Solid-State Devices

This course provides a relatively broad, moderate-depth coverage of semiconductor devices and related topics. The first portion of the course presents and examines semiconductor fundamentals required in the operational analysis of solid-state devices. A detailed examination of the PN junction diode and PN junction devices follows. The final portion of the course treats heterojunction surface devices including the Schottky diode, the MOS capacitor and the MOSFET.

ECE60600

Credit Hours:

3

Learning Objective:

The students will be able to explain the physical processes and working principles of semiconductor devices, while relating the device performance to materials and design criteria. The students will learn how to "speak the language" of semiconductor device engineers and be ready to engage in semiconductor research and development (R&D).

Description:

This course provides a graduate-level introduction to understanding, analyzing, characterizing, and designing the operation of semiconductor devices such as transistors, diodes, photonic devices, and more. Through a physics-based approach and hands-on projects, students will gain application-driven analytical skills to connect the foundational technology of the 21st century - semiconductor devices - to various sectors and roles in the growing microelectronics industry.

Prerequisites:

Degree requirements: Master's student standing or higher. Background: prior exposure to undergraduate-level semiconductor device physics or adjacent topics.

Applied / Theory:
60/40

Homework:

There are 7-9 HW assignments in total throughout the semester.

Projects:

The course will provide two design projects on the world-renowned nanoHUB platform: quantum dot lab and nanowire transistor design.

Exams:

No exams

Textbooks:

Advanced Semiconductor Fundamentals, 2nd Edition, Robert F. Pierret, Publisher: Pearson, ISBN-13: 978-0130617927

Semiconductor Device Fundamentals, Robert. F. Pierret, Publisher Addison Wesley, ISBN-13: 978-0201543933

Computer Requirements:

The students will use Purdue's nanoHUB platform to gain cloud-based access to all the tools, models, and simulators needed to complete this course.