Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE ENR5003

 
TITLE Nano and Micro Technologies

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL Not Applicable

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Faculty of Engineering

 
DESCRIPTION Objectives:

To provide students with a good working knowledge and understanding of:
- the basic concepts of nanotechnology
- micro and nano materials properties and processes
- metrology in the nano scale
- nanoelectronics,

Content:

- Introduction to the Nano and Micro Scale; the length scale, review of Nanotechnology definitions and background
- Generic methodologies for nanotechnology; principles of nanostructure production, laboratory preparation, working in ultra-clean environments
- Metrology Techniques for the Micro and Nano Scale; use and operation of Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM ), Stylus Profilometry (SP), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Super Resolving Optical Microscopy (SROM)
- Micro and Nano fabrication methods and techniques; Laser machining, Photolithography, Semiconductor lithography, Microfabrication of tools for nanoscale measurements, e.g. silicon cantilever structures.
- Materials on the Nanometer scale; Introduction to nano materials, Nano structured materials, Nano powders / coatings, Assessment of nano properties
- Nanoelectronics; Semi-conductor nano-electronic devices, Spin-tronics and molecular electronics
- Nano bioengineering technology; measurement techniques of micro and nano particles in bio-systems, Nano bio materials, DNA technology
- MEMs and NEMS; Principles of operation of Micro- and Nano-Electromechanical systems, Principles of MEMS and NEMS design, Materials for MEMS / NEMS design
- Sensing and Manipulation of Micro and Nano particles - sensing and manipulation challenges at the micro and nano scales, micro sensors and actuators, and microassembly, the atomic force microscope (AFM), nanorobots and nanoassembly
- Future prospects of Nano Technology; the importance of Nano for future developments. The way forward

Reading list:

- Understanding Nanotechnology, ISBN 0446679569
- Springer Handbook of Nanotechnology, ISBN 3540012184
- Nanoscale Materials, ISBN 1402073666
- Handbook of Microscopy for Nanotechnology, ISBN 1402080034
- Nano- and Micro Electromechanical Systems, S. E. Lyshevski ISBN 0849309166

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Standard Study-Unit

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Module Result Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Jonathan C. Borg
Maurice Grech
Michael Angelo Saliba

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit