Keithley Offers Webinar on Measuring Electrical Resistivity

Keithley Instruments, which specializes in advanced electrical test instruments and systems, will broadcast a free web-based seminar titled “How to Make Electrical Resistivity Measurements of Bulk Materials: Conductors, Insulators, and Semiconductors” on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010. It will be broadcast at 15:00 CET (9:00 a.m. EST) for the European audience and at 2:00 p.m. EST for the North American audience.

During this one-hour presentation, given by engineer Mary Anne Tupta, participants will learn the fundamentals of making resistivity measurements on bulk materials, as well as the various resistivity methods and techniques used to achieve optimal results. The online event also features an interactive question and answer session. The event is free to the public, but participants must register in advance at www.keithley.com/events/semconfs/webseminars.

Electrical resistivity is a basic material property and is a common electrical measurement. Specific resistivity measurement methods are used depending upon the type of material, whether conductor, insulator or semiconductor. Specific methods include making four-wire resistance measurements of metals, volume and surface resistivity measurements of insulators, and four-point collinear probe and van der Pauw measurement methods of semiconductor materials. In addition to discussing these methods, measurement techniques pertaining to the method are also detailed. Some of the many techniques and sources of error discussed include electrostatic interference and shielding, leakage current and guarding, thermoelectric EMFs and offset compensation, and others. Along with using the proper method and techniques, the appropriate instrumentation must also be used to make the desired measurements.

The seminar is recommended for materials researchers, research labs, physicists, universities and companies that need to test resistivity of their products (solar cells, plastics, paper, tires, semiconductors, etc.)

The seminar will also be archived on Keithley’s website for those unable to attend the original broadcast.

For more information, visit: www.keithley.com