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Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title Nanoelectronics Technology
Module Code EEN1003 (ITS: EE559)
Faculty Engineering & Computing School Electronic Engineering
NFQ level 9 Credit Rating 7.5
Description

Nanoelectronics has become one of the most important and exciting fields in the forefront of engineering, physics, chemistry and biology. The technology and the possibilities of engineering at the nanoscale shows great promise for delivering many breakthroughs that will impact on technological advances in a wide range of applications from quantum computing, through chemical to electronic to optronic to medical.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate understanding of the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics and its applications to Nanotechnology and Nanoelectronics.
2. Develop the technical capability to assess the impact of nanoelectronics on current and future technical advancements in the field such as Graphene and CNT materials and devices.
3. Critically analyse scientific articles and literature on the subject
4. Understand the interdisciplinarity of nanoscale engineering and science by integrating principles from physics, chemistry, and engineering to create innovative solutions to complex problems.


WorkloadFull time hours per semester
TypeHoursDescription
Lecture36Formal Lectures
Assignment Completion40Research paper critique
Independent Study112Independent study and learning
Total Workload: 188
Section Breakdown
CRN10180Part of TermSemester 1
Coursework25%Examination Weight75%
Grade Scale40PASSPass Both ElementsN
Resit CategoryRC1Best MarkN
Module Co-ordinatorRajani K. VijayaraghavanModule TeacherDeiric Ó Broin, Jennifer Bruton, Patrick McNally
Section Breakdown
CRN11831Part of TermSemester 1
Coursework25%Examination Weight75%
Grade Scale40PASSPass Both ElementsN
Resit CategoryRC1Best MarkN
Module Co-ordinatorRajani K. VijayaraghavanModule TeacherDeiric Ó Broin, Jennifer Bruton, Patrick McNally
Assessment Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
AssignmentThe students will be given copies of seminal Research Paper published in recent years. This Research Paper will have had a major impact on Nanoelectronics Technology, and a selection of these will be distributed to the individual students in order to ensure that they are not all addressing the same seminal Research Paper. Certain sections of the paper will be slightly above the level of difficulty the students will have encountered during their Lectures, and they will be expected to use that knowledge to develop a critical understanding of this paper.25%n/a
Formal Examinationn/a75%End-of-Semester
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
RC1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module.
RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element.

* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Indicative Syllabus
• Introduction to Quantum Mechanics: Classical particles and phenomena, wave packets, why quantum mechanics is important • The Bohr atomic model; matter waves, the quantum wavefunction, the Schrödinger equation, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, quantum wells. • Introduction to the Physics of the Solid State: Crystal structure and lattice vibrations; energy bands, reciprocal space, effective masses, Fermi surfaces, • Localised particles e.g. donors, traps, defects in semiconductors, excitons. Methods of Measuring Properties: Crystallography – X-Ray Diffraction, scanning tunneling microscopy and atomic force microscopy. • Carbon Nanostructures: Carbon molecules, carbon clusters – C60 and fullerenes; carbon nanotubes, their properties, applications of carbon nanotubes. Graphene, properties and applications. • Bulk Nanostructured Materials, Photonic crystals. • Nanostructured Ferromagnetism: Theory of Ferromagnetism and applications to storage and spintronic systems: dynamics of nanomagnets, giant and colossal magnetoresistance • Quantum Wells, Wires and Dots: Preparation; size and dimensionality effects; excitons; quantum confinement, density of states, single-electron tunnelling; applications – IR detectors, quantum dot lasers, quantum computing • Optical and Vibrational Spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy; photoluminescence

Indicative Reading List

Books:
  • Vladimir V. Mitin,Viatcheslav A. Kochelap,Michael A. Stroscio: 2008, Introduction to Nanoelectronics, Cambridge University Press, 346, 978-0-521-88172-2
  • Douglas Natelson: 2015, Nanostructures and Nanotechnology, Cambridge University Press, 641, 9780521877008
  • Robert Puers,Livio Baldi,Marcel Van de Voorde,Sebastiaan E. van Nooten: 2017, Nanoelectronics, John Wiley & Sons, 713, 978-3-527-80073-5
  • Marc Baldo, MIT OpenCourseWare Publication: 2011, Introduction to Nanoelectronics,


Articles:
None
Other Resources

None

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