ON MECHANICAL CONTACTS TO POROUS SILICON

We have studied the behaviour of mechanical, electrically conductive c ontacts to porous silicon (PS). It has been found that the electrical properties of such contacts depend sensitively on the particular arran gement and the mechanical forces applied. The characteristic differenc es between a fat contact and a contact made by pressing a metallic bal l against PS, as well as irreversible effects due to the crushing of P S are discussed within the frame of a simple model. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.