Semiconductor devices

Duration

26h Th, 26h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Benoît Vanderheyden

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

In this course, we introduce the fundamental physical concepts underlying semiconducting devices. We expose the physics of semiconducting materials and introduce the main transport models (drift-diffusion). These notions are then applied on an analysis of the electrical behavior and performance of various electronic components.
More precisely, the following elements are discussed:
crystal structure of semiconductors, energy bands, n- and p-dopings, Fermi distribution and Fermi sea, drift in an electrical field, in a magnetic field, diffusion, optical absorption, luminescence, excess carrier lifetime.
The concepts are illustrated on pn junctions (static equilibrium, direct and inverse biases), metal-semiconductor junctions, bipolar and field effect transistors, MOS capacitors.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

To be able to:

• explain the physics of semiconducting junctions and transistors

• understand and state the equations describing the basic phenomena underlying the drift-diffusion model,

• know the orders of magnitude involved in thermal or optical generation of carriers, in their transport, their collection or their recombination,

• assess the influence of the fundamental parameters involved in semiconductors on the electrical performance of devices.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

It is recommended to have followed a course on analog electronics or to have read the first three chapters of the course "ELEN0075-1 - Analog electronics" in order to better grasp the general context of this course.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course is composed of "ex-cathedra" sessions (30 hours) and practical sessions (30 hours).
The "ex-cathedra" sessions are devoted to the description of the fundamental concepts of semiconductor physics, charge carrier generation, transport equations, and an illustration of these notions in semiconductor devices.
The practical sessions are devoted to an applicaton of the concepts on specific examples. Typically, an exercice illustrates a given mechanism, a genuine model, and relevant orders of magnitude. Students are invited to participate actively to these sessions.
An optional question/answer session is organized at the end of the quadrimester.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Green, yellow, and orange codes::face-to-face for the theory sessions and the practice sessions
Red code: distance learning
Please check the web site of the course for more details, as the organization may quickly evolve according to federal or regional decisions

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

Green, yellow, and orange codes::face-to-face for the theory sessions and the practice sessions
Red code: distance learning
Please check the web site of the course for more details, as the organization may quickly evolve  accroding to federal or regional decisions

Recommended or required readings

• Main and compulsory sources:

• Secondary and optional sources (copies available at the library):

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

Any session :

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )

- Remote

oral exam

- If evaluation in "hybrid"

preferred in-person


Additional information:

1) If exams can be organized with students being present on campus:
A written exam is organized during the January exam session. It starts with a theory part (1h30), which covers the theory concepts seen in the "ex cathedra" part and in the exercice sessions. It is followed by an exercice part (2h30), on problems similar to those seen in the exercice sessions.
The entire exam is 'closed book'. For the exercice part only, forms are distributed and calculators are required. Cell phones and smartphones are forbidden for the entire exam.
2) If exams must be organized at a distance: a distance oral examination on the material covered in both the theroy and the practice sessions
The same rules apply for student having to take the exam in September.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

The course is scheduled during the first quadrimester. For any additional information, consult http://www.montefiore.ulg.ac.be/~vdh/elen0004.html .

Contacts

Benoît Vanderheyden, B.Vanderheyden @ uliege.be