Study of Characteristics of Photocurrent Spectra in β‐FeSi₂ Thin Films

The absorption and photocurrent spectra of polycrystalline β‐FeSi₂ thin films are studied in relation with the substrate temperature. The photocurrent spectra involving the fundamental interband, extrinsic defect transitions of β‐FeSi₂, and the intrinsic transitions of Si substrates are observed. These transition energies are in good agreement with the results of absorption measurements. The advantages of photocurrent measurements for studying the energy band structure of β‐FeSi₂ are revealed.