Dr Henry's research areas of interest are:
- renewable energy for remote locations
- photovoltaic devices as solar cells or position sensitive detectors
- IDEAL House: this is a School based project. More information here.
The projects she offered are listed below.
1) Comparison of Response Times of Schottky barrier Position Sensitive Detectors
Supervisor: J. Henry and J. Livingstone
An important aspect of sensor technology is the response time and frequency response. In this project, the student will be investigating effects of the Schottky metal, substrate resistivity and measurement configuration, among other aspects, on the response time and the frequency response of devices configured as PSDs.
This project would best suit a high achieving, self-motivated student. The project may involve fabrication of devices to be measured, or measurement of devices fabricated previously. A thorough literature review of techniques used to measure device response as well as a review of current PSD response times will also need to be undertaken.
2) MIS Schottky Barrier Solar Cells
Supervisor: J. Henry and J. Livingstone
Schottky barrier solar cells are a straightforward, low temperature method of fabricating inexpensive and reproducible devices. One of the problems with Schottky barrier solar cells is the comparatively high reverse current J0 which results in lower output parameters and efficiencies.
One way to partly counter this problem is to fabricate devices with a thin oxide layer between the Schottky metal and semiconductor. The trade-off with having an oxide layer is the higher series resistance that is encountered. The method of oxide formation will be via thermal or chemical means, or sputtering and thicknesses will be measured via ellipsometer. The effects of oxide thickness and the means by which oxides have been grown, on solar cell parameters such as open circuit voltage, short circuit current, series and shunt resistance as well as diode parameters will be measured.
3) Schottky Barrier photovoltaic devices configured as Position Sensitive Detectors
Position sensitive detectors, or PSDs, comprise an important class of optical sensor, producing an electrical output, either voltage or current, which utilises the lateral photovoltaic effect to give a linear relation between the output and the location of a spot of light impinging on a semiconductor junction. Position sensitive detectors, or PSDs, operate in similar fashion to solar cells except that a lateral photovoltaic effect, where photovoltage is developed along the plane of the junction, is utilised rather than the transverse photovoltaic effect where a photovoltage is developed across the p-n layers of the junction.
Students undertaking this project will fabricate Schottky barrier devices configured as 1 and/or 2-dimensional devices. Some of the aspects to be investigated will be:
• effect of substrate resistivity of response time of devices.
• effects of substrate resistivity on device linearity, reliability and reproducibility
• performance under high intensity LED's of differing peak frequency
• contact configurations
• effects of oxide layer thickness of device parameters
4) IDEAL House: Renewable power options for the IDEAL house
Dr J. Henry and Dr. L. Borle
This project will be based on work started in 2007 to investigate possible, suitable solar power sources for the IDEAL house. In this project, after an investigation of suitable options, it would be expected that the IDEAL house will have a suitable power source implemented. The power output of the solar panels under varying conditions, given the location of the house, will be studied and options exploring storage, power conditioning and other aspects will be investigated. This project would be best suited to a technically able student!
Here is a picture of some of the people involved in the IDEAL House in 2007.
Click here for more information on the group's research programme