Razor blade diode - Revision history

Cornish semiconductor: /* Curve test results */

2026-06-25T16:33:54Z

Curve test results

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:33, 25 June 2026
Line 19:		Line 19:
	[[File:Razor-penstruthal_chalcocite.png]][[File:Razor-prosper_chalcocite.png]]		[[File:Razor-penstruthal_chalcocite.png]][[File:Razor-prosper_chalcocite.png]]

	Two [[chalcocite\|chalcocites]] with very different curves, Penstruthal on the left and Wheal Prosper on the right. I've never seen such an S shaped curve as the Penstruthal one though, chalcocite is a fairly eager semiconductor, so I think ~~must~~ be the response of a point contact formed on each blade.		Two [[chalcocite\|chalcocites]] with very different curves, Penstruthal on the left and Wheal Prosper on the right. I've never seen such an S shaped curve as the Penstruthal one though, chalcocite is a fairly eager semiconductor, so I think may be the response of a point contact formed on each blade.

	[[Category: ACE R&D]]		[[Category: ACE R&D]]

Cornish semiconductor: /* Curve test results */

2026-06-25T16:33:18Z

Curve test results

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:33, 25 June 2026
Line 13:		Line 13:
	[[File:Razor-cassiterite.png]][[File:Razor-arsen.png]]		[[File:Razor-cassiterite.png]][[File:Razor-arsen.png]]

	The curve on the left is [[cassiterite]] which is the best I've seen with this mineral in terms of rectification. I'm wondering if the quite substantial mass of this sample had something to do with this (I'm not splitting this one up into smaller chunks, it's one of the best rocks I've found!). It had very low current flow, as seems usual with this specimen, 20 mV per division on the plot.		The curve on the left is [[cassiterite]] which is the best I've seen with this mineral in terms of rectification. I'm wondering if the quite substantial mass of this sample had something to do with this (I'm not splitting this one up into smaller chunks, it's one of the best rocks I've found!). It had very low current flow, as seems usual with this specimen, 20 mV per division on the plot is much smaller than the others here.

	On the right is [[arsenopyrite]] which is fairly typical, higher resistance with negative biased, but leaky.		On the right is [[arsenopyrite]] which is fairly typical, higher resistance with negative biased, but leaky.

Cornish semiconductor: /* Curve test results */

2026-06-25T16:32:16Z

Curve test results

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:32, 25 June 2026
Line 13:		Line 13:
	[[File:Razor-cassiterite.png]][[File:Razor-arsen.png]]		[[File:Razor-cassiterite.png]][[File:Razor-arsen.png]]

	The curve on the left is [[cassiterite]] which is the best I've seen with this mineral in terms of rectification. I'm wondering if the quite substantial mass of this sample had something to do with this (I'm not splitting this one up into smaller chunks, it's one of the best rocks I've found!). It had very low current flow, as seems usual with this specimen ~~though~~.		The curve on the left is [[cassiterite]] which is the best I've seen with this mineral in terms of rectification. I'm wondering if the quite substantial mass of this sample had something to do with this (I'm not splitting this one up into smaller chunks, it's one of the best rocks I've found!). It had very low current flow, as seems usual with this specimen, 20 mV per division on the plot.

	On the right is [[arsenopyrite]] which is fairly typical, higher resistance with negative biased, but leaky.		On the right is [[arsenopyrite]] which is fairly typical, higher resistance with negative biased, but leaky.

Cornish semiconductor at 16:31, 25 June 2026

2026-06-25T16:31:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:31, 25 June 2026
Line 20:		Line 20:

	Two [[chalcocite\|chalcocites]] with very different curves, Penstruthal on the left and Wheal Prosper on the right. I've never seen such an S shaped curve as the Penstruthal one though, chalcocite is a fairly eager semiconductor, so I think must be the response of a point contact formed on each blade.		Two [[chalcocite\|chalcocites]] with very different curves, Penstruthal on the left and Wheal Prosper on the right. I've never seen such an S shaped curve as the Penstruthal one though, chalcocite is a fairly eager semiconductor, so I think must be the response of a point contact formed on each blade.

