Search

Measuring low electrical currents with high precision is critical across various fields, particularly in applications like microfluidic biosensing. Traditional digital multimeters (DMMs) are inadequate for low current measurements due to their high input burden and limited resolution. Therefore, more sensitive instruments like electrometers and picoammeters are often required but are typically expensive. This thesis explores the design and construction of a cost-effective, portable, and user-friendly picoammeter based on a transimpedance amplifier (TIA), capable of measuring currents in the picoampere (pA) range with a resolution of 1-5 pA and minimal noise. The constructed picoammeter has a maximum input current range of ±1.5 nA. A prototype was built on a soldering board to validate the design, which was then translated into a practical printed circuit board (PCB) layout. The device is powered by batteries to ensure low noise levels and enable isolated operation. An Arduino microcontroller was used to interface with the circuit, manage data acquisition, and enable real-time visualisation of the measured current data on a computer. Simulation results confirmed the theoretical performance of the circuit, and experimental validation showed RMS noise levels of less than 0.3 pA under controlled conditions and up to 3 pA when measuring streaming currents from a microchip. Despite a slight underestimation of input currents due to resistor tolerances, calibration adjustments successfully corrected these discrepancies. The total cost of the materials used in constructing the picoammeter was significantly less than the cost of commercially available devices. While commercial devices offer higher precision and additional functionalities, the developed picoammeter demonstrates how application-focused solutions can provide comparable accuracy and noise characteristics to commercial devices for a fraction of the price.

The need to accurately measure multi-junction (MJ) tandem solar cells' subcell current-voltage characteristics is increasing due to the vital information they provide about the efficiency, stability, and longevity of the cells. These measurements are rather difficult compared to their counterpart single-layer solar cell measurements. The purpose of this project is to construct an instrument that is able to successfully bias multiple subcells in a tandem solar cell. This would allow accurate measurements of the J-V behaviours of individual subcells within the stack and by extent, allow analysis to optimise future tandem cell technology. The instrument made is a controllable multi-chromatic light-emitting diode array, consisting of six wavelength-different LEDs ranging between ultraviolet and infrared light, which the intensity of is controlled bya slider control Graphical User Interface (GUI). This instrument will bemounted on a laboratory station at the institution of solar cell technology, Ångström laboratory. Although not perfect, the instrumentcan provide sufficient background light for biasing subcells of an MJ solar cell for a wide selection of cell band gaps