Point defects and diffusion

Program (detailed contents):
 Introduction: The role of diffusion mechanisms and defects in materials.
 I- Nature of defects: volumetric, surface, linear, point defects, in crystalline materials, ionic crystals, amorphous solids. 
 II – Thermodynamic aspects of point defects: enthalpy of formation, enthalpy of migration, defect concentration at thermodynamic equilibrium.
 III – Basics of diffusion: flow equation, Fick’s laws, macroscopic aspects, microscopic aspects, calculating the diffusion coefficient, influence of temperature.
 IV – Defect generation and annihilation: generation of defects by radiation exposure and diffusion (lacunae, amorphization, doping), annihilation of defects by heat treatment.
 V – Electronic and optical properties: colored centers in ionic crystals, the effect of doping in semiconductor materials.
  VI – Techniques for measuring defect concentration: electrical, geometric and specific heat measurements.
 VII – Applications.