Date of Award

12-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering

Department

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

First Advisor

Matthew J. Vincie, PhD

Abstract

This research investigates an approach to improve efficiency of low-cost devices by applying an external arched magnetic field to p-n junction devices to observe the effect such a magnetic field would have on the flow of charge carriers. Electro-optic p-n junction devices of photodiodes and solar cells were designed and fabricated to incorporate the dimensions of commercially available neodymium magnets. The devices were placed in the magnetic fields created by the magnets then current and voltage characteristics were measured via a 4-point probe setup. These measurements were compared to measurements taken from the same devices when not in the magnetics field and analysis was done to determine if the arched magnetic fields make a difference to the current and voltage characteristics. The measured characteristics were used to calculate the sensitivity and efficiency of the devices. Results suggest that the magnetic fields have no effect on the operation of photodiodes when in the reverse bias condition but do have an effect on solar cells in forward bias condition increasing the average efficiency of the solar cells tested between 0.07% to 0.21%.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-ENG-MS-22-D-006

Additional Files
4. SF 298 - Buranich_redact.pdf (44 kB)
SF-298 for AFIT-ENG-MS-22-D-006
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