ECE 39595 - Introduction to Nanotechnology

Course Details

Lecture Hours: 3 Credits: 3

Counts as:

  • EE Elective

Experimental Course Offered:

Spring 2019

Requisites:

MA 26100; MA 26600 or MA 26200; PHYS 27200 or PHYS 24100; CHM 11500

Requisites by Topic:

Basic physics, chemistry and mathematics; calculus, differential equations

Catalog Description:

The "staggeringly small world" of devices with atomic scale size is the world of nanotechnology today. This interdisciplinary course offers an introduction to nanotechnology for undergraduate students in science and engineering. The students will develop understanding of interdisciplinary nature of nanotechnology and utilize concepts in physics, chemistry and mechanics to describe and analyze unique properties of nanoscale objects. The course will provide the opportunity to get exposed to highly interdisciplinary nature of this scientific field.

Required Text(s):

  1. Nano: The Essentials , T. Pradeep , Tata McGraw-Hill , 2007
  2. The Science of Nanotechnology: An Introductory Text , Luanne Tilstra, S. Allen Broughton, Robin S. Tanke, Daniel Jelski, Valentina French, Guoping Zhang, Alexander K. Popov, Arthur B. Western and Thomas F. George , Nova Science , 2008

Recommended Text(s):

  1. Nanopackaging: nanotechnologies and electronics packaging , James E. Morris , Springer , 2008
  2. Nanostructures and Nanomaterials , Guozhong Cao , World Scientific , 2004
  3. Plenty of Room at the Bottom , Richard P. Feynman

Learning Outcomes:

A student who successfully fulfills the course requirements will have demonstrated:
  1. an ability to define major types of nanoparticles and their sources. [1]
  2. an ability to Illustrate by simple calculations unique physical properties of nanoscale objects, e.g. calculate de Broglie wavelength, surface energy, melting point. [1]
  3. an ability to describe basic nanostructure measurement methods.. [1]
  4. an ability to give examples of economic benefits of nanotechnology (e.g. for petroleum industry). [4]
  5. an ability to describe approaches for managing health and environmental risks.. [4]

Lecture Outline:

Week Lectures
1 Course overview. What is NANO? Introduction to nano- and quantum worlds. Nanotechnology today.
2 Basics of quantum physics. De Broglie waves, and the wave-particle duality of matter and light.
3 Definition and types of nanoparticles. Nanoparticle synthesis
4 Surface energy
5 Van der Waals force. Double layer force
6 Capillary force
7 Electrostatic stabilization
8 Physical, electric and chemical properties
9 Metal nanoparticles (MNP): Sunscreen & Anti-bacterial
10 MNP: Color change
11 MNP: Pollution control. Environmental and safety concerns. Liquid solid sonochemical reaction.
12 Ceramic and polymeric nanoparticles
13 Fullerene synthesis and properties
14 Fullerene applications
15 Carbon nanotubes (CNTs): Structure
16 CNT: Structure, conductivity, synthesis
17 CNT properties and applications
18 Introduction to final projects
19 Quantum dots (QDs) and wells: Physics and Synthesis
20 QDs and quantum wells applications
21 Nanotechnology cleanrooms. Experimental tools for nanotechnology.
22 Physics of electron microscopy. Scanning EM
23 Transmission electron microscopy. Scanning tunneling microscopy. Atomic Force microscopy.
24 Intro to QIST. Intro to wave mechanics.
25 Introduction to wave mechanics: Schr??dinger's equation, wave functions, probability amplitudes.
26 Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
27-28 Intro to quantum computing and communication. Intro to quantum sensors
29-30 Final Project Presentations

Engineering Design Content:

  • Synthesis
  • Analysis

Engineering Design Consideration(s):

  • Economic
  • Environmental
  • Social

Assessment Method:

Course outcomes will be assessed using quizzes, homework and projects.