Combined study

4 years

doc. Ing. Lukáš Fujcik, Ph.D.

Chairman :
doc. Ing. Lukáš Fujcik, Ph.D.
Vice-chairman :
doc. Ing. Jiří Vaněk, Ph.D.
Councillor internal :
prof. Ing. Pavel Koktavý, CSc. Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Jaromír Hubálek, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. Jiří Háze, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. Petr Bača, Ph.D.
Councillor external :
prof. Ing. Josef Lazar, Dr.

The doctor study programme is devoted to the preparation of the high quality scientific and research specialists in various branches of microelectronics, electrotechnology and physics of materials, namely in theory, design and test of integrated circuits and systems, in semiconductor devices and structures, in smart sensors, in optoelectronics in materials and fabrication processes for electrical engineering, in sources of electric energy, nanotechnology and defectoscopy of materials and devices.
The aim is to provide the doctor education in all these particular branches to students educated in university magister study, to make deeper their theoretical knowledge, to give them also requisite special knowledge and practical skills and to teach them methods of scientific work.

The doctors of the program "Microelectronics and technology" are able to solve scientific and complex engineering tasks from the area of microelectronics and electrical technology. Wide fundamentals and deep theoretical basis of the study program bring high adaptability and high qualification of doctors for the most of requirements of their future creative practice in all areas of microelectronics and electrotechnology. Graduates are also equipped with the knowledge and experience from, in particular, physics of semiconductors, quantum electronics and will be able to independently solve problems associated with micro- and nanotechnologies.
The doctors are competent to work as scientists and researchers in many areas of basic research or research and development, as high-specialists in the development, design, construction, and application areas in many institutions, companies, and organisations of the electrical and electronics research, development, and industry as in the areas of electrical services and systems, inclusively in the special institutions of the state administration. In all of these branches they are able to work also as the leading scientific-, research-, development- or technical managers.

Graduate of a doctoral program "Microelectronics and technology" is able to solve complex and time-consuming tasks in areas such as designer of integrated and/or electronic circuits and complex electronic devices. Graduate has a very good knowledge of the field of modern materials for electronics and their use in the electrical industry. Graduate is also able to orient himself in the field of physics of materials and components, nanotechnology and others.
This means that the graduate will be able to become a member of the development team of integrated circuits, complex electronic devices and equipment, their testing and service. In addition, graduate would be as a technologist in the electronic components fabrication process, a researcher in the field of material engineering for the electrical industry, a scientist n basic or applied research and in the introduction, implementation and application of new prospective and economically beneficial procedures and processes in the field of electronics, electrical engineering, non-destructive testing and reliability and material analysis. Likewise, graduate is also able to lead the entire team of workers in presented areas.
A typical employer of a graduate of the Microelectronics and Technology study program is a manufacturing and / or research enterprise that focuses on the areas mentioned above. Another possible employer may be a research organization i.e. the Institute of the Czech Academy of Science. The graduate finds his / her application also on the university campus as an academic at the position of a professional assistant.

Doctoral studies are carried out according to the individual study plan, which will prepare the doctoral student in cooperation with the doctoral student at the beginning of the study. The individual study plan specifies all the duties stipulated in accordance with the BUT Study and Examination Rules, which the doctoral student must fulfill to successfully finish his studies. These responsibilities are time-bound throughout the study period, they are scored and fixed at fixed deadlines. The student enrolls and performs tests of compulsory coursed. Additionally, with regard to the focus of dissertation it is compulsory to enroll and pass at least one of the following courses: Modern microelectronic systems; Electrotechnical materials, material systems and production processes; and/or Interfaces and nanostructures; and other obligatory elective subjects with regard to the focus of his dissertation, and at least two elective courses (English for PhD students, Solutions for Innovative Entries, Scientific Publishing from A to Z).
The student may enroll for the state doctoral exam only after all the tests prescribed by his / her individual study plan have been completed. Before the state doctoral exam, the student prepares a dissertation thesis describing in detail the goals of the thesis, a thorough evaluation of the state of knowledge in the area of the dissertation solved, or the characteristics of the methods it intends to apply in the solution. The defense of the controversy that is opposed is part of the state doctoral exam. In the next part of the exam the student must demonstrate deep theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of microelectronics, electrotechnology, materials physics, nanotechnology, electrical engineering, electronics, circuit theory. The State Doctoral Examination is in oral form and, in addition to the discussion on the dissertation thesis, it also consists of thematic areas related to compulsory and compulsory elective subjects.
To defend the dissertation, the student reports after the state doctoral examination and after fulfilling conditions for termination, such as participation in teaching, scientific and professional activity (creative activity) and at least a monthly study or work placement at a foreign institution or participation in an international creative project.

