Course syllabus for Molecular electronics

Course syllabus adopted 2021-02-26 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameMolekylelektronik
  • CodeMCC075
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPNAT
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyElectrical Engineering, Engineering Physics
  • DepartmentMICROTECHNOLOGY AND NANOSCIENCE
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 18122
  • Maximum participants20
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0107 Examination 7.5 c
Grading: TH		7.5 c0 c0 c0 c0 c0 c
  • 29 Okt 2021 am J_DATA
  • Contact examiner
  • Contact examiner

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

University level of Quantum Physics.

Aim

The objective of the course is to give an exposure to the emerging field of molecular electronics with single molecules. The aim is to give an introduction into experimental techniques and theoretical concepts for electron transport through single molecule devices, and familiarize the students with the basic concepts for describing and simulating the physical properties of such systems.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

Following the course, you should be able to - describe the basic regimes of charge transport through single molecule devices, such as Coulomb blockade, quantum coherent transport, and Kondo effect. - explain the role of coupling between molecules and electrodes. - model orbitals of simple molecules, using analytical methods and numerical methods based on available computational packages. - describe the influence of internal degrees of freedom in molecular charge transport, such as electromechanical effects, vibrational effects, and molecular switching mechanisms. - model current transport in the sequential tunneling regime and explain how it is affected by molecular properties. - model current transport in the quantum coherent transport regime and explain how it is affected by molecular properties. - describe available experimental techniques and concepts for studies of current transport though single molecule devices. - describe chemical motifs for molecular switches, rectifiers, and transistors. - describe chemical concepts for self-assembly of molecular devices.

Content

The course will contain lectures on the prospects for single-molecule electronics, methods for contacting molecules and measuring current transport through them, and basic theory of current transport through single molecules with focus on the sequential tunneling regime and the quantum coherent regime. The lectures will be supplemented with problem solving classes and two computational exercises.

Organisation

The course includes a series of lectures and problem solving classes. There are computational exercises on (1) orbital modeling with density functional theory, and (2) Coulomb blockade, each carried out in small groups of maximum two students and reported in writing and orally.

Literature

Notes from lectures and exercise classes. Suggested course literature: Molecular Electronics: An Introduction To Theory And Experiment (World Scientific Series in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology) Juan Carlos Cuevas and Elke Scheer World Scientific Publishing ISBN-10: 9814282588 ISBN-13: 978-9814282581

Examination including compulsory elements

Written exam. Oral and written reports of student group work with computational exercises.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.