Solid State Devices

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

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

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

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

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

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

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

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

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

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

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

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

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

Summative assessment description

Referral

Referral assessment description

Repeat

Repeat assessment description

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External