Implications of advanced modeling on the observation of Poole–Frenkel effect saturation

Abstract The implications of a modern model of the Poole–Frenkel (PF) effect on an experimental method for observing PF saturation are investigated. It has previously been shown, using the classical PF model, that I – V curves measured at different temperatures should converge under the conditions of PF effect saturation, and such measurements were presented showing the first observation of saturation. However, saturation is not directly predicted from the classical model. The modern model used in this paper incorporates the Fermi–Dirac function to describe the population of Coulombic traps, and will predict saturation; therefore, the consistency between the modern model and this measurement technique are investigated. This is accomplished by studying the temperature variation of the modern model. We show that the modern model does predict that I – V ( T ) curves will converge at saturation, but this convergence is more complicated than in the classical model. Thus, the effective saturation condition predicted by the modern model is more complicated than the saturation condition usually considered. We discuss the interpretation of saturation measurements in light of the modern model.