Fundamentals of Modern VLSI Devices

Chapter 3 covers the basic physics and operation of p−n junctions and Schottky diodes as well as metal−silicon contacts in general. p−n junctions are basic building blocks of bipolar transistors and key components of MOSFETs. Basic knowledge of their characteristics is a prerequisite to further understand the operation of bipolar devices and for designing MOSFETs. And basic knowledge of Schottky diodes is a prerequisite to understand metal−silicon contacts in general and for designing ohmic contacts with low contact resistance. The chapter ends with a discussion of high-field effects in reverse-biased diodes.