mercury probe

**Mercury Probe** is a **contact-based technique that uses liquid mercury to form a temporary Schottky or MOS contact for electrical characterization** — enabling C-V and I-V measurements without permanent metallization, useful for rapid material screening. **How Does the Mercury Probe Work?** - **Mercury Contact**: A controlled volume of mercury is raised against the sample surface, forming a dot contact. - **Schottky Contact**: On semiconductors, Hg forms a Schottky barrier for C-V, I-V, and DLTS. - **MOS Structure**: On oxidized surfaces, Hg/oxide/Si forms a temporary MOS capacitor for C-V analysis. - **Removal**: Mercury is retracted after measurement — no permanent alteration of the sample. **Why It Matters** - **No Processing**: Measures electrical properties without any lithography or deposition. - **Quick Feedback**: Rapid C-V or I-V measurement for wafer acceptance and material qualification. - **Limitation**: Mercury is toxic — modern labs increasingly use corona-Kelvin or non-contact alternatives. **Mercury Probe** is **the instant electrode** — using liquid mercury to create temporary contacts for quick electrical characterization.