About this course

This intensive course offers an in-depth look at the fundamental aspects necessary for understanding the functioning of semiconductor devices like transistors, diodes, solar cells, and light-emitting devices. Geared primarily towards students in electrical engineering with a focus on semiconductor device applications in circuits and systems, the course provides a clear, physically intuitive, and not overly mathematical treatment of the subject.

By taking this course, technology enthusiasts and professionals will grasp the underlying semiconductor physics essential for device operation. Developers venturing into semiconductor technology will find this course a beneficial starting point before exploring more complex topics such as condensed matter physics, statistical mechanics, and thermodynamics. The course offers a unique electrical engineering perspective on semiconductors, suitable also for those in other disciplines seeking an introduction to the engineering principles driving semiconductor technology over the past fifty years.

Enrollment in this course includes two proctored exams conducted through edX's online Proctortrack software, with completed exams graded via Gradescope. This course is part of a series of specialized short courses developed jointly by edX and Purdue University in the growing field of Nanoscience and Technology and can count towards a Purdue MSECE degree or the MicroMasters program in Nanoscinece and Technology.

Course Details

• Institution: PurdueX
• Subject: Electronics
• Level: Advanced
• Language: English
• Video Transcript: English
• Associated Programs: MicroMasters in Nanoscience and Technology

What students will learn

Through this course, students will become proficient in several key aspects of semiconductor physics and technology:

• Understanding energy bands, band gaps, and effective masses
• Comprehend electrons and holes dynamics and their roles in semiconductors
• Basics of quantum mechanics applicable in semiconductor operations
• Utilizing the Fermi function and understanding the density-of-states
• Impact of doping on carrier concentrations
• Carrier transport mechanisms including generation and recombination processes
• Interpreting and deploying quasi-Fermi levels and semiconductor equations
• Ability to draw and interpret energy band diagrams

Prerequisites or Skills Necessary

Before enrolling in this course, students should have a fundamental understanding of undergraduate-level physics, chemistry, and mathematics, including basic differential equations.

Course Coverage

• Introduction to energy bands and band structures in semiconductors
• Roles and dynamics of electrons and holes in intrinsic and doped semiconductors
• Fundamentals of quantum mechanics as applied to semiconductor materials
• Analyzing carrier transport phenomena
• Understanding and application of semiconductor equations in device technology

Who this course is for

This course is designed for electrical engineering students and professionals focused on circuit and system applications of semiconductors. It also benefits technology developers aiming to deepen their knowledge in semiconductor technology and allied fields such as materials science and nanotechnology.

Application of Skills in Real World

The understanding of semiconductor fundamentals is crucial for designing and improving electronic devices such as smartphones, computers, and solar panels. Professionals equipped with this knowledge can contribute to advancements in technology that leverage semiconductor devices, enhancing device efficiency and functionality across various industries.

Syllabus

• Transition from energy levels to energy bands
• Characteristics of different forms of semiconductors
• Understanding and application of Miller indices
• Exploration of properties of common semiconductor materials
• Examining free carriers in semiconductors

• Introduction to the wave equation
• Impact of quantum confinement and tunneling
• Analysis of electron waves in crystals
• Study of the density of states

• Detailed exploration of the Fermi function
• Carrier concentration variables: Fermi level, doping density, temperature

• Theoretical and practical aspects of carrier transport
• Carrier generation and recombination dynamics

• Mathematical formulations of semiconductor phenomena
• Drawing and analysis of energy band diagrams
• Study of minority carrier diffusion equations