Term: space charge https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S05776 Definition: At the surface region of a semiconductor the surface excess or deficiency of electrons constitutes a space charge. Related Terms: 1) surface region (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S06187). 2) surface excess (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S06171). 3) semiconductor (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S05591). Source: PAC, 1986, 58, 437. 'Interphases in systems of conducting phases (Recommendations 1985)' on page 443 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac198658030437) Citation: 'space charge' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S05776 License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms. Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.