Institute of Microelectronics

Masters and PhD thesis available in the micro and nano patterning group of the Institute of Microelectronics
Contact point: Dr Evangelos Gogolides, tel: (+30) 2106503237

1. Nanotexturing of polymers in plasmas: A simulation study
Thematic area: Simulation of nanofabrication and nanomanufacturing; smart self cleaning surfaces
Plasma processing of polymers creates nanotexture on their surface. This may be valuable for the creation of superhydrophobic, smart, self-cleaning surfaces, protein adsorption, bioanalytic applications etc. The purpose of this thesis is to examine simple simulation ideas to explain the development of the nanotexture using Monte Carlo techniques.
Background knowledge: Programming in C++, fundamentals of polymer and plasma physics and chemistry, statistical physics, mathematics.
Funding: available
Level: MSc Thesis, and possible continuation in PhD thesis, (in combination with 2).

2. Nanotexturing and nanopatterning of polymers in plasmas: An experimental study
Thematic area: Micro and fabrication and manufacturing; smart self cleaning surfaces; stochastic nanopatterning
Plasma processing of polymers creates nanotexture on their surface. This may be valuable for the creation of superhydrophobic, smart, self-cleaning surfaces, and nano electronic devices. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the technology viability for both of the above applications.
Background Knowledge: Clean rooms, micropatterning techniques, plasma etching fundamentals, careful experimentation.
Funding: proposal submitted
Level: MSc thesis and possible continuation in PhD thesis (in combination with 1)

3. Etching of nanocomposite materials: A simulation study, and experiments
Thematic area: Nanomaterials simulation and processing
Nanocomposite materials contain a nanoscale shaped phase into an amorphous matrix and poses advanced properties compared to classical materials. The unveiling of the morphology of the nano-phase entails the use of advanced techniques such as TEM. In this work we explore the use of plasma etching and subsequent SEM imaging as an alternative easy to implement method. First, a theoretical analysis is done using Monte Carlo methods, and experimental evidence through etching of nanocomposites comes to model validation.
Background knowledge: Programming in C++, fundamentals of materials science, statistical physics, mathematics.
Funding: available
Level: MSc Thesis, and possible continuation in PhD thesis.

4. Metrology at the Nanoscale using SEM (scanning electron microscope) and AFM (atomic force microscope) images
Thematic area: Nanometrology
Metrology at the nanoscale entails image analysis of SEM in order to extract the nanoscale image borders, and subsequent mathematical treatment of the border using fractal analysis. The same fractal analysis can be performed in AFM images. Such software exists already. It is the purpose of the thesis to further improve the software both by performing more mathematic operations, and by improving the Graphical User Interface and transferability of the codes.
Background Knowledge: Programming in C++, Graphic User Interfaces, good programming skills, image analysis.
Funding: available
Level: MSc and possible continuation in PhD thesis.

5. A Multi level and multiscale plasma simulation software tool
Thematic area: Simulation and Design for micro and nanomanufacturing, microelectronics and microsystem fabrication
Plasma processing is complex and the demands placed on it as we fabricate nanoscale features are very tight. No complete plasma simulator exists to facilitate design for manufacturing. Our approach is to use many levels of simulation comprising plasma phase, surface chemistry, profile evolution, nanoscale features. In addition many scales of simulation will be probed (macro and micro scales with continuum models, nano scale with Monte Carlo methods). Several of the modules exist already. The challenge is to create a link and systematic coupling as well a robust software tool, and prove the concept in specific applications.
Background: C++ programming, Python programming, Simulation with continuum or Monte Carlo methods.
Funding: available
Level: MSc and or PhD for software engineers, chemical engineers,

6. Seeking the origins of anomalous kinetic roughening through simple Monte Carlo models
Thematic area: Non-Equilibirum physics at the nanoscale
The interest in the evolution of surface roughness (kinetic roughening) has enhanced last years mainly due to its increasing impact on surface behavior at nanometer scale. Also kinetic roughening presents strong theoretical appeal since it is a far from equilibrium process where scale invariance was initially assumed to dominate. However, many experiments show deviations of the kinetic roughening from scale invariance associated with the appearance of large local slopes on the surface and exhibit anomalous scaling behavior. The purpose of the thesis is to identify simple mechanisms originating the anomalous scaling behavior. The methodology will be the Monte Carlo simulation of simple models of the fundamental treating process of film surfaces.
Background: Programming skills, statistical physics, statistics, mathematics
Funding: available
Level : Level; MSc and possible continuation in PhD.

7. Fabrication and electrokinetic Transport measurements in microfluidic devices for analytic applications
Thematic area: Nanobiotechnology, microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip devices
Recently our group proposed lithography and plasma etching as fabrication methodology for microfluidic devices. Characterization of the electrokinetic transport in such devices is very important, as well as measurement of the electokinetic flows. The purpose of this thesis is to fabricate and characterize such devices in PMMA and PET.
Background Knowledge: Chemistry, or fabrication technology, or analytic chemistry
Funding: available
Level: MSc and possible continuation in PhD

8. Two dimensional electrophoresis on chip for protein: Design and fabrication of devices
Thematic area: Nanobiotechnology, microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip devices, proteomics
Miniaturization of analysis methods such as SDS page methods offers extreme advantages in time and sensitivity. Microfluidics fabrication can offer great advantages in this respect. The purpose of the thesis is the design and fabrication of two dimensional electrophoresis systems on chip
Background: Analytical Chemistry, microfabrication
Funding: available
Level; MSc and possible continuation in PhD.

9. Fluid flow in nanostuctured microfluidic channels
Thematic area: Micro-nano fluidics, transport phenomena in the nanoscale
Microfluidic channels are used for separations in chemistry and biology. Pressure driven flow or electrokinetic transport is the flow actuation mechanism. The flow is affected by the nanoroughness of the microchannel, and new phenomena are coming into play as the dimensions of the channel are reduced. In collaboration with other teams, we will measure the flow in situ with flow sensors in the microchannel, compare with classical hydrodynamic predictions, and examine the effect of nanoroughness on the flow.
Background knowledge: Basic Fluid mechanics, microfabrication
Funding: available
Level: MSc and possible continuation in PhD.