Barrierless electrochemical discharge on semiconductor electrodes in the absence of surface states

Hydro-Quebec Institute of Research, Varennes, PQ, Canada.

Abstract

Krishtalik’s ideas on the barrierless electrode reactions on metals have been extended to the case of electrode processes proceeding on semiconductors in the absence of surface states. Electrode kinetic equations appropriate to this situation have been formulated and it has been shown that at the reversible potential the activation energy of a barrierless electrochemical discharge on a semiconductor electrode (in the absence of surface states) must exceed the bandgap value for the latter.