4 ECTS credits
115 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 1004216BNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.
- Short introduction to semiconductor technology
- development of the energy band model for semiconductors
- description of semiconductors in equilibrium and quasi-equilibrium (Fermi level, effective mass of carriers, mobility, conductivity)
- effects of electric fields; accumulation, depletion, inversion
-physics of passive devices : metal-semiconductor contact (Ohmic contact, Schottky diode), p-n junction (tunnel diode, diode)
- physics of active devices : field effect transistor and bipolar transistor
The lab sessions will be devoted to the understanding of the operation principle of devices, a number of them being characterized. The student will try to identify an unknown component by using electrical measurement.
Lecture notes are available in Dutch (Elektronische Componenten I)on Poincaré and at the ETRO department.
To develop an intuition regarding the behaviour of semiconductors and semiconductor devices with the help of the energy band model : to understand the effects of electric fields and voltages on semiconductors. To come to a thorough understanding of the physics of semiconductor devices. By starting from first principles, this course intends to allow the student at some point later in his career to understand and use semiconductor devices that are inexistent or still under development today.
This course contributes to the following programme outcomes of the Bachelor in Engineering Sciences:
The Bachelor in Engineering Sciences has a broad fundamental knowledge and understanding of
1. scientific principles and methodology of exact sciences with the specificity of their application to engineering;
4. fundamental, basic methods and theories to schematize and model problems or processes.
The Bachelor in Engineering Sciences can
7. apply quantitative methods and computer software relevant to the engineering discipline in order to solve engineering problems;
10. correctly report on design results in the form of a technical report or in the form of a paper;
12. reason in a logical, abstract and critical way;
The Bachelor in Engineering Sciences has
17. a critical attitude towards one’s own results and those of others;
18. acquired the tools for knowledge collection towards life-long learning;
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 67% of the final mark.
PRAC Practical Assignment determines 33% of the final mark.
Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the PRAC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:
1. An oral closed book examination concerning the physics of semiconductor devices. In principle, the student gets two questions: one quantitative and one qualitative. Especially for the second question the focus is on understanding. The student is given the opportunity to first prepare his answers on paper. Then follows the oral examination and a discussion on related topics. These can include devices that are not explicitly treated in the course.
2. A written report on the activities during the lab sessions, complemented by an oral examination on the contents of the student's report.
The examination on the theoretical part of the course accounts for 2/3 of the final mark; the report and the examination about the lab sessions account for 1/3.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Engineering: Electronics and Information Technology (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Physics and Astronomy: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Physics and Astronomy: Minor Economy and Business
Preparatory Programme Master of Science in Photonics Engineering: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Preparatory Programme Master of Science in Photonics Engineering: Standaard traject