2024 Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Department of Materials Science and Engineering Graduate major in Materials Science and Engineering

Physics and Chemistry of Semiconductors

Academic unit or major: Graduate major in Materials Science and Engineering
Instructor(s): Yutaka Majima / Hidenori Hiramatsu
Class Format: Lecture (Livestream)
Media-enhanced courses: -
Day of week/Period (Classrooms): 1-2 Tue / 1-2 Fri
Class: -
Course Code: MAT.C404
Number of credits: 200
Course offered: 2024
Offered quarter: 3Q
Syllabus updated: Mar 14, 2025
Language: Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

The instructors lecture on semiconductor theory necessary for actual materials researchers, including from solid state physics to the intuitive understanding necessary for materials research. The first 7 classes cover from the fundamental electronic structure of semiconductors, semiconductor doping, the Fermi level, and statistical distribution functions, to PN junctions. The last 7 classes concentrate on the operational principles of semiconductor devices such as solar cells, light-emitting diodes, and field-effect transistors.
The purpose of this course is to provide students a basis of semiconductor theory, devices, and electronic structures of semiconductors which forms the basis for materials researchers advancing research in semiconductor materials.

Course description and aims

[Objective] The objective of this lecture is to understand how to examine properties of semiconductor materials, which is necessary for materials researchers.
[Subject] From the view point of materials science, the essence for semiconductor physics, devices, and material design will be reviewed. It will be focused on understanding and mastering operation principle of representative electronic devices, their structures, and method of characterizations rather than details of semiconductor physics.

Keywords

Semiconductor Physics, Semiconductor Devices, Development of Novel Semiconductor Materials

Competencies

Specialist skills
Intercultural skills
Communication skills
Critical thinking skills
Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

The topic changes every class. There will be exercises.

Course schedule/Objectives

	Course schedule	Objectives
Class 1	Basis of Band Structure in Semiconductor	Understand basis of band structure in semiconductor
Class 2	Density of States and Fermi-Energy	Understand density of states and Fermi energy
Class 3	Electron in Periodical Potential Structure	Understand Electron in Periodical Potential Structure
Class 4	Doping	Understand doping
Class 5	Electron Transport Mechanisms: Drift and Diffusion	Understand electron transport mechanisms of drift and diffusion
Class 6	Continuity Equation of Minority Carrier	Understand continuity equation of minority carrier
Class 7	PN Junction	Understand PN junction
Class 8	Outline of Semiconductor Devices	Understand outline of semiconductor devices
Class 9	Light-Emitting Diodes	Understand light-emitting diodes
Class 10	Photovoltaic Cells and Photodiodes	Understand photovoltaic cells and photodiodes
Class 11	Bipolar Transistors and Field Effect Transistors	Understand bipolar transistors and field effect transistors
Class 12	Photoelectron Spectroscopies and their Application	Understand photoelectron spectroscopies and their application
Class 13	Band Line-up	Understand band line-up
Class 14	Semiconductor Materials Design I	Understand semiconductor materials design
Class 15	Semiconductor Materials Design II	Understand semiconductor materials design

Study advice (preparation and review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

Refer to either of the following reference books.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Physics of Semiconductor Devices, S. M. Sze and Kwok. K. NG, Wiley Third edition

Evaluation methods and criteria

Assessment is based on the quality of exercise problems (100%).

Related courses

MAT.A201 ： Fundamentals of Electrical Science and Engineering
MAT.C203 ： Statistical Mechanics (Ceramics course)
MAT.C202 ： Crystal and Phonon
MAT.C305 ： Semiconductor Materials and Device
MAT.C306 ： Dielectric Materials Science
MAT.C310 ： Mathematical Methods for Materials Science
MAT.C402 ： Quantum Physics in Optical Response of Materials
MAT.C414 ： Introduction to Solid State Science
MAT.C507 ： Advanced Photo-Electronic Devices

Prerequisites

Students are encouraged to complete the related courses.