CHARACTERIZATION AND PROCESSING OF BIPOLAR SEMICONDUCTOR ELECTRODES IN A DUAL ELECTROLYTE CELL

Photoelectrochemical (PEG) processes may be induced at both faces of a bipolar semiconductor electrode without application of metal contacts by using the dual electrolyte arrangement metal/electrolyte 1/semicon ductor/electrolyte 2/metal and by applying a voltage to the end metal electrodes. The possibilities of semiconductor characterization (deter mination of action spectra and doping level) and processing (photoetch ing and metal electrodeposition) are discussed on the basis of model e xperiments, performed with n-InP wafers. The advantages of this approa ch over traditional PEC and electroless techniques are discussed with particular emphasis on etching.