The doctoral studies of a student follow the Individual Study Plan (ISP), which is defined by the supervisor and the student at the beginning of the study period. The ISP is obligatory for the student, and specifies all duties being consistent with the Study and Examination Rules of BUT, which the student must successfully fulfill by the end of the study period. The duties are distributed throughout the whole study period, scored by credits/points and checked in defined dates. The current point evaluation of all activities of the student is summarized in the “Total point rating of doctoral student” document and is part of the ISP. At the beginning of the next study year the supervisor highlights eventual changes in ISP. By October, 15 of each study year the student submits the printed and signed ISP to Science Department of the faculty to check and archive.
Within the first four semesters the student passes the exams of compulsory, optional-specialized and/or optional-general courses to fulfill the score limit in Study area, and concurrently the student significantly deals with the study and analysis of the knowledge specific for the field defined by the dissertation thesis theme and also continuously deals with publishing these observations and own results. In the follow-up semesters the student focuses already more to the research and development that is linked to the dissertation thesis topic and to publishing the reached results and compilation of the dissertation thesis.
By the end of the second year of studies the student passes the Doctor State Exam, where the student proves the wide overview and deep knowledge in the field linked to the dissertation thesis topic. The student must apply for this exam by April, 30 in the second year of studies. Before the Doctor State Exam the student must successfully pass the exam from English language course.
In the third and fourth year of studies the student deals with the required research activities, publishes the reached results and compiles the dissertation thesis. As part of the study duties is also completing a study period at an abroad institution or participation on an international research project with results being published or presented in abroad or another form of direct participation of the student on an international cooperation activity, which must be proved by the date of submitting the dissertation thesis.
By the end of the winter term in the fourth year of study the students submit the elaborated dissertation thesis to the supervisor, who scores this elaborate. The final dissertation thesis is expected to be submitted by the student by the end of the fourth year of the studies.
In full-time study form, during the study period the student is obliged to pass a pedagogical practice, i.e. participate in the education process. The participation of the student in the pedagogical activities is part of his/her research preparations. By the pedagogical practice the student gains experience in passing the knowledge and improves the presentation skills. The pedagogical practice load (exercises, laboratories, project supervision etc.) of the student is specified by the head of the department based on the agreement with the student’s supervisor. The duty of pedagogical practice does not apply to students-payers and combined study program students. The involvement of the student in the education process within the pedagogical practice is confirmed by the supervisor in the Information System of the university.

1. Advanced circuit- and architecture-level solutions for true low-voltage analog-to-digital converters for energy harvesting and biomedical applications

   The aim of this work is to provide a research of advanced and optimized circuit- and architecture-level solutions for true low-voltage high power efficient analog-to-digital converters for energy harvesting and biomedical applications. The voltage supply target is in range of 0.5-0.3V with power consumption in range of nanowatts. The function of the proposed structures will be described and simulated by using 0.18 µm CMOS technology from TSMC. The verified design of this low-voltage convertor should be the main result.

   Tutor: Khateb Fabian, prof. Ing. et Ing., Ph.D. et Ph.D.

2. Design of new lowpover microsystems for Smart City

   In the course of the research the student will become familiar with the current issue of smart city. The research will lead to the design and development of methods that can be used to design new microelectronics structures for smart city. The basic goal will be low power design of select components.

   Tutor: Šteffan Pavel, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

3. Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy of lignin

   Popis (AN): The object of the work is to investigate the dielectric behaviour of lignin at the frequency interval 1 mHz – 1 GHz and in the temperature interval 20 K – 400 K. Lignin, an irregular polymer of three basic alcohols, makes up about 15 – 30 % of wood and is responsible for the mechanical strength and rigidity and, thus, for the growth of trees. For years, it has stood in the shadow of its more applicable counterpart, cellulose, but in the recent years, the commercial attention starts to turn to its favour. Lignin can be used for different industrial and biomedical applications, including biofuels, chemicals and polymers, and also for the development of nanomaterials for drug and gene delivery. Also, hormones supporting the increase of lignin share in wood, have been recently patented by CEITEC research team from the Masaryk University in Brno together with their Norwegian research colleagues. Equipment available: measurement equipment for the frequency range 10-3 – 109 Hz and Janis helium cryostat CCS-400/204 for the temperature range 10 – 500 K. Among the most powerful systems is Novocontrol ALPHA-AT high-resolution high-frequency analyzer with frequency range 3 μHz – 40 MHz and Nicolet 8700 FTIR-spectrometer with wave number range 20 000 – 350 cm-1.

   Tutor: Liedermann Karel, doc. Ing., CSc.

4. New circuit principles for low-voltage low-power analog circuits design

   Utilizing new circuit principles for low-voltage low-power analog circuit design. These circuits serve mainly in biomedical area. Theoretical design and experimental evaluations using program Cadence with technology 0.18 um from TSMC. The verified design of a current conveyor should be the main result.

   Tutor: Khateb Fabian, prof. Ing. et Ing., Ph.D. et Ph.D.

