ohmic contact

electronics

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July 1, 2026

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An ohmic contact in electronics is a type of electrical junction between a metal and a semiconductor that has negligible resistance, regardless of the polarity of the applied voltage. This means the current flow through the contact is directly proportional to the applied voltage, following Ohm's law.1

In contrast, a non-ohmic contact, such as a Schottky diode, exhibits resistance that depends on the applied voltage, allowing current to flow predominantly in one direction. Ohmic contacts are crucial for connecting semiconductor devices and integrated circuits to other components within an electronic system. The term "ohmic" itself refers to electrical resistance that is independent of the applied voltage.12

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semiconductor device
Schottky diode
…a contact is called an ohmic contact. All semiconductor devices as well as integrated circuits need ohmic contacts to make connections to other devices in an electronic system.
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…a contact is called an ohmic contact. All semiconductor devices as well as integrated circuits need ohmic contacts to make connections to other devices in an electronic system.
Read More