Advanced Solid-State Materials and Nanostructures

Syllabus

Α. Inorganic nanostructures and nanomaterials

1. Introduction to nanochemistry concepts

Why nano? What is Nanochemistry? Self-assembly of molecules and materials, Molecular vs. Supermolecular chemistry, “Bottom-Up” and “Top-Down” synthetic routes, Hierarchical assembly, Directing self-assembly, Size tunable physical and chemical properties of nanostructured materials, Surface vs. bulk properties of nanomaterials.

2. Chemical pattering and lithography

Scanning probe nanolithography (SPN): Scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), Photolithography, Electron-beam and focused ion-beam lithography, Nanoimprinting, Soft lithography and self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), Dip pen nanolithography (DPN).

3. Nanostructured materials

0D nanostructures: Synthesis of metal (Au, Pt) and metal oxide (ZnO, Ga2O3, SnO2) nanoparticles, Colloidal synthesis of semiconductor nanoparticles (CdQ, PbQ, Q=S, Se, Te; ZnS, InP, GaP), Self-assembly of nanoclusters and nanoparticles. 1D and 2D nanostructures: nanorods and nanowires from soft and hard templates, Semiconducting nanowires (GaN, GaAs, InAs), Carbon nanotubes.

4. 3D Nanostructures: Nanoporous materials

Supramolecular self-assembly of microporous materials (Zeolites and coordination polymers), Synthesis of periodic ordered mesoporous materials: liquid-crystal template of amphiphilic molecules and hard templating (nanocasting), Mesoporous semiconductors (Ge, GeQ, Q=S, Se, Te; CdS).

B. Synthesis and growth techniques in the solid state

5. Introduction to solid state synthesis and crystal growth

Reactions in the solid state. Ion diffusion. Epitaxy vs. Topotaxy. Crystal growth mechanisms. Laboratory Scale Crystal Growth Methods (Supersaturation in Solution, Growth from the Melt, Vapor Transport, Autoclave Growth). Industrial Scale methods (Bridgeman, Czochralski, Molecular Beam Epitaxy Methods, Autoclave Growth).

6. Deposition methods in thin films

Homogeneous Deposition (Bottom-Up Methods: Spin Coating, Spray Pyrolysis, Electro-spraying, Combustion, “Dr. Blade” method, Sputtering, Printing Top-Down Methods:  Mechanical exfoliation, Chemical exfoliation, Cleavage across Crystallographic Planes). Heterogeneous Deposition (Chemical Vapor Deposition, Atomic Layer Deposition, Sublimation).

7. Application of semiconductor thin-films 

Emerging Photovoltaics Technologies, CdTe, CIGS, CZTS, organic solar cells, Graetzel cells. Performance evaluation and Characterization.

8. Halide perovskite Semiconductors 

Synthesis and Crystal Growth of Halide Perovskites, Structure and Properties of Halide Perovskites, Optical and Electrical Properties of Halide Perovskites.

C. Opto-electronic and magnetic materials

9. Semiconductor physics and spin

Basic semiconductor physics (the role of impurities, optical orientation, selection rules and spin detection), Spin-dynamics in semiconductor quantum wells (QWs) and quantum dots (QDs), Spin scattering in semiconductor quantum wells (QWs) and quantum dots (QDs), Spin scattering in semiconductors, the Hanle effect and the measurement of the exciton recombination and spin relaxation times, spin interactions (exchange, orbital and spin coupling).

10. Spin-LEDs: Fundamental principles and applications

Si and GaAs based light emitting diodes (spin-LEDs), Spin injection contacts (Schottky and oxide-based contacts), Magnetic contacts (magnetic semiconductors and ferromagnetic metals), Faraday and Voigt geometries.

11. Spin injection from magnetic contacts to semiconductor nanostructures III-V

Spin injection, transport and dynamics from magnetic contacts (magnetic semiconductors and ferromagnetic metals) in semiconductor quantum wells and quantum dots, electrical injection and optical spin detection and selection rules.

12. Magnetism and magnetic materials

Diamagnetism, Paramagnetism (Langevin classical theory and Brillouin quantum theory), Ferromagnetism (molecular field theory), Domain walls, Fine particles and thin films (single versus multi-domain behavior, superparamagnetism in nanoparticles and alloys), Soft and hard magnetic materials (Fe-Co alloys, rare earth magnets).

13. 2D Materials: Optical and electronic properties

Graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, optical and electronic properties, photoluminescence, reflection, and Raman spectroscopy, spin-valley polarization, valley-electronics (valleytronics).

Learning Outcomes

The course aims to educate postgraduate students in the field of nanotechnology, especially on inorganic nanomaterials and their magnetic and opto-electronic properties. The course syllabus includes the following topics:

1. Modern techniques and methods (physical and chemical) for synthesis of single-crystals and inorganic nanostructured materials, with emphasis on those of nanochemistry. The study focuses on development of thin films, nanoparticles, nanotubes/nanowires and porous nanostructures.
2. An introduction to the opto-electronic and magnetic properties of semiconductor nanostructures. The basic principles of spin-electronics (spintronics) as well as the spin-dynamics in semiconductor nanostructures are described. Also, the optical and electronic properties of two-dimensional crystals, with particular emphasis on the transition metal dichalcogenides, are presented.

Students become familiar with the topics of the course through reference to the fundamental principles as well as selected examples from recent literature.

The course according to the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning belongs to level 7.

Recommended Bibliography

1. A. Ozin, A.C. Arsenault, Nanochemistry: A Chemical Approach to Nanomaterials, RSC Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2005.
2. Cao, Nanostructures and Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Properties and Applications, Imperial College Press, London, UK, 2004.
3. Dyakonov, Spin Physics in Semiconductors, Springer Series in Solid-State Sciences 157, Springer, 2008.
4. D. Cullity and C.D. Graham, Introduction to Magnetic Materials, Wiley, 2009.
5. A. R. West, Solid State Chemistry and Its Applications, Wiley, 2014.

Related academic journals

• Nature Nanotechnology
• Nature Materials
• Nature Reviews Materials
• ACS Nano
• ACS Applied Nano Materials
• Nano Letters
• Materials Horizons
• Nanoscale Horizons
• Nanomaterials