
- UCAS course code
- H614
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course unit details:
Electronic Materials
Unit code | EEEN10022 |
---|---|
Credit rating | 10 |
Unit level | Level 1 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
Offered by | Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering |
Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
This course will cover the following topics:
Introduction to nanotechnology and its importance in today’s society
- Elementary Materials Science
- Atomic structure and elementary particles (proton, neutron, electron and photon)
- Bonding and types of solid (e.g. metals, insulators and semiconductors)
- Crystal structure, properties, and impurities/defects
- Thermal effects
- Electrical and thermal conduction
- Drude model (metals and conduction, concept of phonons)
- Temperature effects on conduction (conductivity and thermal resistance)
- Additional extrinsic effects (Hall & Seebeck/Peltier effect)
- Modern Model of Solids
- Band theory of solids (electrons and holes in periodic potentials)
- Effective mass and density of states
- Fermi energy, ionisation potential and work function
- Semiconductors
- Energy diagrams in k-space (direct and indirect bandgaps)
- Conduction in semiconductors (electron/hole populations)
- Intrinsic/Extrinsic semiconductors (n-, p-type, compensation doping)
- Temperature & impurity dependence of conductivity (drift mobility)
- Semiconductor Devices
- p-n, p-i-n junctions (forward/reverse biased, depletion & capacitance)
- Bi-polar and FET devices
- Optical devices (LEDs, PV, …)
Aims
This course unit detail provides the framework for delivery in 2020/21 and may be subject to change due to any additional Covid-19 impact. Please see Blackboard / course unit related emails for any further updates.
The course unit aims to:
- Introduce nanotechnology and its importance in today’s society (e.g. applications in healthcare, security, and energy)
- Introduce basic materials physics and explain how insulating, semiconducting and metallic properties arise in solids.
- Explain how semiconductors can be engineered (e.g. via doping) to exhibit controlled electrical and optical properties within a device.
- Describe the fundamental building blocks and operation of key semiconductor devices (e.g. field effect transistors)
Learning outcomes
On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to: | Developed | Assessed | |
ILO 1 |
| x | x |
ILO 2 |
| x | x |
ILO 3 |
| x | x |
ILO 4 |
| x | x |
ILO 5 |
| x |
|
ILO 6 |
| x | x |
Teaching and learning methods
- Lectures (use of lecture slides to introduce content)
- Interactive online Kahoot multiple-choice quizzes during lectures
- Discussion Forum on Blackboard
- Use of Dashboard during lectures to collect questions and queries (e.g. revision topics to cover)
- Throwable Microphone
- Problem Classes (peer-learning on tutorial-style questions).
Assessment methods
Method | Weight |
---|---|
Other | 20% |
Written exam | 80% |
Online Multiple-Choice Quiz.
Length: 30 Minutes
How and when feedback is provided: Immediate via marks on Blackboard.
Weighting: 0% * forms part of the unseen exam
Coursework: 2 Laboratory Sessions that are assessed by submission of assessment form with key questions based around on lab session and data collected.
Length: 3 Hours
How and when feedback is provided: 2 weeks after submission via marks and feedback comments on Blackboard.
Weighting: 20%
Recommended reading
Principles of Electronic Materials and Devices by S.O.Kasap, 3rd Edition
Semiconductor Devices: Physics and Technology by Sze, 3rd edition
Materials Science for Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Ian Jones,
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
---|---|
Lectures | 24 |
Practical classes & workshops | 6 |
Tutorials | 12 |
Independent study hours | |
---|---|
Independent study | 58 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
---|---|
Jessica Boland | Unit coordinator |