ENEL491-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026

Nano Engineered Devices

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 16 February 2026
End Date: Sunday, 21 June 2026
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 1 March 2026
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 10 May 2026

Description

Micro- and nano-electronic device design and fabrication technology. Physics of electronic materials. Advanced semiconductor devices. Solar cells design and fabrication. Future trends in nano-electronics. Micro- and nano-fluidics and their applications.

This course will equip you with advanced knowledge of electronic materials and devices, as well as a fundamental understanding of semiconductor device design and processing techniques, in particular solar cell design and fabrication, future trends in bio-nanotechnology and micro-fluidics and an introduction to emerging nanoscale devices.

The main areas of study are:
(1) micro- and nano-electronic device design and fabrication technologies;
(2) physics of electronic materials;
(3) advanced semiconductor devices;
(4) solar cell design and fabrication;
(5) current and future trends in nano-electronics;
(6) micro- and nano-fluidics and their device applications.

Learning Outcomes

  • At the conclusion of this course you should be able to:

  • LO1: Understand the principles of nanotechnology and nanoscience. (WA1)

  • LO2: Appreciate the processing and engineering technologies used in the fabrication of semiconductor micro- and nano-engineered devices and in microfluidic devices. (WA1)

  • LO3: Apply physical science and engineering principles to the design, fabrication and testing of solar cell devices in individual and group settings. (WA1, WA2, WA3, WA4)

  • LO4: Appraise and evaluate current emerging research and applications of semiconductor and microfluidic micro- and nano-devices and associated technologies. (WA2, WA4, WA11)

  • LO5: Communicate investigation outcomes in oral and written form. (WA9)
    • University Graduate Attributes

      This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

      Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

      Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

      Employable, innovative and enterprising

      Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

Prerequisites

Timetable 2026

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 16:00 - 17:00 A6 Lecture Theatre
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 17:00 - 18:00 E16 Lecture Theatre
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
Lecture C
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Thursday 13:00 - 14:00 A5 Lecture Theatre
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
Lab A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 15:00 - 16:30 Elec 102 Nano Lab
2 Mar - 22 Mar
02 Wednesday 10:00 - 11:30 Elec 102 Nano Lab
2 Mar - 22 Mar
03 Thursday 11:30 - 13:00 Elec 102 Nano Lab
2 Mar - 22 Mar
04 Tuesday 12:00 - 13:30 Elec 102 Nano Lab
2 Mar - 22 Mar
05 Tuesday 10:00 - 11:30 Elec 102 Nano Lab
2 Mar - 22 Mar
06 Thursday 15:00 - 16:30 Elec 102 Nano Lab
2 Mar - 22 Mar
07 Thursday 09:30 - 11:00 Elec 102 Nano Lab
2 Mar - 22 Mar
08 Wednesday 13:00 - 14:30 Elec 102 Nano Lab
2 Mar - 22 Mar

Examinations, Quizzes and Formal Tests

Test A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 19:00 - 20:15 Rata 222 & 223 Drawing Office
23 Mar - 29 Mar

Course Coordinator

Volker Nock

Lecturer

Martin Allen

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Test 25%
Lab Report 25%
Scientific Paper Assignment 25%
Final Examination 25%

Textbooks / Resources

Recommended Reading

Folch i Folch, Albert; Introduction to bioMEMS ; CRC Press, 2013.

Geschke, Oliver. , Klank, Henning., Telleman, Pieter; Microsystem engineering of lab-on-a-chip devices ; 2nd rev. and enl. ed; Wiley-VCH, 2008.

Sze, S. M. , Lee, M. K; Semiconductor devices, physics and technology ; 3rd ed; Wiley, 2012.

Additional Course Outline Information

Academic integrity

Scaling of marks:

In order to maintain consistency across courses and fairness for students, scaling of raw marks occurs. In the Faculty of Engineering, target course GPAs are calculated based on the performance of the cohort of students in their courses in the previous year. Scaling of the raw total course marks is normally performed so that when converted to grades (using UC Grade Scale) the outgoing GPA is in line with the target GPA for a course. Scaling up or down can occur.
The Grading Scale for the University:
https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/study/study-support-info/study-related-topics/grading-scale

Artificial Intelligence Tools:

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for each of the assessments in ENEL491 is summarised below. No AI use is allowed in the tests and exam because these are closed-book invigilated assessments. Students are always responsible for the accuracy of the submitted works, regardless of which tools are used.

Assessment Item and Permitted use of AI
Laboratories: Generative AI tools are not restricted for this assessment.
Laboratory Report: Generative AI Tools Are Permitted for Certain Parts of This Assessment
Assignment: Generative AI Tools Are Permitted for Certain Parts of This Assessment
Test: Generative AI tools cannot be used for this assessment.
Exam: Generative AI tools cannot be used for this assessment.

Generative AI Tools Are Permitted for Certain Parts of This Assessment:
In these assessments (Lab Report, Assignment), you are permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (AI) for the purpose of proof reading and editing the document, and for gathering and summarising knowledge. No other use of generative AI is permitted. To assist with maintaining academic integrity, you must appropriately acknowledge any use of generative AI in your work. Please include a Statement of AI use (if no AI tool has been used, then this must also be stated) and a listing of all prompts provided to the AI tool, clearly indicating which AI tools were used and how they contributed to your assessment.

Late submission of work

Lateness Penalties:

For the Lab Report and Assignment, a lateness penalty of 10% (in absolute terms) per day or part day late will be deducted from the original mark. For example, an assignment with a nominal mark of 83% submitted 0-24 hours late will receive a mark of 73%, and submitted 24-48 hours late will receive 63%.

Mahi ā-Ākonga | Workload (expected distribution of student hours, note 15 points = 150 hours):

Contact Hours

Lectures: 36 hours
Tutorials: 0 hours
Workshops: 0 hours
Laboratories: 9 hours

Independent study

Review of lectures: 30 hours
Test and exam preparation: 30 hours
Assignments: 40 hours
Tutorial preparation: 0 hours
Laboratory calculations: 5 hours

Total 150

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,344.00

International fee $6,488.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

Limited Entry Course

Maximum enrolment is 72

For further information see Electrical and Computer Engineering .

All ENEL491 Occurrences

  • ENEL491-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026