Diode - pn Junction and Metal Semiconductor Contact (Coursera)

Diode - pn Junction and Metal Semiconductor Contact (Coursera)

This course presents in-depth discussion and analysis of pn junction and metal-semiconductor contacts including equilibrium behavior, current and capacitance responses under bias, breakdown, non-rectifying behavior, and surface effect. You'll work through sophisticated analysis and application to electronic devices.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

At the end of this course learners will be able to:

  1. Analyze pn junction at equilibrium and under bias, capacitance and current characteristics, and breakdown behavior
  2. Analyze metal-semiconductor contact at equilibrium and under bias, capacitance and current characteristics, non-rectifying contact and surface effects.

Course 2 of 3 in the Semiconductor Devices Specialization.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
PN Junction at Equilibrium
In this module, we look at pn junction in equilibrium. Topics include: Device structure for pn junction, Energy band diagram at equilibrium for pn junction, Depletion approximation for step junction, Poisson's equation for step junction, Energy band diagram of pn step junction, Beyond depletion approximation, Poisson's equation, Energy band diagram for linearly graded junction, Energy band diagram for heterojunction, and Effect of band alignment for heterojunction.

WEEK 2
PN Junction Under Bias
In this module on pn junction under bias, we will cover the following topics: Energy band diagram of pn junction under bias, Capacitance-voltage characteristics, Impact ionization, Avalanche breakdown, Avalanche breakdown voltages, Tunneling current, Zener breakdown, Energy band diagram of pn junction under forward bias, Continuity equation, Boundary conditions, Ideal diode equation, Long- and short-base diodes, Recombination and generation in depletion region, Non-ideal current, Effect of band alignment, and Diffusion and thermionic emission currents.

WEEK 3
Metal-Semiconductor Contact
In this module on metal semiconductor contacts, we will cover the following topics: Device structure, Equilibrium energy band diagram, Electrostatic analysis, Energy band diagram under bias, Capacitance-voltage characteristics, Image charge, Dependence of barrier height on electric field, Energy band diagram of Schottky contact under bias, Thermionic emission current, Ohmic contact by heavy doping in semiconductor, Ohmic contact by low metal work function, Surface states, Fermi level pinning.

WEEK 4
Optoelectronic Devices
In this module on LEDs, we will cover the follow topics: Basic operating principles of LEDs, Survey of LEDs, Blue LED and solid state lighting, Basic principle of semiconductor laser, Condition for net stimulated emission, Types of semiconductor laser, Photodiode, Avalanche photodiode, Solar cell operating principle, and I-V characteristics and power output.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Mécanique de Newton (Coursera) Coursera
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Mécanique de Newton (Coursera)

À l’École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, un cours de mécanique fait partie de la formation de tous les futurs ingénieurs et scientifiques. Il a pour but de leur apprendre à transcrire sous forme mathématique un phénomène physique, afin de pouvoir en formuler une analyse raisonnée. Cette partie couvrira notamment la cinématique du point matériel, la balistique dans le champ de la pesanteur et l’oscillateur harmonique.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Fundamentals of Semiconductor Characterization (Coursera) Coursera
Arizona State University

Fundamentals of Semiconductor Characterization (Coursera)

The goal of this course is to review the fundamentals of semiconductor materials, p-n junction diodes, and MOS capacitors. There are many semiconductor technologies based on different material systems, but the most important is complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor, or CMOS for short. This course will focus on semiconductor materials and devices relevant to CMOS manufacturing, but the concepts can be applied much more broadly.

Sep 14th 2026
4 Weeks
Solid State Devices 1 (edX) EdX
Purdue University,PurdueX

Solid State Devices 1 (edX)

Semiconductor are everywhere in human activities, from your credit card to space exploration. This graduate-level introduction brings aspects of physics, chemistry, and engineering together to understand, analyze, and design transistors and solar cells. This course provides the graduate-level introduction to understand, analyze, characterize and design the operation of semiconductor devices such as transistors, diodes, solar cells, light-emitting devices, and more.

