Semiconductors and Devices

Code:

F4029

Acronym:

F4029

Level:

400

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Physics

Instance: 2020/2021 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Physics and Astronomy
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Physics

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:CTN	0	Official Study Plan since 2020_M:CTN	1	-	6	42	162
M:F	4	Official Study Plan	1	-	6	42	162
MI:EF	23	study plan from 2017/18	4	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

Portuguese and english

Objectives

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

O1. Knowledge and understanding: understand physical principles of semiconductors and devices; understand conduction processes, fabrication technology and semiconductor device fabrication.

O2. Applying knowledge and understanding:

a) understand band theory, describe and differentiate band structures of metals, insulators and semiconductors;

b) apply statistical methods to understand carrier statistics and density in crystalline semiconductors;

c) understand principles and properties of p-n junction diode functioning and the basics of FET and MOSFET operation;

d) understand structural and chemical modifications of semiconductor nanocrystals;

e) understand principles of semiconductor device manufacturing, testing and applications.

O3. Formulate judgments: apply critical thinking in the analysis and discussion of exercises.

O4. Learning skills: conduct self-study through access to educational resources available on the course e-learning Moodle platform of UP.

Learning outcomes and competences

The syllabus is aligned with course goals and structured so that students gradually develop the intended skills.

Program contents 1-6 allow students to acquire the knowledge and the understanding of the physical principles of semiconductors, namely band theory and carrier statistics, as well as to apply this knowledge to different types of semiconductors – O1 and O2.

Program contents 7-10 allow students to acquire the knowledge and understanding, as well as to apply it in the field of semiconductor devices, like diodes, unipolar and bipolar devices, transistors, FET, NFET, PFET and MOSFET – O1 and O2.

Program contents 11-12 for technology of semiconductor device fabrication reinforce the learning outcomes O1 and O2.

In all program contents, students can apply critical thinking in the analysis and discussion of exercises and conduct self-study by accessing educational resources available on the course e-learning Moodle platform of UP.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Semiconductor physics.


2. Energy bands and carrier concentration.


3. Carrier transport phenomena.


4. Intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors.


5. Degenerate and nondegenerate semiconductors.


6. Structural and chemical modifications of semiconductor nanocrystals.


7. Diodes. p-n Junction.


8. Unipolar and bipolar devices.


9. Transistors. FET, NFET and PFET.


10. The MOSFET.


11. Single crystal growing processes: Czochralski and float zone.


12. Cleaning, texturing and etching processes.

13. Applications.

Mandatory literature

Pereira A.; Notes from Teaching Staff - Responsibilities, 2020
Anderson, B., Anderson, R. ; Fundamentals of Semiconductor Devices., International Edition. Singapore (Asia): McGraw-Hill., 2005

Complementary Bibliography

Davies, J. ; The Physics of Low-dimensional Semiconductors: An Introduction., Cambridge (UK): Cambridge University Press., 2000
Lutz, J., Schlangenotto, H. ; Semiconductor Power Devices: Physics, Characteristics, Reliability, Berlin (Germany): Springer-Verlag, 2011
Bar-Lev, A. ; Semiconductors and Electronic Devices. , 1993
Victor I. Klimov. ; Semiconductor and Metal Nanocrystals: Synthesis and Electronic and Optical Properties, 2004

Teaching methods and learning activities

Subject ́s presentation will be held in lectures, predominantly expository with PP. These lecture classes will provide a strong interaction between semiconductor physics concepts and devices.

Seminar classes are designed to review general concepts from lectures and to solve and discuss problems under instructor’s guidance.

Questions/problem sets will be made available on Moodle_UP platform. Students should, individually, submit their solutions on scheduled dates and give a presentation to discuss their content. The questions/problems will cover lectures’ materials.

Writing of an individual essay based on bibliographic research and having as subject one of the topics covered or related to the course content. The main goal of the written essay task is the application of acquired knowledge, the critical review of current scientific works, published in high impact scientific journals. This process aims at the development of analysis capabilities for new scenarios.

In addition to face to face lectures and seminar classes, didactic contents will be made available on Moodle-UP Platform.

Evaluation type: Distributed evaluation with final exam.

The final grade (CF) will be determined according to the following weights:

CF = 35%E + 35%TE + 30%PA_A
CF: final grade
E: final exam

TE: written essay
PA_A: Questions/problem sets + Presentation

If the final grade ≥ 10 then the student passes.
Final grade between 0 and 20.

keywords

Physical sciences > Physics > Electronics > Microelectronics
Physical sciences > Physics
Physical sciences > Physics > Solid state physics
Physical sciences > Physics > Condensed matter properties > Physics of semiconductors

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	30,00
Exame	35,00
Trabalho escrito	35,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	126,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Total:	168,00

Eligibility for exams

According to FCUP rules.

Calculation formula of final grade

CF = 35%E + 35%TE + 30%PA_A
CF: final grade
E: final exam 

TE: written essay
PA_A: Questions/problem sets + Presentation

Classification improvement

According to the “Regulamento de Avaliação do Aproveitamento dos Estudantes da FCUP”.

Exam.

The student can only improve the exam grade.

Observations

Juri Members
Teresa Seixas 
João Pedro Araújo