Autumn Semester

Unit(s) of Assessment	Weighting Towards Module Mark( %)
Unseen examination	100%

 Level 2 Semiconductors or equivalent

To provide students with:

(i)                  an appreciation of the background and current status of nanotechnology,

(ii)                an understanding of relevant basic scientific principles underpinning nanotechnology, including the importance of quantum effects in matter,

(iii)               an appreciation of some important nanomaterials, their growth and characterisation,

      (iv)       an appreciation of relevant tools and processes for   measuring and characterising nanosize objects.

At the end of this module students are expected to be able to:

(i)                  summarise general issues relating to nanotechnology;

(ii)                demonstrate an understanding of relevant theoretical ideas,

(iii)               perform simple quantum mechanical calculations,

(iv)              describe some of the characteristics of selected nanomaterials and

       (v)      discuss the operation and use of some common tools of nanotechnology.

1. Introduction and basic theory

(i)               Origins and nature of nanotechnology. 

(ii)              Nanotechnology in society, current issues.

(iii)            Quantum nature of matter. Electron energy levels. Wavefunctions and tunnelling. Solving simple quantum problems.

(iv)            Electron field emission and displays

2. Nanomaterials

(i)               Length scales, top-down and bottom-up approaches to nanotechnology.  Common growth methods. Vapour-solid-liquid. 

(ii)              Properties of selected nanomaterials, including carbon nanotubes, other carbon based materials and metallic nanoclusters and nanowires.

3. Scanning Probe Microscopy

(i)               Scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy

(ii)              Atomic and molecular manipulation – lateral manipulation and 2D quantum corrals, vertical manipulation, 1D quantum structures, tip induced effects, Ullmann process.

4. Tools of Nanotechnology: Electron and Ion based methods

(i)               Electron and ion sources, Field-ion microscope and atom-probe. Focused Ion Beam machines. 

(ii)              High-resolution electron microscopy including TEM and aberration corrected TEM.

  (iii)      Lithography, X-Ray, proton beam, microbeam techniques.

Lectures: 30 hours lectures in total, 3 hours per week

Private study of specified articles 

1. Nanophysics and nanotechnology by Edward Wolf, An Introduction to Modern Concepts in Nanoscience, 2^nd Edition, ISBN 3527406514 (2006)

    

2.   Waser. R. (ed) Nanoelectronics and Information Technology:  Advanced Electronic Materials and Novel Devices (Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2003)

13th August 2008