A semiconductor diode formed by contact between a semiconductor layer and a metal coating; it has a nonlinear rectifying characteristic; hot carriers (electrons for n-type material or holes for p-type material) are emitted from the Schottky barrier of the semiconductor and move to the metal coating that is the diode base; since majority carriers predominate, there is essentially no injection or storage of minority carriers to limit switching speeds. Also known as hot-carrier diode; Schottky diode.