Electronic and Photonic Devices

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Demonstrate basic skills in semiconductor device engineering.
• Discuss issues with semiconductor devices and the challenges for future electronic components.

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Investigate the characteristics and performance of semiconductor devices
• Analyse how semiconductor device characteristics are affected by changes in operating conditions.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Discuss semiconductor device technologies that have revolutionised the electronics industry.
• Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the many and diverse aspects of both the operation and exploitation of semiconductor devices.
• Determine appropriate semiconductor devices for different electronic and photonic applications.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• design features that determine semiconductor device characteristics.
• How semiconductor properties and limitations influence device operation.
• The basic operation of the most important semiconductor devices.

MOSFETs

• Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor and Metal-Semiconductor Interface
• MOS and MOSFET characteristics: Capacitance, Output Current, Threshold
• Enhancement and Depletion mode operation
• Thin film transistors

Bipolar Junction Transistors

• principles of operation
• fabrication processes
• n-p-n and p-n-p BJT operational modes
• Gain and frequency response
• Switching characteristics
• Heterojunction BJTs

Power Electronic Devices

• Power diodes
• Power MOSFET
• Insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT)

Solar Cells and Photodetectors (including lab and coursework)

• Solar cell characteristics
• Quantum efficiency, electrical and optical losses
• Antireflection and light trapping
• Crystalline silicon photovoltaics
• Thin film photovoltaics
• Photodetectors

Optoelectronic Devices

• Optical properties of semiconductor
• Optical p-n junction devices
• Radiative transition in semiconductor
• Light Emitting Devices
• Spectral response and emission efficiency
• Lasers
• Gain characteristics and laser modes

The content of this module is delivered through lectures, module website, directed reading, and tutorials.

Students work on their understanding through a combination of independent study, preparation for timetabled activities, discussion , tutorials, along with formative assessments in the form of coursework assignments and problem sheets.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.