Techniques for Materials characterization

Objectives

This course has the objective of giving a theoretical and practical training in various techniques for materials characterization such as Optical Microscopy, XRD, XRF, SEM, EDS, FIB, TEM, Infrared and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The main intent is to turn clear to the students at an early stage of their academic path which are the most adequate characterization techniques answering to the questions they have regarding a certain material/device.

General characterization

Code

9477

Credits

6.0

Responsible teacher

Rui Jorge Cordeiro Silva

Hours

Weekly - 4

Total - 77

Teaching language

Português

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of chemistry, physics and materials science

Bibliography

- D. Skoog et al., "Principles of Instrumental analysis", 6th edition, Cencage learning, 2007. 

- C. Brundle, C. Evans, S. Wilson, "Encyclopedia of Materials Characterization", Butterworth-Heinemann, 1992.

- D. K. Schroder, "Semiconductor Material and Device Characterization", 3rd ed., Wiley, 2006.

- J. Goldstein et al., "Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray Microanalysis", Springer, 2003.

Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray Microanalysis and Analytical Electron Microscopy; C. E. Lyman, J. Goldstein, D.E.Newbury et al.

- E. Lifshin (ed.), "X-ray characterization of materials", Wiley Verlag GmbH, 2008.

- O. Stenzel, "The Physics of Thin Film Optical Spectra: An Introduction", Springer, 2014. 

- V. Tolstoy, I. Chernyshova, V. Skryshevsky, "Handbook of Infrared Spectroscopy of Ultrathin Films", Wiley, New Jersey, 2003

- H. Fujiwara, "Spectroscopic Ellipsometry: Principles and Applications", Wiley, West Sussex, 2007

Teaching method

The program is divided in theoretical and lab classes, 2 and 3 hours per week, respectively, being splited in 4 modules, each one focusing one (or a group) of characterization techniques: XRF-XRD, Optical Microscopy, SEM-EDS-FIB-TEM, spectroscopies.
The thematics are exposed in the lectures with the support of ppts with the basic concepts of the techniques, required tools and aplicability for the analysis of materials and devices.
In the lab classes the students have contact with the characterization techniques focused in the lectures. The main objective is to demonstrate the operation of the techniques using materials produced within the framework of running research projects. 
The students are evaluated with two tests and tow small quizzes about the different characterization techniques.

Evaluation method

Final grade

The final grade is calculated based on the grade obtained in the evaluations of each of the modules. The weighting of the modules'' grade in the final grade will depend on the student''s effort (counted by the propoortion of classses of the module).

 Frequency and approval

- Frequency: attend 2/3 of the lab session and average of the 2 questionnaires> = 9.5 points
- Pass - frequency and average of 2 tests or exam> = 9.5 in 20 (47.5%)

 Notes on attendance and lab sessions:

Students who have attained the 2016/2017 and beyond academic year need not attend the lab sessions and assessment of that component.

Students with frequencies obtained in previous years must attend the lab sessionss and pass the practical evaluation to obtain frequency.

Subject matter

XRF and XRD: Bragg Law. Computation of structure factors. Wavelength dispersion spectrometer. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.

OPTICAL MICROSCOPY: Light. Visible light spectrum and colors. Laws of refraction, reflection and diffraction of light.. Main types of optical microscopes, transmission and reflected microscopes. Basics and main components of an optical light microscope. Convex and concave lenses, the focal length and ray diagrams of a lens. Image of an object. Definition of image resolution and magnification. Optical aberrations of lens. Magnification, numerical aperture and resolving power of a single lens.  Illumination system. Optical components: condenser, eyepieces and  objective lens. Types of objective lenses (achromat, fluorite or semiapochromat and apochromat lens). Magnification, numerical aperture, and resolving power of objectives lenses. Depth of field. Immersion lenses. Aperture and field diaphragms. Cameras and digital image. Contrast methods in light microscopy: bright field, oblique illumination, dark field, Rheinberg contrast, polarized light, phase contrast and differential interference contrast (DIC). Fluorescence microscopy. 

ELECTRON MICROSCOPY: Electron Beam versus Light. Main types of electron microcopes TEM, SEM and STEM. Electron detectors. X-ray detectors. Contrast methods used in SEM. Topographic contrast. Elementary analysis in SEM-EDS/WDS. Focused Ion Beam (FIB)

OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY: Infrared spectroscopy; Transmission spectroscopy in the near IR, visible, and UV range; Spectroscopic ellipsometry. Characterization of thin films of amorphous silicon and zinc oxide, using these techniques for the determination of the film''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s thickness, composition, optical properties (refractive index, optical gap, absorption coefficient, etc..). Raman spectroscopy

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: