| Unit name | Semiconductor Device Physics and Technology |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHYSM0048 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Sarua |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Physics |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Why is this unit important?
Nowadays we cannot imagine our life without advances in computing, communication, energy harvesting and utilisation with minimal impact on the environment via electric cars, smart grids, efficient lighting, etc. At the heart of all these things is semiconductor device physics. You will learn how material properties and physical phenomena are combined to create functional devices and explore their basic functions. Explore building blocks of modern electronic world and principles of semiconductor technology in form of lectures, group discussions and as well as hands on skills in semiconductor device technology. You will be given a chance to create and test your own device in our clean room and reflect on your experience. This unit will be interesting for people who want to continue be creators of modern technological world, but also to promote your general curiosity how these devices are operating and help to use our resources more sustainably and effectively.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This optional Level 7 unit continues development of knowledge skills in the solid-state physics theme across Masters’ programmes in Physics and is aimed to provide context and practical application for various subjects taught in previous years: quantum mechanics, properties of matter, electrodynamics, etc. The unique aspect of this unit is that it combines lectures on semiconductor device physics and practical sessions on device technology, which is not typically offered in the Physics undergraduate programmes elsewhere.
An overview of content:
Aims of the unit is to show how the carrier transport in semiconductors may be exploited to create electronic devices and to explain how they function. To demonstrate the importance of semiconductor devices in real world applications and research. To obtain practical skills and knowledge to pursue career in the areas where familiarity with modern semiconductor device physics and fabrication is beneficial.
Outline syllabus:
Junctions: Intrinsic semiconductors. Doping of semiconductors. Carrier density and mobility. The p-n junction. Band bending. Carrier drift, diffusion, generation and recombination. Shockley equation. Depletion layer capacitance. Reverse breakdown. Transient behaviour. Noise. Heterojunctions. Metal-semiconductor junction. Ohmic and Schottky contacts.
Optoelectronics: Optical properties of semiconductors. Quantum wells. Quantum dots. Carrier confinement. Light confinement. Homojunction and heterojunction LEDs. Internal loss mechanisms. Light output characteristics. Wall-plug-efficiency. Semiconductor laser diodes: Stimulated emission. Gain. Threshold current. Double heterostructure laser diode, Separate confinement heterostructure laser diode, Vertical cavity surface emitting laser. Solar cells and photodiodes.
Transistors: Principles of bipolar transistor and field effect transistor (FET). BJTs, JFETs, MESFETs, MOSFETs and HEMTs. Static characteristic. Switching. Simple applications: RF and power devices. Transfer electron devices: Gunn diode. The 2D electron gas. The quantum Hall effect.
Device technology and reliability: Basic concepts. Device fabrication: bulk and epitaxial growth, layer deposition, lithography, etching. Semiconductor device testing and reliability.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit:
At the end of the course a successful student will be able to: Have a good command of the theory, language and practical skills in the semiconductor device physics and have awareness of practical skills involved in modern semiconductor device manufacturing and testing. Able to represent band profiles for charge carriers at semiconductor-semiconductor and metal-semiconductor junctions. Able to explain I-V characteristics for semiconductor junctions and simple devices: optoelectronic and electronic. Able to explain working of simple opto- and electronic devices. Be aware of physical background and basic semiconductor technology used to grow, fabricate and test semiconductor devices.
Learning outcomes:
Able to synthesise the knowledge beyond basic concepts and put this in the context of real-world applications. Have skills and knowledge to facilitate further learning and career in the field covered by the content. Improve your group working and communication skills and awareness of science and technology impact on the society.
The learning is achieved via combination of
Assessment on the unit
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Problem sheets and workshops provide formative feedback
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
2 hour written examination (80%). Compulsory practical sessions are assessed via group reflective report and peer assessed presentation (20%).
When assessment does not go to plan:
Supplementary examination (100%)
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PHYSM0048).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
