PX3242: Semiconductor Devices and Applications

School Cardiff School of Physics & Astronomy
Department Code PHYSX
Module Code PX3242
External Subject Code 100425
Number of Credits 10
Level L6
Language of Delivery English
Module Leader PROFESSOR Oliver Williams
Semester Spring Semester
Academic Year 2017/8

Outline Description of Module

To establish a framework for understanding of the physics of semiconducting materials.

To develop a basic knowledge of the physics of typical semiconductor devices, as well as some of their practical applications.

On completion of the module a student should be able to

Identify and explain semiconductor devices in everyday use.

Explain and interpret the energy band structure of semiconductors.

Relate the band structures of real semiconductors to their physical properties.

Describe the types of charge carrier, their energies and their spatial distributions in semiconductors and semiconductor devices.

Recall and use the key equations governing device physics and apply these to important systems.

Describe the operating principles of several types of device.

Describe the main processes used in material growth and device fabrication.

How the module will be delivered

Lectures 22 x 1 hr, Exercises.

Skills that will be practised and developed

Problem solving. Investigative skills. Mathematics. Analytical skills.

How the module will be assessed

Examination and Continuous Assessment

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Exam - Spring Semester 80 Semiconductor Devices And Applications 2
Written Assessment 20 Semiconductor Devices And Applications N/A

Syllabus content

Revision: Essential atomic physics.

Electronic properties of semiconductors: Band structure, effective mass, densities of states of bulk material, quantum wells and quantum wires. Fermi distribution and Fermi level.

Intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors: Donor and acceptor impurities, energy band diagrams; generation and recombination.

Transport properties: Drift and mobility; conductivity and resistivity; the Hall effect; diffusion; the continuity equation; minority carrier injection (steady state and transient).

Semiconductor Manufacture: Fabrication of semiconductor wafers; epitaxial growth – MBE and MOVPE; methods of semiconductor device processing.

Semiconductor devices: The P-N junction, metal-semiconductor contacts, photovoltaic solar cells, bipolar transistors, junction and MOS field effect transistors, heterojunctions, transistor amplifiers and switches, micro-electro-mechanical systems.

Background Reading and Resource List

The Physics of Solids, R Turton (Oxford 2010)

Electronic Properties of Materials, L Solymar and D Walsh, (Oxford 1999)

Solid State Physics, 2nd Edition. P Hofmann (Wiley 2012)

Solid State Electronic Devices, B G Streetman and S Banerjee (Prentice Hall 2000)

Semiconductor Devices: Physics and Technology, 3rd edition, S M Sze (Wiley 2013)


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