Dive into the techniques and tools used to analyze and measure semiconductor materials, ensuring their quality and performance for advanced electronic applications
The periods of our civilization have names associated with materials: the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, and the Silicon Age. Materials influence every aspect of your daily life and will continue to do so in the future. The more we understand materials, the more we can imagine the future with fantastic devices and advancements made possible by materials.
We explore “10 things,” ranging from the menu of materials available to engineers in their profession to the numerous mechanical and electrical properties of materials important for use in various engineering fields. We will also discuss the principles underlying the fabrication of these materials.
In this course, we will explore the electrical properties of materials and classify different materials as conductors, semiconductors or insulators. We will look at some examples of conductors, semiconductors and insulators, and note the key factors that cause the differences in their electrical properties.
This entry-level online course offers a brief overview of silicon-based semiconductor fabrication, geared toward engineering undergraduates, graduate students, and pre-college learners exploring career paths in the semiconductor field. No prior experience is required. Students receive an introduction to cleanroom facilities and the environment in which microfabrication takes place.
In this introductory course, the field of microfabrication and how it is used to create semiconductor and MEMS devices is presented. Learners will develop a high-level understanding of the basic principles of physics and material properties that power the functionality of these technologies.
The goal of this course is to review the fundamentals of semiconductor materials, p-n junction diodes, and MOS capacitors. There are many semiconductor technologies based on different material systems, but the most important is complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor, or CMOS for short.
Course 2 begins with the definitions of resistivity and sheet resistance of semiconductors and metals and emphasizes the importance of working with the correct units for each. We see how to calculate the sheet resistance of a thin conducting film once we know its resistivity.
MOSFET transistor switches are the workhorse of semiconductor-based electronics. In this course, we begin with MOS capacitors and see how to extract the oxide charge density, which is important for controlling the MOSFET threshold voltage. We then review MOSFET electrical characteristics and see how current-voltage measurements are used to determine the threshold voltage.
Thin-film deposition, lithography, and etching form the most fundamental processes used in microfabrication to create devices. This course introduces these processes, providing learners with an understanding of the techniques, physical phenomena, and material properties that inform fabrication decisions.
This course aims to provide a general understanding of semiconductor process. This course explores the principles and basic theory of semiconductor device and process. Furthermore, the students will learn the overall semiconductor process such as oxidation, diffusion, ion implantation, lithography, etching, thin film deposition, plasma, metallization, and packaging.
Optical and X-ray techniques are powerful ways to characterize semiconductor thin films. They can be used to measure film thickness, purity and crystalline quality, and for compositional analysis. Modern techniques are fast, turn-key, and generally non-destructive, allowing for rapid assessment of material properties.
Electron and ion beams are widely used for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of semiconductor materials and devices. They can be used to image structures with sub-nm resolution and to provide information about elemental composition and dopant concentration. This course describes the fundamentals of electron and ion beam characterization and includes a project that analyzes the surface roughness of a solar cell.
Take the first step toward advancing your career in the semiconductor industry. Learn more and become a key player in the future of technology. Priority will be given to students and faculty from educational institutions.
Professional careers is now available for the semiconductor industry.
Careers in semiconductor characterization are crucial for the ongoing development and optimization of semiconductor devices. Professionals in this field work to understand and improve the electrical properties of materials and devices, ensuring their reliability and performance. Choosing a career in semiconductor characterization opens opportunities to contribute to groundbreaking technology and innovation in the semiconductor industry.
Apply now to join one of the six Technical and Professional Skills pathways and build the skills needed to contribute to the global semiconductor ATP industry. Access curated courses and earn digital badges from leading U.S. universities to advance your career in advanced packaging.
Currently John is working as an Instructional Designer Principal for Global Outreach and Extended Education focusing on work with the International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Program. This work involves assisting faculty from six different countries in creating semiconductor credentialing programs in their home universities.
Emilia Franco is the Communications Specialist for the ITSI Project at Arizona State University (ASU). She leads the development and implementation of communication strategies, including social media campaigns, event promotion, and content creation, to amplify the project’s impact across global regions.