T. Piotrowski et S. Sikorski, Photovoltaic effects in an inhomogeneous semiconductor with position-dependent temperature, SEMIC SCI T, 16(9), 2001, pp. 750-758
The theory and quantitative analysis of photovoltaic effects in an inhomoge
neous semiconductor with a position-dependent energy gap in the presence of
a temperature gradient are presented. Transport equations based on the the
rmodynamics of irreversible processes are used to develop the theory. The t
ransformation of the initial equations and suitable assumption led to a for
mula revealing and arranging all photovoltaic effects occurring in a semico
nductor. Four effects: the bulk photovoltaic Tauc effect; the mobility posi
tion-dependence photovoltaic effect; the thermophotovoltaic effect; and the
classical Seebeck thermoelectric effect are revealed. Quantitative relatio
ns between particular effects and factors determining their significance ar
e shown by means of numerical analysis and suitable diagrams.