Patent ID: 8053783
Filing Date: 2011-11-08
Classification: H01L,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A switching device comprising: a diamond body; at least one first metal contact in electrical contact to the diamond body, said first metal contact being a Schottky contact that is arranged to form a depletion region in an adjacent region of the diamond body when held in reverse bias by an applied voltage to be switched; at least one second metal contact in electrical contact to the diamond body arranged to carry a current from the switching device; and illuminating or irradiation means arranged to illuminate or irradiate the depletion region in the diamond body adjacent to the Schottky contact, thereby to commence generation of carriers that are capable of carrying a current in an avalanche mode, wherein the diamond body includes a portion of intrinsic diamond in contact with the at least one first metal contact, the intrinsic diamond including levels of impurities sufficiently low that the electronic properties are dominated by intrinsic carriers, which carriers have high carrier mobilities and lifetimes, and wherein the switching device is configured to hold the Schottky contact in reverse bias at a voltage close to an avalanche breakdown voltage and the illuminating or irradiating the depletion region is sufficient to push the switching device into assisted avalanche breakdown.