- UCAS course code
- HHP3
- UCAS institution code
- M20
MEng Mechatronic Engineering with Industrial Experience
Year of entry: 2024
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Course unit details:
Electronic Materials
Unit code | EEEN10021 |
---|---|
Credit rating | 10 |
Unit level | Level 1 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
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
Electrical and thermal conduction
- Drude model (metals and conduction)
- Temperature effects on conduction (conductivity and thermal resistance)
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-type and p-type 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
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
ILO 1 - Calculate electron/hole concentrations and Fermi energy in doped semiconductors.
ILO 2 - Describe the different types of conduction in solids and explain how temperature affects this conduction.
ILO 3 - Sketch energy band diagrams for different types of solids, including n-type and p-type doped semiconductors.
ILO 4 - Explain how a p-n/p-i-n junction operates in forward and reverse bias and describe its applications in MOSFET and BJT devices
ILO 5 - Calculate the built-in potential, depletion width, diffusion current in a pn junction and emitter/base/collector current in a BJT
ILO 6 - Describe different types of solids (metals, semiconductors, insulators), bonding and crystal structure
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: 10%
Tutorial Questions: Activity delivered as part of weekly tutorials:
How and when feedback is provided: 1 week after submission.
Weighting: 10%
Feedback methods
Online Multiple-Choice Quiz: How and when feedback is provided: Immediate via marks on Blackboard.
Coursework: How and when feedback is provided: 2 weeks after submission via marks and feedback comments on Blackboard.
Tutorial Questions: Activity delivered as part of weekly tutorials: How and when feedback is provided: 1 week after submission.
Recommended reading
Principles of electronic materials and devices by Kasap, Safa. McGraw-Hill Education, 2018. ISBN: 9781260547368
Semiconductor devices: physics and technology by Sze, S. M. Wiley, 2013. ISBN: 9781118507445
Fundamentals of modern VLSI devices by Taur, Yuan. Cambridge University Press, 2009. ISBN: 9780521832946
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
---|---|
Lectures | 24 |
Practical classes & workshops | 6 |
Tutorials | 12 |
Independent study hours | |
---|---|
Independent study | 58 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
---|---|
Huanqing Ye | Unit coordinator |
Matthew Halsall | Unit coordinator |