MATSE 304: Electronic Properties of Materials

Homepage: http://matse304.mse.uiuc.edu/

Textbook: S. O. Kasap, "Principles of Electronic Materials and Devices," McGraw Hill, 3rd edition, 2006.

Catalog Description, Prerequisites and Schedule:

Study of the electronic structure and bonding of materials, electrical conduction in metals and semiconductors, and dielectric and magnetic properties of solids. Prerequisite: Physics 214 and junior standing in science and engineering, or consent of instructor. Students may not receive credit for both Materials Science and Engineering 304 and Physics 460. (Students may substitute Physics 460 for Materials Science and Engineering 304 as part of the Materials Science and Engineering degree requirements.) 3 hours. 3 lecture-discussion hours/week.

Course Topics:

1. Quantum mechanics of matter waves
2. Time-independent Schroedinger equation and solutions for one-dimensional potentials
3. Calculation of expectation values
4. Hydrogen atom ground state wave functions and energies
5. Quantum numbers and the periodic table
6. H₂⁺and simple molecules, bonding and antibonding states and energy levels
7. Beyond hydrogen, electron spectroscopy, photoemission
8. Thermodynamics of the quantum mechanical free electron gas
9. Periodic potentials and Bloch waves
10. Band diagrams in one, two, and three dimensions; effective mass; holes
11. Semiconductor band structures; carrier densities
12. Extrinsic semiconductors; dopant ionization
13. p-n junctions; electrostatics, carrier densities, and transport
14. Metal-oxide-semiconductor diodes; electrostatics and carrier densities

Course Objectives:

1. To teach students the science of electronic structure and transport in crystals.
2. To extend students' knowledge of the mathematics of complex variables, probability functions, integration, and the solutions of differential equations.
3. To extend students' knowledge of the thermodynamics and kinetics of a classical gas.
4. To teach students the science and engineering fundamentals of p-n junctions, transistors, and lasers.
5. To extend students' knowledge and understanding of the Schroedinger equation and the quantum mechanical behavior of electrons.

Course Outcomes:

1. Be able to calculate the dc and ac mobility and conductivity of a material from the collision time and carrier density.
2. Be able to calculate probability densities and expectation values for position, momentum, and energy for a given quantum mechanical wavefunction.
3. Be able to use the uncertainty principle to estimate the kinetic and potential energies of a bound electron statel.
4. Be able to describe transport in a p-n junction controlled by the minority carrier lifetime.
5. Be able to use simple band diagrams to understand optical activity of a semiconductor.
6. Be able to calculate the effective mass of a one-dimensional band structure.
7. Be able to describe laser action in terms of optical absorption, stimulated emission, and spontaneous emission.
8. Be able to calculate charge densities in a biased metal-oxide-semiconductor diode.

Assessment Tools:

1. Weekly problem sets (10%)
2. Regular quizzes (15%)
3. Three, one hour exams (25% each)

Contribution of Course to Meeting the Professional Component:

100%

Prepared by:

John Weaver, September 2006