UNIT I DIELECTRIC MATERIALS AND INSULATION

Matter polarization and relative permittivity: definition – dipole moment and polarization vector Ppolarization mechanisms: electronic, ionic, orientational, interfacial and total polarization – frequency dependence – local field and Causius-Mossetti equation – dielectric constant and dielectric loss – Gauss’s law and boundary conditions – dielectric strength, introduction to insulation breakdown in gases, liquids and solids – capacitor materials – typical capacitor constructions – piezoelectricity, ferroelectricity and pyroelectricity – quartz oscillators and filters – piezo and pyroelectric crystals.

UNIT II ELECTRICAL AND MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS

Classical free electron theory – Expression for electrical conductivity – Thermal conductivity, expression – Quantum free electron theory :Tunneling – degenerate states – Fermi- Dirac statistics – Density of energy states – Electron in periodic potential – Energy bands in solids – tight binding approximation – Electron effective mass – concept of hole. Magnetic materials: Dia, para and ferromagnetic effects – paramagnetism in the conduction electrons in metals – exchange interaction and ferromagnetism – quantum interference devices – GMR devices.

 UNIT III SEMICONDUCTORS AND TRANSPORT PHYSICS

Intrinsic Semiconductors – Energy band diagram – direct and indirect band gap semiconductors – Carrier concentration in intrinsic semiconductors – extrinsic semiconductors – Carrier concentration in N-type & P-type semiconductors – Variation of carrier concentration with temperature – Carrier transport in Semiconductors: Drift, mobility and diffusion – Hall effect and devices – Ohmic contacts – Schottky diode.

UNIT IV OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS

Classification of optical materials – Optical processes in semiconductors: optical absorption and emission, charge injection and recombination, optical absorption, loss and gain. Optical processes in quantum wells – Optoelectronic devices: light detectors and solar cells – light emitting diode – laser diode – optical processes in organic semiconductor devices –excitonic state – Electro-optics and nonlinear optics: Modulators and switching devices – plasmonics.

UNIT V NANO DEVICES

Density of states for solids – Significance between Fermi energy and volume of the material – Quantum confinement – Quantum structures – Density of states for quantum wells, wires and dots – Band gap of nanomaterials –Tunneling – Single electron phenomena – Single electron Transistor. Conductivity of metallic nanowires – Ballistic transport – Quantum resistance and conductance – Carbon nanotubes: Properties and applications – Spintronic devices and applications – Optics in quantum structures – quantum well laser.