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Condensed Matter Physics Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Condensed Matter Physics

Modeling The Behavior Of The Graphene To Liquid Interfaces In An Electrolytic Liquid, Caitlin Duffner May 2016

Modeling The Behavior Of The Graphene To Liquid Interfaces In An Electrolytic Liquid, Caitlin Duffner

Senior Theses

Understanding the mechanism for charge transfer between a graphene biosensor and its electrodes within an electrolyte solution is vital to better understand the sources of electrical noise in the system. By measuring the effective resistance and capacitance of the system at different frequencies, it is possible to develop a circuit model of the system's electrical behavior. This model provides a deeper understanding of the fundamental interactions that occur in a top-­gated graphene device and provides opportunities to improve a signal. To reduce noise created at the liquid to graphene interface, a buffer layer of Yttrium Oxide was applied. While the …


Effect Of Electrolyte Concentration On The Capacitance And Mobility Of Graphene, Flint A. Martino May 2016

Effect Of Electrolyte Concentration On The Capacitance And Mobility Of Graphene, Flint A. Martino

Senior Theses

The use of graphene field-effect transistors as a biosensor is increasingly being used to study biological phenomena, due to the sensitivity and low reactivity of graphene. To further improve sensitivity in biological environments, we examined how different salt concentrations affect the mobility of capacitance of the graphene. Samples were also measured after an annealing process. We report on the positive correlation between sensitivity and electrolyte concentration and speculate on methods to improve future detectors. Mobility of the device was found to change from 1.07*103cm2/ (V*s) in de-ionized water to 2.78*103cm2/ (V*s) in …


Reflective Efficiencies Of Materials For Applications Of Bifacial Solar Cells, Michael Metter May 2016

Reflective Efficiencies Of Materials For Applications Of Bifacial Solar Cells, Michael Metter

Senior Theses

The bifacial solar cell is superior to its monofacial predecessor due to its ability to convert both incident light on top and reflected light from below into energy. The scattering of the reflected light is affected by the property of the material on which it is interacting. To date, little work has been contributed to studying the properties of these materials to determine optimal quantities for bifacial solar cells. In the first experiment, reflective efficiencies compared to the angle of reflection were explored for different grit of sandpaper in order to develop an understanding of how surface texture impacts reflectivity. …


Searching To Distinguish Defects And The Presence Of Negative Capacitance, Thaddeus Cox May 2016

Searching To Distinguish Defects And The Presence Of Negative Capacitance, Thaddeus Cox

Senior Theses

In the search for solar cells with lower manufacturing costs, thin film technology was developed. These thin films are only micrometers thick and are grown at relatively low temperatures, resulting in films with imperfections known as defects. Defects can cause thin film solar cells to have lower efficiencies than their single crystalline counterparts. In order to create more efficient thin film solar cells the physical mechanisms behind defects need to be investigated by sensitive techniques. Capacitance measurements of solar cells detect minute changes in charge in the material. For that reason, capacitance is used to electrically characterize the solar cell. …