The effect of illumination on silver diffusion in Ag-CdS diode structures a
t room temperature was investigated by using radiotracer technique. The eff
ect of photostimulated Ag diffusion in CdS at room temperature (D = 1.2 x 1
0(-11) cm(2) s(-1)) is equivalent to thermal diffusion of silver at about 1
50 degrees C. The influence of silver photodiffusion on electrical, photoel
ectrical and optical characteristics of Ag-CdS diode structures was studied
. A decrease in the photosensitivity, rectifying characteristics of Ag-CdS
diode structures and an increase in the electron concentration in the near-
surface region of the CdS substrate and in the junction width and optical t
ransmission of the structure were discovered after illumination. The possib
le mechanisms of photostimulated silver diffusion in CdS and degradation of
characteristics of Ag-CdS diode structures are considered.