On successful completion of the course the student should be able to:
- understand the essential features of the various models;
- to explain using the models the physical and chemical properties of solids that rely on valence electrons either in the bulk or at interfaces (e.g. electrical, optical, optoelectrical properties);
- to explain the relation between fundamental properties and the various applications;
- to read the current literature in this research area.

 

 

• First contact with the methods and language of solid state physics
• Basic understanding of the behavior of nearly free electrons in solids
• Basic understanding of the properties of metals and semiconductors
• Basic understanding of electrons in surfaces and in 2-D systems, such as graphene

Delocalized electrons in solids play an essential role in many important applications, e.g. microelectronics (integrated circuits, memories), optoelectronics (lasers, solar cells), interfacial chemistry (catalysis, colloid chemistry, electrochemistry) and advanced measurement techniques (scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy). In this course the following themes will be considered:

• the theory of electrons in solids and at surfaces (the Sommerfeld model for free electrons, the almost-free electron model related to the band structure of solids, tight-binding approximations, surface states);
• electrons in 2-D lattices, 2-D band structure, graphene
• applications of these systems in LEDs and solar cells

The student is expected to study the lecture notes, preferably in advance of the lecture and to solve the problems during or after tutorial sessions. The course will conclude with a visit to scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy lab of Vanmaekelbergh/Swart.