Module overview
This module will be first offered in the 2018/19 academic year.
To introduce advanced semiconductor devices and to develop a detailed understanding of the design, operating mechanisms and fabrication technology of semiconductor electronic and optoelectronic devices.
Field effect technology can be utilised as solid-state chemical sensors, the most common sensor being the ion selective field effect transistor (ISFET). The module will explain the principle of operation of these sensors including the physical chemistry of the electrode-electrolyte interface, and the reference electrodes. An ISFET pH sensor will be investigated during a laboratory exercise and the module will conclude with a discussion of the applications of these sensors in medicine.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Characterise the pH and ion selectivity of ISFETs.
- Investigate the characteristics and performance of different semiconductor devices.
- Design, model and analyse a number of semiconductor device types.
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- The principle of operation of potentiometric sensors, ISFETs and reference electrodes.
- How semiconductor properties limitations influence device operation.
- The basic operation of the most important semiconductor devices (e.g. p-n diode).
- How to design features that determine semiconductor device characteristics.
- The improvement of semiconductor device performances by fabrication process.
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Appreciate semiconductor device technology that revolutionise the electronic industry.
- Explain the principles of semiconductor sensors and give examples of their use in diagnostics.
- Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the many and diverse aspects that relate to the operation and exploitation of semiconductor devices.
- Differentiate the semiconductor devices for different electronic and photonic applications.
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Demonstrate the basic skills in semiconductor device engineering for integrated electronic or photonic circuit application.
- Understand the issues with semiconductor devices and the challenges for future electronic components.
Syllabus
Review of Semiconductor Device and Technology
P-N Junction to Device Technology
MOSFETs and CMOS
- Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor and Metal-Semiconductor Interface
- MOS and MOSFET characteristics: Capacitance, Output Current and Threshold
- Enhancement and Depletion mode operation
- MOSFET scaling issues
- CMOS technology
- Future of MOS and MOSFETs
- MOS related devices – Thin Film Transistor, Nanowire FETs
- Fabrication of MOSFETs
Introduction to Bipolar Junction Transistors
- Review of BJTs
- BJT characteristics
- n-p-n and p-n-p BJT operation
- Gain and frequency response
- BJT technologies
- HBTs
Optoelectronic Devices
- Optical p-n junction devices
- Radiative transition in semiconductor
- Light Emitting Diodes
- Spectral response and emission efficiency
- LASER
- Gain characteristics and laser modes
- Photodetectors
- Integrated photonic device applications
Semiconductor sensors
- Physical chemistry of the electrode-electrolyte interface
- pH sensing
- ISFETs (lectures and laboratory)
- Nanowires and nanoribbons
- The principles of potentiometric sensors
- Nernst equation
- Reference electrodes
- Applications in medicine
Learning and Teaching
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Specialist Laboratory | 3 |
Tutorial | 6 |
Lecture | 30 |
Total study time | 39 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
S. O. Kasap. Optoelectronics and Photonics: Principles and Practices. Prentice Hall.
B. Streetman & S. Banerjee. Solid State Semiconductor Devices. Prentice Hall.
S. Grimes and O. G. Martinsen (2014). Bioimpedance and Bioelectricity. Academic Press.
S. M. Sze (2002). Semiconductor Devices: Physics and Technology. Wiley.
R. Pethig and S. Smith (2013). Introductory Bioelectronics. Wiley.
G. J. Parker (2004). Introductory Semiconductor Device Physics. Taylor and Francis.
Assessment
Summative
Summative assessment description
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Continuous Assessment | 15% |
Final Assessment | 85% |
Referral
Referral assessment description
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Set Task | 100% |
Repeat
Repeat assessment description
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Set Task | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External