic effect, high efficiency electron emitter and high sensitivity light detector are proposed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.