Electronic Materials - 525.606

This course explores how materials determine the performance, reliability, and limits of electronic devices. Students learn the physics of electronic materials—band structure, carrier transport, and defect impacts—alongside classical and quantum views of electrical and thermal conduction. Topics include advanced CMOS materials (high-k dielectrics, metal gates, strain engineering, interconnects), wide-bandgap semiconductors (SiC, GaN, Ga2O3) for power and RF systems, and magnetic materials for memory, power conversion, and spintronics. Students also gain experience with materials characterization techniques (XRD, SEM/TEM, C-V, I-V, Hall) while examining industry challenges such as harsh-environment reliability, emerging memory technologies (MRAM, PCM, RRAM), and integration issues like diffusion barriers and thermal stability.

Course Prerequisite(s)

***Mechanical Engineering students only: Must complete core course first (EN.535.641 Mathematical Methods for Engineers).***