Nanoelectronic Devices (MSc)

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Simulate the performance of CMOS transistors

Knowledge and Understanding

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

• The operation principle of CMOS transistors
• The fundamental device physics of semiconductors
• The electronic structure of materials

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Construct the process flows to fabricate CMOS transistors

Review of semiconductor physics

• Atoms and energy levels
• Band structures
• MOS capacitor

Nanoelectronics

• Technology roadmap of nano-electronics (Moore's law)
• Scaling of devices and technology jump
• Energy band structure in Silicon

Metal Oxide Semicoductor Field Effect Transistors (MOSFET)

• Basic MOSFET Operation
• Threshold Voltage and Subthreshold Slope
• Current/voltage characteristics
• Finite Element Modelling of MOS

Advanced CMOS transistors scaling

• Challenge of the CMOS technologies
• High-k dielectrics and Gate stack
• Future interconnect
• FINFET and architecture
• Design for Variability
• Mobility enhancement

Recent research case studies

• Front-end CMOS
• Quantum Technologies
• Si Photonics
• Nano-Photonics, Bio-Sensors, Plasmonics

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be taught using a combination of lectures and labs.

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Yuan Taur and Tak H. Ning. Fundamentals of Modern VLSI Devices. Cambridge.

B.G. Streetman and S. Banerjee. Solid State Electronic Devices. Prentice Hall.

Assessment strategy

Students can get good experiences by simulating the MOSFET characteristics after learning the fundamental principles in the lectures. Simulations and lecturing are complementary each other, and students can get more insights in understanding the MOSFETs. The learning outcomes include the capabilities to simulate unknown new device performance for their future jobs in CMOS or even beyond-CMOS industries.

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