Master degree in Materials Science

Solid state physics: opto-electrical properties, microfabrication and devices

Solid state physics: opto-electrical properties, microfabrication and devices

Academic year 2024/2025

Sommario del corso

• Course objectives
• Results of learning outcomes
• Program
• Course delivery
• Learning assessment methods
• Suggested readings and bibliography
• Notes
• Class schedule
• Teaching tools
• Course card

Course objectives

The course aims at providing key enabling concepts in advanced solid state physics, with a specific focus on the optical, dielectric and electrical properties of crystals, and on their applications in electronic and opto-electronic devices based on semiconductors. The range of covered devices will include photo-voltaic devices, transistors, light-emitting and laser diodes, and photo-detectors. The course will also cover both well established and advanced techniques for materials characterization based on their interaction with electromagnetic radiation, as well as the characteristic features of low dimensionality systems in nanotechnologies (optically active point defects in crystals). 

Results of learning outcomes

After the successful completion of the course, students will have enabling knowledge in the following fields:

• fundamental dielectric and optical properties of crystals (optical reflectance, optical transitions, …);
• main techniques for materials characterization based on their interaction with electromagnetic radiation (Raman spectroscopy, Photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence spectroscopy, …);
• physics and material-related issues of the most important classes of opto-electronic devices;
• state-of-the-art and advanced microfabrication and lithographic techniques for integrated devices fabrication.

Program

The program of the course is structured as follows:

• Energy bands in direct and indirect band-gap crystals and semiconductors, tight binding model, charge carriers and effective mass
• Dielectric properties of crystals and dielectric function of an electron gas
• Optical properties of crystals, reflectance, optical transitions
• Optical characterization techniques of materials (Luminescence, Raman, etc...) and technological applications
• Generation and recombination processes in indirect-bandgap semiconductors: the Shockley-Read & Hall theory
• Ideal and real pn junction (ideality factor, tunnelling effects, etc.)
• Semiconductor-based photovoltaic devices
• Bipolar junction transistor
• Junction-based field-effect transistor
• MOS-based field-effect transistor
• Laser-based optical characterization techniques and applications (Raman effect for solid state materials, Photoluminescence and single-photon microscopy)

Course delivery

The course is given in English language by two teachers (Prof. J. Forneris and Prof. P. Olivero), who will cover respectively the topics on optical/dielectric properties of crystals, and electrical properties of semiconductors.

The teaching will include a Laboratory class delivering hands-on experiments related to the contents of the course. The attendance to the Laboratory and to the introductive lectures is mandatory.

Learning assessment methods

The assessment will be based on a joint oral exam with the two teachers, in which the topics presented in the frontal lectures will discussed.

The students will be requested to produce a report on the Laboratory class, whose evaulation will be part of the final mark.

The final mark will be determined by the joint evaluation of the teachers.

• S. M. Sze, "Semiconductor Devices - Physics and Technology", John Wiley & Sons
• J. I. Pankove, "Optical Processes in Semiconductors", Dover
• Kittel, Introduction To Solid State Physics, Wiley 2004
• Grundmann (2016) Optical Properties. In: The Physics of Semiconductors. Graduate Texts in Physics. Springer.

Notes

The students with special needs and disabilities may find information on these web sites: link1, link2.

Class schedule

• Teaching material
• Exams and finals
• Class schedule
• Go to Moodle
• Register for the course
• Enrolled students
• Invia email agli studenti registrati
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