SCHOOL

Engineering

ACADEMIC UNIT

Electrical and Computer Engineering

LEVEL OF STUDIES

3

COURSE CODE

ECE_Y323

SEMESTER

3

COURSE TITLE

Electrotechnic – Electronic Materials

INDEPENDENT TEACHING ACTIVITIES
if credits are awarded for separate components of the course, e.g. lectures, laboratory exercises, etc. If the credits are awarded for the whole of the course, give the weekly teaching hours and the total credits

WEEKLY TEACHING HOURS

CREDITS

Lectures.

4

5

Problem solving.

Project per Groups (independent of the teaching hours).

Add rows if necessary. The organisation of teaching and the teaching methods used are described in detail at (d).

COURSE TYPE

general background,
special background, specialised general knowledge, skills development

General background.

PREREQUISITE COURSES:

Fundamental knowledge of Physics and Mathematics for Engineers.

LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION and EXAMINATIONS:

Greek.

IS THE COURSE OFFERED TO ERASMUS STUDENTS

NO.

COURSE WEBSITE (URL)

https://eclass.upatras.gr/courses/EE842/

Learning outcomes

The course learning outcomes, specific knowledge, skills and competences of an appropriate level, which the students will acquire with the successful completion of the course are described.

Consult Appendix A

·    Description of the level of learning outcomes for each qualifications cycle, according to the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area

·    Descriptors for Levels 6, 7 & 8 of the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning and Appendix B

·    Guidelines for writing Learning Outcomes

Interpretation and comprehension of physical and chemical properties of solid state materials employed by the modern Electrical Engineer (conductors, insulators, semiconductors, superconductors, magnetic materials etc). Interpretation and comprehension of principal effects with technological interest, which are based on the electronic properties of the matter (e.g. photoeletric, field electron emission, Meissner, Schottky etc), and corresponding structures and devices (e.g. p-n junction, LED, laser, electron microscope, motors etc). Familiarization with measuring units and evaluation of the order of magnitude for the parameters involved in the above effects. Development of critical thinking for solving problems related to the above materials and design of elementary structures for exploitation of the above effects. Brief information on the methods and industrial environments for producing modern electrotechnic materials.     

General Competences

Taking into consideration the general competences that the degree-holder must acquire (as these appear in the Diploma Supplement and appear below), at which of the following does the course aim?

Search for, analysis and synthesis of data and information, with the use of the necessary technology

Adapting to new situations

Decision-making

Working independently

Team work

Working in an international environment

Working in an interdisciplinary environment

Production of new research ideas

Project planning and management

Respect for difference and multiculturalism

Respect for the natural environment

Showing social, professional and ethical responsibility and sensitivity to gender issues

Criticism and self-criticism

Production of free, creative and inductive thinking

……

Others…

…….

Search for, analysis and synthesis of data and information, with the use of the necessary technology. Decision-making. Working independently. Team work. Working in an interdisciplinary environment. Production of free, creative and inductive thinking. Criticism and self-criticism.

Bonds between atoms: Bohr’s model of the atom, Pauli’s exclusion principle and the shell model of the atom, atoms in solids, ionic bonding, the repulsive force, metallic bond, the covalent bond, bonds between molecules, the relationship between the type of bond and the physical properties of a solid.

Crystals and crystalline solids: close-packed structures, non-close-packed structures, the crystal lattice, labelling crystal planes, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopes, allotropic phase transitions (changing the crystal structure).

Electrical properties of metals: Drude’s classical theory of electrical conduction, failures of the classical model, Bloch’s quantum theory of electrical conduction, band theory of solids, distribution of the electrons between the energy states (the Fermi-Dirac distribution), the density of states, the free electron model, the density of occupied states, band theory of electrical conduction.

Semiconductors: band theory of solids, the difference between insulators and semiconductors, holes, optical properties of semiconductors, the effective mass, n-type semiconductors, p-type semiconductors, majority and minority carriers, the Hall effect, the free electron model applied to semiconductors.  

Semiconductor devices: junctions between two metals (the contact potential), the p-n junction (a qualitative description), the p-n junction (a quantitative analysis), the p-n junction with an applied voltage (qualitatively), the p-n junction with an applied voltage (quantitatively), transistors (an introduction), bipolar transistors, the field-effect transistor, the integrated circuit, heterojunctions, optoelectronic devices.  

Magnetic properties: macroscopic magnetic quantities, atomic magnets, materials with magnetic moment, Pauli paramagnetism, Curie paramagnetism, ordered magnetic materials, temperature dependence of permanent magnets, band theory of ferromagnetism, ferromagnetic domains, soft and hard magnets, applications of magnetic materials for information storage.

Superconductivity: the discovery of superconductivity, the resistivity of a superconductor, the Meissner effect,  type II superconductors, superconductivity of superconductors, type I and type II, high-temperature superconductors, superconducting magnets, SQUID magnetometers. 

Dielectrics: induced polarization, other polarization mechanisms, the frequency dependence of the dielectric constant, resonant absorption and dipole relaxation, impurities in dielectrics, piezoelectricity, ferroelectrics, dielectric breakdown. 

Crystallization and amorphous solids: the melting point, crystallization, amorphous solids, optical properties of amorphous solids, amorphous semiconductors, amorphous magnets.

Polymers: elastic properties of rubber, the rubbery and glassy states, amorphous and crystalline polymers, oriented crystalline polymers, conducting polymers.  

DELIVERY
Face-to-face, Distance learning, etc.

Face-to-face.

USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Use of ICT in teaching, laboratory education, communication with students

Slide projection, explicating video projection, virtual experiments, small experiment demonstration and use of electronic class. 

TEACHING METHODS

The manner and methods of teaching are described in detail.

Lectures, seminars, laboratory practice, fieldwork, study and analysis of bibliography, tutorials, placements, clinical practice, art workshop, interactive teaching, educational visits, project, essay writing, artistic creativity, etc.

The student's study hours for each learning activity are given as well as the hours of non-directed study according to the principles of the ECTS

STUDENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

Description of the evaluation procedure

Language of evaluation, methods of evaluation, summative or conclusive, multiple choice questionnaires, short-answer questions, open-ended questions, problem solving, written work, essay/report, oral examination, public presentation, laboratory work, clinical examination of patient, art interpretation, other

Specifically-defined evaluation criteria are given, and if and where they are accessible to students.

Student evaluation is carried out with a three-hour written examination in Greek language. This examination counts for the 90% of the final grade, while the rest 10% refers to the examination of the project assigned. The latter is examined orally during a common presentation in presence of all Groups.  

- Suggested bibliography:

Principles of Electronic Materials and Devices, O. S. Kasap, McGraw-Hill 2002.

Epitome of Solid State Physics (in Geek), E. N. Economou, University Press, Crete.

- Related academic journals:

The library of the High Voltage Laboratory is continuously updated in respect with the international bibliography (books and journals) and it is available to students.