5. Novel decoding method for asynchronous delta sigma modulators

   Conventional decoding schemes for asynchronous delta sigma modulators (ADSMs) limit input dynamic range of modulators, and always requires a high speed sampling clock. Improve a decoding scheme for asynchronous delta sigma modulators. Implement the ADSMs including novel decoding scheme by designing critical sub-modules on transistor level and verify the overall top-level ADSMs performance as a whole with Cadence simulation environment.

   Tutor: Kledrowetz Vilém, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

6. Observation of events on battery electrodes using atomic force microscopy

   AFM (atomic force microscopy) is one of the suitable techniques for observing electrode surfaces in their natural environment. The aim of this project is to develop a methodology that will make it possible to use this microscope technique to observe the processes that are taking place in different types of battery systems in different operating modes. The outcome of the project will to verify the existing knowledge of the processes taking place in the batteries and to obtain new knowledge about these processes.

   Tutor: Bača Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

7. Reducing internal stress and improving the tribological properties of materials

   This dissertation examines the properties of polymeric, composite and other materials produced by additive production, especially 3D printing. This method can affect the resulting parameters and properties, yet those inaccuracies can be fixed by further postprocessing. For surfaces, we will investigate the tribological properties of materials. The result will be for us to design several techniques that will improve mechanical, thermal and chemical resistance. Having said that, these techniques will include cold spray, plating, sputtering, etc. Moreover, we will devise methods which will be able to change the properties of materials without any further additive processes. We are speaking of methods like annealing, either in a furnace or in a water bath, casting layers or sintering. As a result, we expect to create a set of procedures, explaining how to properly and accurately improve certain material parameters.

   Tutor: Binar Tomáš, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

8. Use of the acoustic emission method for the evaluation of degradation processes in implants and in the formed layer of cold kinetic deposition

   The aim of this work will be to clarify the possibility of using the acoustic emission method for qualitative assessment of degradation processes and limit states in implant materials with a layer of cold kinetic deposition (cold spray). Although the research will be primarily focused on new implants made of different materials, the results will be assessed by the method of comparison, both for new and current implants. During the basic research, it will be necessary to perform a number of laboratory measurements intervening in various scientific disciplines, in the solution of which it will be necessary to use an interdisciplinary approach. The obtained results and knowledge from basic research will be fully usable for applied research.

   Tutor: Binar Tomáš, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

9. Use of the acoustic emission method for the evaluation of degradation processes in implants created by 3D printing and for the formed layers of cold kinetic deposition

   The aim of this work is to clarify the possibilities of using the acoustic emission method for qualitative assessment of degradation processes and limit states in implant materials from 3D printing with a layer of cold kinetic deposition (cold spray). Although the research will be primarily focused on new implants created by 3D printing of various materials, the results will be assessed by the method of comparison, both for new and current implants. During the basic research, it will be necessary to perform a number of laboratory measurements intervening in various scientific disciplines, in the solution of which it will be necessary to use an interdisciplinary approach. The obtained results and knowledge from basic research will be fully usable for applied research.

   Tutor: Binar Tomáš, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

10. Use of the acoustic emission method for the evaluation of degradation processes in materials with a formed layer of cold kinetic deposition

    The aim of this work is to clarify the possibilities of using the acoustic emission method for qualitative assessment of degradation processes and limit states in materials used in electrical engineering with a layer of cold kinetic deposition (cold spray). Although the research will be primarily focused on materials intended for electrical engineering, the results will be assessed by the method of comparison, also for other materials used in various disciplines (according to the chosen selection). During the basic research, it will be necessary to perform a number of laboratory measurements intervening in various scientific disciplines, in the solution of which it will be necessary to use an interdisciplinary approach. The obtained results and knowledge from basic research will be fully usable for applied research.

    Tutor: Binar Tomáš, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

1. round (applications submitted from 01.04.2021 to 15.05.2021)

1. Fluctuation phenomena of quartz crystal microbalance

   Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) belongs to a group of high sensitive sensors for detection of chemical substances dissolved in gas or liquid. This type of sensor is applied routinely by biologists and chemists to obtain information about chemical processes. The core of QCM is the AT-cut quartz crystal that oscillates at a resonant frequency which is determined by mass and geometry of the crystal as well as several other factors (temperature, applied voltage etc.). The quartz electrodes are covered by sorption layers with affinity to the molecules of the detected matter. Sorbed matter (molecules of the detected mass) represents mass increment and the change of the viscoelastic properties of the layer, which leads to the change of resonant frequency. The aims of the work are two-fold: to study theoretically and experimentally fluctuation processes in these sensors and to optimize a design of QCM sensors in order to get a maximal sensitivity.

   Tutor: Sedlák Petr, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

2. Operational amplifiers design techniques with extremely low voltage supply

   New design techniques for operational amplifiers with extremely low voltage supply. The voltage supply target is in range of 0.5-0.3V with power consumption in range of nanowatts. The function of the proposed structures will be described and simulated by using 0.18 µm CMOS technology from TSMC. The verified design of this operational amplifier should be the main result.

   Tutor: Khateb Fabian, prof. Ing. et Ing., Ph.D. et Ph.D.