Solid State Devices

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Apply appropriate laboratory techniques to measure semiconductor properties
• Understand the operation of semiconductor devices
• Apply appropriate techniques to solve semiconductor device problems
• Meet this module's contribution to the subject specific practical learning outcomes of ELEC1029
• Use knowledge of physics to understand the behavior of semiconductor devices
• Apply appropriate mathematical techniques to solve semiconductor problems
• Apply appropriate laboratory techniques to measure semiconductor device characteristics

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Understand the physics that influences the presence of charge carriers in a semiconductor
• Calculate voltage and current changes in semiconductor devices
• Understand the nature of semiconducting materials
• Describe the operation of semiconductor devices
• Describe the factors that influence the flow of charge in semiconductors

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Develop understanding of solid state physics
• Develop analytical approaches to understanding semiconductor devices
• Meet this module's contribution to the subject specific intellectual learning outcomes of ELEC1029.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Undertake laboratory experiments
• Meet this module's contribution to the transferable and generic learning outcomes of ELEC1029.
• Complete a formal report on laboratory experiments
• Develop analytical approaches to understanding complex physical systems

SOLID STATE PHYSICS AND SEMICONDUCTORS

• Crystalline and microcrystalline materials, lattices, glasses
• Energy levels, bandgaps, electrons and holes
• Direct and indirect semiconductors (energy-momentum diagrams)
• Carrier concentrations, Fermi Levels and Density of States
• Fields and potentials
• Drift and diffusion currents

PN JUNCTIONS

• Band diagrams
• Poisson’s equation
• The Diode equation
• Junction and depletion capacitance

SOLAR CELLS AND PHOTODIODES

• Absorption and generation
• Device structure
• Device characteristics

BIPOLAR JUNCTION TRANSISTORS

• Band diagram
• Gain derivation

MOSFETS

• Device structure and operation
• Band diagrams: depletion, inversion, accumulation
• The CMOS gate

LEDs and LASER DIODES

• III-V semiconductors
• Device structure

Teaching and learning methods

The tutorial sessions will be used for in-class assignments, feedback sessions and additional tutorials.

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Greg Parker (2004). Introductory Semiconductor Device Physics. IOP.

Streetman, Ben Garland (2000). Solid State Electronic Devices. Prentice Hall.

Neamen (2003). Semiconductor Physics and Devices. McGraw-Hill.

Assessment strategy

The tutorial sessions will be used for in-class assignments, feedback sessions and additional tutorials.

These technical labs consider Semiconductor Spectroscopy and Solar Cells, addressing the above-listed learning outcomes. They are conducted under the umbrella of ELEC1029 but the marks contribute towards this module.

Skills labs are conducted under the umbrella of the zero-credit ELEC1029 module and address its learning outcomes. The marks contribute to a number of ELEC12xx modules, including this one.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External