Influence of ambient on conductivity and 1/f noise in Si nanowire arrays

The conductivity and low frequency noise of n-and p-type Si nanowire arrays are measured in humid and dry environments. It was found that the conductivity increases for both n- and p-type arrays in a humid environment. The low frequency noise characteristics indicate a change in the carrier transport process from noise governed by trapping processes at the interface in a humid environment to noise governed by inhomogeneity in the Schottky barrier contacts in a dry environment.