Suggested Project Topics for PC4259

Importance of surface science and technology

Surface & interface issues in Si-based microelectronics

Surface & interface issues in optoelectronics

Computational studies of surfaces

Experimental and computational studies of polar surfaces

Experimental studies of insulator surfaces

Vacuum technology, especially UHV technology

Instrumentation for surface analysis (focus on one specific techniques)

Recent advancement in surface analysis techniques

Unconventional surface analysis techniques (spin-polarized, high pressure, solid-liquid, electrochemical...)

Interface analysis techniques

Measurements of surface energy and/or stress

Measurements of ECS

Evolution of ECS with T or adsorption

LEED measurement of non-periodic structures

LEED I-V measurement for detailed surface configuration analysis

Specific applications of STM or AFM (e.g., spin-polarized, magnetic force, friction force ...)

Surface atomic structures of some important materials (e.g., Si, GaAs, SiC, GaN, Au ...)

Measurement of surface/interface states

Novel magnetic properties related to surface/interface

Surface/interface issues in organic electronics/optoelectronics

Electron-phonon coupling on surfaces

Surface plasmon in optics

Surface roughness evolution with T

Surface morphology evolution in epitaxial growth, sputtering or chemical etching

Crystal shape evolution during growth

Molecular beam epitaxy

Chemical vapor deposition

Surfactants

...