Robert Kasumi 2/4/19

ECE 162 – 061 Lab 3

Lab 3: The Photocell
Experiment: Make measurements of voltage across and current through a photocell. Record
these measurements. Make measurements of voltage and current passing through
a resister for a single voltage setting. Record these measurements.

Purpose: To determine the electrical material properties of the CdS semiconductor in the
photocell.

Theory: This experiment requires the tester to measure voltage across and current through
a photocell. For this lab specifically, voltage is measured in parallel to the
photocell because elements in parallel have the same voltage while current is
measured in series because elements in series have the same current. Using these
values, the tester can determine various material properties of the CdS
I
semiconductor in the photocell such as current density, which is defined as J=
A
, where J is the current density, I is current passing through the photocell, and A is
the cross-sectional area of the photocell. We are also able to measure electric
V
field, which is defined as E= , where E is the electric field strength, V is the
d
voltage across the photocell, and d is the width of the photocell cross-section.
Using charge density and electric field, we can calculate the conductivity of the
J
photocell with the equation σ = . Additionally, the density of free electrons, n,
E
σ
can be calculated with the equation n= , where q is the charge of an electron
qμ
(1.6 • 10-19 C) and μ is the mobility of electrons in the CdS conductor (μ = 2
cm2/V). Finally, the drift velocity can be calculated with the equation υ=μE . All
of these equations are indicative of the material properties of the CdS
photoconductor.

Experimental With the photocell in the dark, apply voltages across the photocell and measure
Method: the corresponding currents. Measure the distance between the electrodes and the
total length of one electrode. The mobility of electrons in this n-type
semiconductor CdS is μ = 2 cm2/V-sec and the thickness of the CdS film is 20
micrometers. Assume conduction through the material is due to electrons alone.
Then, for each I-V reading, calculate the current density, electric field,
conductivity, the density of free electrons and the drift velocity. Use centimeters
in your calculations for length and write your units for each quantity in the table.

Apparatus:
Fig. 1 – A circuit is set up to
measure voltage across a certain
element (in this case, a photocell)
by connecting a voltmeter in
parallel to the photocell.

Fig 2 – A circuit is set up to

 measure current through an element by adding an ammeter in series after the
photocell.

Results:

V J E σ (mA/V- n ν (cm^2/V-
  (Volts) I (mA) (mA/cm^2) (V/cm) cm) (electrons/cm^3) s) thickness (cm)
Test 1 1.307 0.215 107.50 13.07 8.225 2.570E+19 26.14
Test 2 2.092 0.31 155.00 20.92 7.409 2.315E+19 41.84 width (cm)
Test 3 3.044 0.485 242.50 30.44 7.966 2.490E+19 60.88
Test 4 4.027 0.633 316.50 40.27 7.859 2.456E+19 80.54 A (cm^2)
Test 5 5.05 0.69 345.00 50.5 6.832 2.135E+19 101
Test 6 6.03 0.895 447.50 60.3 7.421 2.319E+19 120.6 q (C)
Test 7 7.099 1.026 513.00 70.99 7.226 2.258E+19 141.98
Test 8 8.045 1.151 575.50 80.45 7.154 2.235E+19 160.9 μ (cm^2/V-s)
               

Discussion: Many relationships are made clear by recording tabular data of voltage and
current. As indicated by the table above, there is a linear relationship between
current and charge density, as current increases as does charge density. The linear
relationship between electric field and voltage is also apparent. It is clear that as
voltage increases, as does electric field. Conductivity is a material property that
measures how well electrons can pass through a material, therefore, it should be
constant regardless of the voltage passing through the photocell. As seen in the
table above, conductivity is constant. Additionally, the density of free electrons
passing through the material is inversely related to the voltage passing though the
material. As the voltage across the photocell increased, the density of free
electrons decreased. Finally, the relationship between the drift velocity and the
voltage is also directly correlated. As voltage increases, as does drift velocity.

Conclusions: In taking measurements of voltage passing through a material and current passing
through a material, we are able to determine many electrical material properties of
the material such as conductivity. We are also able to determine the relationships
of these electrical material properties and compare them to the voltage across and
the current passing through the element in question.