Semiconductor Devices (ENG325)

This course covers the principles of operation of various semiconductor electronic and photonic devices, and their fabrication and applications. Topics include the fundamental physical principles of semiconductor/metal contacts/junctions, the use of mathematical models to describe the physical behaviour of BJTs, MOSFETs and junction FETs, and the operation and construction of optoelectronic devices (LEDs and solar cells).

• P-N junction in equilibrium, P-N junction under forward bias
• P-N junction under reverse bias, Capacitance in P-N junctions
• Reverse breakdown in P-N junctions, Metal-semiconductor contacts
• Light emitting diodes & photovoltaic devices
• Bipolar junction devices
• Junction field effect transistors [JFET] & metal-oxide-semiconductor FET [MOSFET]

• Discuss the fundamentals of semiconductor devices such as pn junction, bipolar junction transistors, field effect transistors, light emitting diodes and photovoltaic devices.
• Illustrate the breakdown mechanism in pn junctions and the characteristics of the different metal semiconductor contacts.
• Apply suitable mathematical model to study the performance of semiconductor devices.
• Appraise the circuit parameters for the transistor’s different operational modes.
• Assess the impact of change in bias voltage, temperature, size and other parameters on the functioning of semiconductor devices.
• Calculate bias voltage, mole fraction, size, current flow, voltage, resistance and other parameters associated with semiconductor devices.