Physics of Nanotechnologies
PHYS-412 & PHYS-612

Brief Introduction:

This course provides a brief introduction to Nanotechnology/Nanomaterials. Topics include Introduction: The Importance of Nanoscale, Moore's law, Nanotechnology/Top down and bottom up approaches, Advances in Nanotechnology, Advantages of nanotechnology, Future prospects in nanoscience and nanotechnology, Societal impact of nanotechnology, Thin film growth: Epitaxial growth, Thin film growth techniques : Pulsed laser deposition, Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), Sputter deposition, Chemical vapour deposition, Electron beam evaporation (EBE) etc. Nanostructures fabrication techniques: Lithography : Mask lithography : Optical lithography, Nanoimprint, Maskless lithography : Scanning electron beam lithography, Focussed ion beam lithography, Transfer techniques : Etching, Lift-off, Nanostructures characterization techniques: Microscopy techniques : Optical microscopy (Conventional light microscopy, Fluorescence microscopy etc.), Electron microscopy (Scanning electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, Focus ion beam microscopy etc.), Scanning probe microscopy (Scanning tunneling microscopy, Atomic force microscopy, Near-field scanning optical microscopy), Surface/Structural analysis : Electron techniques (Reflection high energy electron diffraction, Low energy electron diffraction, Auger electron spectroscopy etc.) and X-ray techniques (X-ray diffraction, X-ray reflectivity, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy etc.).

Recommended Text Book

1) Edward L. Wolf: Nanophysics and Nanotechnology, An introduction to Modern Concept in Nanoscience, Wiley VCH, 2004

2) Par Mark A. Ratner, Daniel Ratner, Nanotechnology: A Gentle Introduction to the Next Big Idea, Prentice Hall Professional, 2003.

3) J I Goldstein et al, Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray Microanalysis,Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 2003.

4) David B. Williams and C. Barry Carter, Transmission electron microscopy : a textbook for materials science, Springer US, 2nd Edition 2009.

5) Andrew Zangwil, Physics at surfaces, Cambridge University Press, NY, 1988

Learning Outcomes

The course of Physics of Nanotechnologies is the brief introductory course which provides the base to students for their optional future research in Nanotechnology. After taking this course students will be able to

• What is Nanotechnology? What are the applications, social aspect, and advances in the field of Nanotechnologies?
• What are the techniques of fabrication of devices/Nanomaterial at Nano level? (Students will study thin film deposition techniques, Lithographic techniques and Pattern transfer techniques.
• How do we characterize nano materials?
• What are electron beam and spectroscopic techniques for surface/structural analysis of Nano materials/devices?

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