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van der Pauw method for measuring resistivity of a plane sample with distant boundaries
S H N Lim1, D R McKenzie, M M M Bilek
1Applied and Plasma Physics, School of Physics (A28), University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006 New South Wales, Australia. s.lim@physics.usyd.edu.au
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|August 7, 2009
Summary
This study presents a modified van der Pauw method for resistivity measurement, allowing flexible contact placement. The new algorithm ensures accurate resistivity calculations, simplifying measurements and reducing errors for large samples.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Solid State Physics
Background:
- The van der Pauw method is a standard technique for measuring the resistivity of sheet-like samples.
- Precise contact placement at the sample boundary is critical for accuracy in the original method.
- Deviations from ideal contact placement can introduce significant errors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a modified van der Pauw algorithm for resistivity measurement.
- To enable contact placement at a distance from the sample boundary.
- To simplify the experimental procedure and reduce measurement errors.
Main Methods:
- Derivation of a new algorithm based on the van der Pauw principles.
- Theoretical analysis of resistivity calculation with off-boundary contacts.
- Comparison of results with the original van der Pauw method for large samples.
Main Results:
- The derived algorithm accurately measures resistivity with contacts placed away from the boundary.
- For large sample areas, the results are equivalent to the original van der Pauw method.
- The modified technique is practically easier to implement and less sensitive to contact placement errors.
Conclusions:
- The new algorithm offers a practical and accurate alternative for resistivity measurements.
- It overcomes limitations of the original van der Pauw method regarding contact placement.
- This advancement facilitates more reliable and straightforward electrical characterization of materials.
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