MTLE-6120: Advanced Electronic Properties of Materials

I Instructor: Ravishankar Sundararaman (sundar@rpi.edu)

I Lectures: Tuesdays and Fridays, 10 - 11:50 am

I Location: WebEx

I Website: http://abinitiomp.org/teaching/mtle6120

I Office hours: Thursdays 5-6 pm athttp://rensselaer.webex.com/meet/sundar

I Primary text:I Principles of Electronic Materials and Devices by S.O. Kasap

I Background reading (as needed):I Introduction to Solid State Physics by C. KittelI Introduction to Quantum Mechanics by D.J. GriffithsI Introduction to Electrodynamics by D.J. Griffiths

I Please fill out brief survey/quiz on background and interests

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Topics (1/3): Theoretical background

I Maxwell’s equations in materials

I Classical Drude theory of conduction

I Basic quantum mechanics

I Atoms, many-electron theories and the periodic table

I Quantum kinetics: Fermi’s Golden rule

I Band theory of solids

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Topics (2/3): Material properties

I Fermi theory of metals

I Electron transport: phonons and electron-phonon scattering

I Intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors

I Insulating materials: dielectrics, ferroelectrics, piezoelectrics etc.

I Magnetism: dia-, para- and ferro-magnetism, hysteresis

I Superconductivity

I Optical properties: absorption, emission, luminescence, fluorescence, lasing

I Low-dimensional materials

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Topics (3/3): Interface properties

I Metal-vacuum interfaces: thermionic and field emission

I Metal-metal junctions: Seebeck effect, thermocouples, Peltier effect

I Metal-semiconductor Schottky junctions

I Semiconductor p-n junction diodes; LEDs, lasers and photovoltaics

I Semiconductor transistors for logic and memory

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Learning outcomes

I Understand how the physics of electrons in materials results in a variety ofelectronic, magnetic and optical properties of materials

I Understand how these properties are exploited and optimized for intechnological applications

I Navigate literature in active areas of research in electronic, magnetic oroptical materials

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Assessment

I 20%: Weekly quizzes in Friday classes based on most-recent lectures andhomework; one lowest score not counted

I 20%: In-class midterm examination on Mar 4, which along with allprevious homeworks will be used to provide you with performance feedbackby 3 pm on Mar 4

I 10%: Short oral presentation on an area of active research in electronic,optical or magnetic materials in the last few classes (April 19 and 22)

I 40%: Final examination on the last day of classes (Apr 26)

I 10%: Participation in class by asking questions and contributing todiscussions

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Academic integrity

Student-teacher relationships are built on trust. For example, students must trustthat teachers have made appropriate decisions about the structure and contentof the courses they teach, and teachers must trust that the assignments that stu-dents turn in are their own. Acts that violate this trust undermine the educationalprocess. The Rensselaer Handbook of Student Rights and Responsibilities andThe Graduate Student Supplement define various forms of Academic Dishonestyand you should make yourself familiar with these.

I Homework: discussions and team work encouraged (not for grade)

I Quizzes / exams: books and printed notes allowed; no discussions

I First violation: zero score on that assignment

I Second violation: F grade on course

If you have any question concerning this policy, please ask for clarification.

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Fastest advancing technologies

I Computer processors

I Magnetic storage (hard drives)

I Solid-state storage (flash memory)

I Optical communications

I Photovoltaics (solar cells)

Spolier: they all involve electronic, magnetic and optical materials

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Moore’s law: CMOS transistor count

Source: Wgsimon/Wikimedia commons

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Moore’s law: computation rate per cost

Where would you mark yourself on this plot?

Source: S. Jurveston/Wikimedia commons

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Moore’s law: storage aereal density

Source: Adv. Tribol. 2013, 521086 (2013)

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Keck’s law: fiber optic communication rate

Source: J Hecht on IEEE spectrum, 26 Jan 2016

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Photovoltaic efficiencies

Equally impressive: efficiency is much harder than device scaling

Source: S. Kurtz and D. Levi, NREL

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Goals of this course

I Physical laws → material properties

I Material properties → device functionality

I Device functionality → technologies (briefly)

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