The fact that the Meyer–Neldel rule is obeyed in many liquid semiconductors has led to the examination of its origin. An explanation based on a statistical shift of the Fermi energy with temperature is shown to be unrealistic. Multiphonon hopping is suggested as an explanation of the temperature and composition dependence of the electrical conductivity. This mechanism has the advantage of being universally valid for amorphous, crystalline, and liquid semiconductors.

Topics
Electrical conductivity, Semiconductors
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© 1995 American Institute of Physics.
1995
American Institute of Physics
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