SEMICONDUCTOR RESEARCH & EXPERTISE AREAS
Center for Electron Microscopy & Nanofabrication (CEMN)
CEMN was established at PSU in 2003 and became an ONAMI Signature Research Center in 2006. CEMN currently features a Zeiss Scanning Electron Microscope, an FEI Dual-Beam DB237 FIB System for sample patterning and extraction, and a KJ Lesker PVD system. Full conventional sample preparation facilities are also available. PSU's faculty in the Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Mechanical and Materials Engineering, and Electrical and Computer Engineering Departments conduct externally-funded research projects on diverse topics, including nanomaterials synthesis, nanodevice fabrication, and nanometrology development. Since 2017 and including the pandemic period, the CEMN has assisted data collection for the theses of at least over 100 students (PhD, MS, and BS Honors), and its instrumentation has further provided hands-on experience to 60+ upper division students per year in our electron microscopy courses.
Semiconductor and Microelectronics Industry Competencies
Failure Analysis, Materials Failure Analysis
Thin Films, Film Deposition, CVD, PVD
Metrology
Computation and Simulation
Statistical Process Control/Statistical Methods (JMP, R, Six Sigma)
Experimental Design, DOE, Design Engineering Experiments
CMOS Technology
Supply Chain Logistics, Sustainability
Sustainable Processes
Engineering Material Science
Phase Transformations and Kinetics in Materials
Scanning Electron Microscopy for Materials & Device Characterization
Transmission Electron Microscopy and Chemical Analaysis of Materials
Electronic Packaging
Diffusion
Advanced Silicon Processing
Advanced Materials Characterizations
Semiconductor Device Theory
Semiconductor Process/Device Simulation
Semiconductor Characterization
Solid State Devices
Semiconductor Facilities and Cleanroom Practice
Statistics & Applied Probability
Quality Control
Reliability Engineering
Concepts in Materials Science
Microelectronics
Materials Surface Analysis (STM, AFM, SIMS, Raman Spectroscopy, XPS/UPS/AES)
Digital Image Sensors
First-principles simulations of semiconductors (transport process, defects, optical properties)
Electron and Ion Emitter Development
RF/DC Plasma research and development
Lasers (Ultra-fast)/Optics/Engraving-cutting
Vacuum Technology