| 2. Physics and chemistry of surfaces and interfaces. Mechanical, electrical and optical effects |
Since a surface constitutes an abrupt change of the material, its physical and chemical properties will differ from those than can be found in the bulk material, constituting characteristic properties that can be of interest and can complement those of the bulk material. |
| 3. Preparation methods of surfaces. Epitaxial growth. Deposition of polycrystalline thin layers. |
Several materials properties depend on their anisotropy, and at the same time of their composition, morphology and crystal structures of the thin films. Epitaxial growth is a powerful tool that allows controlling these parameters in an efficient way. Other methodologies that allow the deposition of polycrystalline thin films will be presented, such as sputtering. |
| 4. Characterization methods of surfaces and interfaces. Morphological characterization. Physical characterization (mechanical, electrical and optical). Chemical characterization. |
This subject will cover those specific techniques for the characterization of surfaces, such as confocal and interferometric microscopy that allow the study of surfaces and interfaces in transparent materials. About the characterization of physical properties of these surfaces, the techniques that allow determining their mechanical properties will be introduced, such as the nanoindentation, their electrical properties, such as the Van der Pauw, and the 2 probes and 4 probes techniques. For the determination of the optical properties, the techniques that allow the determination of the refractive indexes and waveguides through coupling light with prism, or the determination of their luminescent properties will be presented. Finally, other tools that allow to characterize chemically the surfaces will be introduced, such as the energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDAX), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), or the Raman scattering, among others. |
| 5. Nanostructuring of surfaces. Interest of nanostructuring. Surface nanostructuring techniques (Reactive Ion Etching, ion milling, Focused Ion Beam, e-beam lithography, etc.). Effects of nanostructuring. Observation and measurement techniques. |
Here the nanostructuring of surface through wet and dry chemical etching techniques will be presented, giving an introduction to the different techniques that allow developing such structuring. Also, the effects of this nanostructuring on the physical and chemical properties will be analyzed. |
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