We have reported a study of the I–V characteristics of
Ni/n-GaAs Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) in a wide temperature range of
60–320 K by a step of 20 K, which are prepared by magnetron DC sputtering.
The experimental I–V data of the device quite well obey the thermionic emission
model at 300 and 320 K, respectively. The ideality factor and barrier height
values have changed by change of the sample temperature, the case has been
attributed to the presence of the lateral inhomogeneities of the barrier
height. The barrier inhomogeneity has been explained by the Gaussian
distribution models of barrier heights suggested by some authors, Y.-L. Jiang et al. [Chin. Phys. Lett. 19, 553 (2002)]; Y.-L.
Jiang et al. [J. Appl. Phys. 93, 866 (2003)], and S. Chand, J. Kumar [Appl. Phys. A 65, 497 (1997)]. It has been seen that the SBH
inhomogeneity of our Ni/n-GaAs SBD can be well described by Gaussian
distribution model suggested by Y.-L. Jiang et al. [Chin. Phys. Lett. 19, 553 (2002)]; Y.-L. Jiang et al. [J. Appl. Phys.
93, 866 (2003)] over whole
measurement temperature range. Moreover, the modified ln($I_{0}/T ^{2}$)
versus $1/k(T+T_0^\ast)$ plot is obtained using a method developed for
T0 anomaly in the literature. Richardson constant value of 3.37 A cm-2 K-2 for n-type GaAs was obtained from the modified Richardson
plot.