ELECTRIC FIELDS IN THIN-FILM DIELECTRICS ON METAL SURFACES

Electrostatic fields in oxides and similar compounds formed on metals by thermal reaction with ambient gases are deduced for the case in which rate is determined by charged-particle diffusion through the compound. Specifically, the limiting case where the macroscopic electrostatic potential leads to a condition approximating local charge neutrality is examined. The position-dependent electric field in the compound leads to an electrostatic potential across the layer which is independent of thickness.