Course Title:        Solid State and Semiconductors

Class:                     M. Phil (Physical Chemistry)                   

Course Code:                      CHEM-734

Credit Hours:                          03

Instructor:                      DR. MUHAMMAD AMIN

Email:                             [email protected]

DESCRIPTION

Solid state Physics can be defined as the study of the materials that are important for modern technology.  The study of the microscopic physics of semiconductor materials is an important branch of the broader discipline of solid state physics, which is itself defined as the study of the microscopic properties of the dense assembly of electrons formed by placing atoms very close together in a solid.  Solid state physics deals with the microscopic properties of large colliding particles in contrast to the  Particle Physics that focuses on the properties of individual  particles. Particle physicists tend to break composite objects up into their constituent building blocks, while Solid State Physicists (& Semiconductor Physicists) are interested in New Properties that emerge when these building blocks are grouped together in various ways. The study of Semiconductor Physics is the fact that the microscopic properties to which it deals with, are responsible for the majority of modern technology. These properties may determine the material mechanical strength, interaction of the particle with light,  electrical conduction, the super conduction  etc.  Therefore, Semiconductor Physics is an important subject for technology, because it gives an insight into how to design the circuits needed for modern electronic devices Transistor & the Semiconductor Chip. The study of Semiconductor Physics has been traditionally linked to Materials Science, Chemistry and Engineering, Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Medicine. So, many current research questions in Semiconductor Physics are still at the frontiers of applied science and next-generation technologies.

Learning outcome

• Students should gain basic knowledge of solid state physics. This implies that the student will:

• be able to account for inter-atomic forces and bonds

• have a basic knowledge of crystal systems and spatial symmetries

• be able to account for how crystalline materials are studied using diffraction, know what phonons are, and be able to perform estimates of their dispersive and thermal properties

• be able to calculate thermal and electrical properties in the free-electron model

• know Bloch's theorem and the concept of band theory of solids

• know the fundamental principles of semiconductors, differentiate between intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors based upon quantum mechanical treatment

• p-tyne, n-type materials, pn-junctions, including diodes, triodes and be able to estimate the charge carrier mobility of holes and electrons and the carrier density.

• be able to account for what the Fermi surface is, its measurement

• can calculate drift velocity and the carrier concentration of hole-electron pair across the conduction and valence bands

• know basic models of magnetism

• be able to differentiate between a conductor and a superconductors, also electrical, optical, thermal and magnetic properties of superconductors and various characterization techniques

•  

  Week	Topics and Readings
  1.	Solid state
  2.	Conductors, classification Metal conductors
  3.	Band theory of solids, The Bloch Theorem
  4.	Classification of Conductors, Semiconductors and Insulators based upon band theory
  5.	Electrochemical Potential and Fermi levels
  	Semiconductors, classification
  	PN junction Diode, Transistors
  6.	Rectification, Amplification
  7.	Drift velocity and the concept of hole-electron pair in semiconductors
  10	Carrier concentration, Fermi level and conductivity for  extrinsic semiconductors
  11	Electron concentration in the conduction band
  12	Hole  concentration in the valence  band
  13	Carrier concentration,  Fermi level and conductivity for  extrinsic semiconductors
  14	Superconductivity and electrical resistivity, types of superconductors-type 1 & type II superconductors
  15	Preparation and characterization of superconducting ceramics
  16	Electrical and magnetic properties of superconducting ceramics
  17	Final Exams