About the project:
Swansea University’s College of Engineering, in association with the Nano & Micro Technologies for Healthcare Project and Smart Nanotech Ltd, invite applications for a fully-funded MSc by Research Scholarship.
The aim of the project is to develop novel advanced functional anti-reflective coating technologies for Photonics, Photovoltaics and Micro-opto-electromechanical systems (MOEMS) and process technology to create a thin semiconductor wafer via a novel wafer cleaving or splitting process. The thin wafers fabricated may be adhered to a low-cost substrate. The objective is to generate a thin layer of an expensive semiconductor material on a low cost support wafer e.g. silicon.
After the splitting process, the extensive wafer may be polished and reused.
This technology has applications in the semiconductor, Concentrator Photovoltaics, LED and optical sensors for healthcare markets.
Research activities:
1. Anti-reflective coating growth and/or deposition with controlled film stress and refraction index.
2. Thin layer deposition – create a thin wafer via a Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) Process.?
3. Wafer splitting – produce thin wafers in a range of materials.
4. Fabrication of thin wafers adhered to low-cost substrates e.g. silicon wafers.
5. Characterisation
Thin wafer roughness surface morphology will be characterised using SEM and AFM. XPS will be used to identify the elemental composition and chemical state of the semiconductor film. Film resistivity and thickness will be measured using four point resistivity probe and profilometer.?
The project will be carried out at Swansea University premises.
Academic requirements:
Applicants should have (or be expecting) a 2:1 honours degree in engineering or a related discipline.
A strong interest in micro-fabrication and application of semiconductor processing technology is also desirable.?
Residency Criteria:
Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to UK/EU applicants only.
Studentship value:
The scholarship covers tuition fees of ?3996, plus an annual tax-free bursary of ?10,000.
Further information:
Dr. Owen Guy, Associate Professor, Centre for NanoHealth: Tel. +44 (0)1792 513181; Email: o.j.guy@swansea.ac.uk
Application closing date:?30th May 2014