The aim of the module is to familiarise the student with the current state-of-the-art in the field of nanoscale semiconductor and molecular electronic and optical devices and with emerging nanoscale devices/technologies. This module describes applications of nanostructures in real and emerging devices in the areas of nano and molecular electronics, nanophotonics and nano-optoelectronics. The underlying properties that make such devices possible are described and derived. Individual device performance is also compared to more traditional devices.
Nanoelectronics
Microelectronics to nanoelectronics: 1-D quantum transport: derivation of the conductance of an ideal one-dimensional conducting channel from first principles. Quantisation of conductance.
Conductance regimes: conductance in real quasi-1D channels; the effects of defects and temperature; ballistic transport, universal conductance fluctuation regime, weak localisation, Boltzmann regime. Quantum Hall effect.
Quantum Point Contacts; practical quantum transport devices. Single electron effects and Coulomb Blockade; single electron transistor (SET). Non-local circuit effects.
Molecular Electronics and devices: applications LEDs, sensors.
Quantum wells: Derivation of bandstructure of ideal 2D semiconductors; applications of quantum wells and 2-dimensional electron gases in lasers and in high electron mobility devices; Strain effects in quantum well lasers.
Quantum Dots: derivation of electronic properties of 1D and 0D semiconductor structures; quantum dot lasers. Other applications of quantum dots e.g. solar cells.
Semiconductor tunnelling structures and superlattices; double barrier diodes; Long wavelength lasers and detectors; Quantum Cascade devices.
Nanomagnetics: Magnetic properties of nanoparticles; Spintronics.
Nanophotonics
Photon confinement: Optical Bragg structures; Control of spontaneous emission of emitters in cavities and near mirrors; Semiconductor microcavities in weak coupling and strong coupling regimes; microcavity LED’s; thresholdless laser; Near-field nano-optics.
Photonic crystals: classes, comparison to semiconductor crystals, applications.
Plasmonics, SPP, generation, propagation and conversion into optical wavelengths metal-dielectric nanostructures, nanoparticles, devices and sensors based on SPP
The module will be delivered using lectures, online resources, and tutorials.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Formal Examination | 80 |
| Other Assessment(s) | 20 |