Jan 9th 2023
13-24 Weeks
Introduction to Faecal Sludge Management (Coursera) Coursera
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Introduction to Faecal Sludge Management (Coursera)

Do you want learn how to apply concepts of sustainable faecal sludge management (FSM) on a city-wide scale? This course starts with an overview of what faecal sludge is and an introduces you to the engineering fundamentals and required information for the design and selection of technologies. Sanitation solutions are prone to failure if an integrated planning approach that includes stakeholder involvement and the development of appropriate institutional, management and financial arrangements is not implemented.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Mastering bitumen for better roads and innovative applications (Coursera) Coursera
École des Ponts ParisTech

Mastering bitumen for better roads and innovative applications (Coursera)

During the four coming weeks, best experts in bitumen will bring you their knowledge and experience to build a strong understanding of today’s realities and new perspectives on the future of bitumen. Total is the European leader on bitumen markets. Innovation has always been the key to sustainability and durability in the products they develop. Their main objective here is to share technical knowledge and experience to insure bitumen are being used in the most effective and efficient ways for their different applications in road works.

Oct 5th 2026
4 Weeks
The Finite Element Method for Problems in Physics (Coursera) Coursera
University of Michigan

The Finite Element Method for Problems in Physics (Coursera)

This course is an introduction to the finite element method as applicable to a range of problems in physics and engineering sciences. The treatment is mathematical, but only for the purpose of clarifying the formulation. The emphasis is on coding up the formulations in a modern, open-source environment that can be expanded to other applications, subsequently.

Oct 5th 2026
13-24 Weeks
Particle Physics: an Introduction (Coursera) Coursera
University of Geneva

Particle Physics: an Introduction (Coursera)

This course introduces you to subatomic physics, i.e. the physics of nuclei and particles. More specifically, the following questions are addressed: What are the concepts of particle physics and how are they implemented?; What are the properties of atomic nuclei and how can one use them?; How does one accelerate and detect particles and measure their properties?; What does one learn from particle reactions at high energies and particle decays?; How do electromagnetic interactions work and how can one use them?; How do strong interactions work and why are they difficult to understand?; How do weak interactions work and why are they so special?; What is the mass of objects at the subatomic level and how does the Higgs boson intervene?; How does one search for new phenomena beyond the known ones?; What can one learn from particle physics concerning astrophysics and the Universe as a whole?

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Electrical Characterization: Diodes (Coursera) Coursera
Arizona State University

Electrical Characterization: Diodes (Coursera)

Course 2 begins with the definitions of resistivity and sheet resistance of semiconductors and metals and emphasizes the importance of working with the correct units for each. We see how to calculate the sheet resistance of a thin conducting film once we know its resistivity. A method to determine the contact resistance using the transfer length method is described, along with the definition of the specific contact resistivity. Current-voltage (IV) measurements of p-n junction diodes are used to extract key device parameters such as the ideality factor and series resistance.

Sep 14th 2026
5-12 Weeks
High Voltage Schottky and p-n Diodes (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

High Voltage Schottky and p-n Diodes (Coursera)

This course can also be taken for academic credit as ECEA 5722, part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering. This course is primarily aimed at first year graduate students interested in engineering or science, along with professionals with an interest in power electronics and semiconductor devices .

Sep 21st 2026
4 Weeks
Mécanique Lagrangienne (Coursera) Coursera
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Mécanique Lagrangienne (Coursera)

Le formalisme de Lagrange permet une résolution efficace de problèmes complexes de mécanique. Il permet aussi d'apporter un éclairage plus fondamental sur les lois de conservation (théorème de Noether). A titre d'illustration de la méthode de Lagrange, on traitera le problème très important des oscillateurs harmoniques couplés, exprimé comme un problème de valeurs propres et de vecteurs propres. On termine avec un formalisme permettant d'analyser les résonances paramétriques, notion illustrée par l'expérience montrant la stabilité d'un pendule inversé forcé.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Fundamentals of Fluid-Solid Interactions (Coursera) Coursera
École Polytechnique

Fundamentals of Fluid-Solid Interactions (Coursera)

What is fluid-solid interactions ? It is what happens when the motions of a fluid and of a solid are somehow coupled. This happens all the time, around you when leaves flutter in the wind, inside you when your heart beats, above you when wings of a plane vibrate, under the sea... The idea behind this MOOC is to give you the basic tools to be able to predict and eventually mitigate things called flutter, galloping, sloshing, vortex-induced vibrations, added mass, to cite a few. We are going to consider any possible domains of applications such as civil engineering, aerospace engineering, nuclear engineering , ocean engineering, biomechanics and even food processing !

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks