Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 March 2018
The properties and performance of electronic devices are crucially dependent on interface-related phenomena. The presence of interfaces can enable electronic device functionality (p-n diodes, solar cells); alternatively, non-functional interfaces can degrade device performance (ohmic vs. non-ohmic contacts). The most versatile tools for semiconductor interface characterization are ac (impedance spectroscopy, C-V) and dc (I-V) transport measurements. However, due to the lack of spatial resolution, these methods often cannot separate the contributions from electroactive interfaces and contacts. This is especially true for the non-traditional electronic materials such as semiconductive oxides, nitrides, conductive polymers, etc. Combined with the tendency towards miniaturization of electronic devices, this clearly necessitates spatially resolved ac and dc transport measurements.