			[[Category: ACE R&D]]

Cornish semiconductor: /* Curve test results */

2026-06-25T16:30:36Z

Curve test results

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:30, 25 June 2026
Line 13:		Line 13:
	[[File:Razor-cassiterite.png]][[File:Razor-arsen.png]]		[[File:Razor-cassiterite.png]][[File:Razor-arsen.png]]

	The curve on the left is [[cassiterite]] which is the best I've seen with this mineral in terms of rectification. I'm wondering if the mass of this sample had something to do with this. It had very low current flow, as seems usual with this specimen though.		The curve on the left is [[cassiterite]] which is the best I've seen with this mineral in terms of rectification. I'm wondering if the quite substantial mass of this sample had something to do with this (I'm not splitting this one up into smaller chunks, it's one of the best rocks I've found!). It had very low current flow, as seems usual with this specimen though.

	On the right is [[arsenopyrite]] which is fairly typical, higher resistance with negative biased, but leaky.		On the right is [[arsenopyrite]] which is fairly typical, higher resistance with negative biased, but leaky.

Cornish semiconductor at 16:28, 25 June 2026

2026-06-25T16:28:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:28, 25 June 2026
Line 8:		Line 8:

	Thirdly I realised a big factor is the weight of the specimen - it will need to be just right, unlike the cat's whisker which you can adjust and remains the same regardless of the sample you use.		Thirdly I realised a big factor is the weight of the specimen - it will need to be just right, unlike the cat's whisker which you can adjust and remains the same regardless of the sample you use.

			== Curve test results ==

	[[File:Razor-cassiterite.png]][[File:Razor-arsen.png]]		[[File:Razor-cassiterite.png]][[File:Razor-arsen.png]]

Cornish semiconductor at 16:28, 25 June 2026

2026-06-25T16:28:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:28, 25 June 2026
Line 8:		Line 8:

	Thirdly I realised a big factor is the weight of the specimen - it will need to be just right, unlike the cat's whisker which you can adjust and remains the same regardless of the sample you use.		Thirdly I realised a big factor is the weight of the specimen - it will need to be just right, unlike the cat's whisker which you can adjust and remains the same regardless of the sample you use.

			[[File:Razor-cassiterite.png]][[File:Razor-arsen.png]]

			The curve on the left is [[cassiterite]] which is the best I've seen with this mineral in terms of rectification. I'm wondering if the mass of this sample had something to do with this. It had very low current flow, as seems usual with this specimen though.

			On the right is [[arsenopyrite]] which is fairly typical, higher resistance with negative biased, but leaky.

			[[File:Razor-penstruthal_chalcocite.png]][[File:Razor-prosper_chalcocite.png]]

			Two [[chalcocite\|chalcocites]] with very different curves, Penstruthal on the left and Wheal Prosper on the right. I've never seen such an S shaped curve as the Penstruthal one though, chalcocite is a fairly eager semiconductor, so I think must be the response of a point contact formed on each blade.

Cornish semiconductor: Created page with "right Rediscovering a trick from the old days - instead of using a cat's whisker, you can balance crystals on razor blades to create the point contacts. It works, you need to rotate the crystal around to find a good contact, and it's a bit easier than fiddling with a cat's whisker in some ways. I managed to get some good results in testing but it does have a couple of drawbacks. Firstly it's pretty dangerous! Seco..."

2026-06-25T16:05:52Z

Created page with "500px|right Rediscovering a trick from the old days - instead of using a cat's whisker, you can balance crystals on razor blades to create the point contacts. It works, you need to rotate the crystal around to find a good contact, and it's a bit easier than fiddling with a cat's whisker in some ways. I managed to get some good results in testing but it does have a couple of drawbacks. Firstly it's pretty dangerous! Seco..."

New page

[[File:Razor-main.jpg|500px|right]]

Rediscovering a trick from the old days - instead of using a [[cat's whisker setups|cat's whisker]], you can balance crystals on razor blades to create the point contacts.

It works, you need to rotate the crystal around to find a good contact, and it's a bit easier than fiddling with a cat's whisker in some ways. I managed to get some good results in testing but it does have a couple of drawbacks.

Firstly it's pretty dangerous! Secondly it relies on one side creating the point contact with the other creating the normal ohmic connection. There is nothing stopping it happening in reverse, or both (or neither) so it sort of creates the necessity of more fiddling.

Thirdly I realised a big factor is the weight of the specimen - it will need to be just right, unlike the cat's whisker which you can adjust and remains the same regardless of the sample you use.