Atoms to Devices: Sustainable Semiconductor Engineering

3-1-8 units · Undergraduate

Introduces students to semiconductor manufacturing through the design and fabrication of solar cells, with a focus on sustainability and design integration. Fundamentals of experimental design, error analysis, and data visualization are covered before progressing through key fabrication steps: wafer cleaning, diffusion, anti-reflection coating, lithography, metallization, and device testing. Students observe cleanroom fabrication at MIT.nano and perform complementary experiments in DMSE teaching labs and the DMSE Breakerspace. Teams create their own solar cell design variants (contact geometry, anti-reflection coating thickness, emitter depth, cell area) using maskless lithography, then measure and analyze their devices. Life-cycle assessment and cost analysis of semiconductor processes are emphasized, and responsible use of generative AI tools is incorporated in project work. Limited to 24 due to lab space constraints.