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. Analysis of acoustic emission signals on building structures

   The thesis deals with the investigation of the influence of the environment on building structures and materials using the method of Acoustic Emissions and partly also electromagnetic emissions.

   Tutor: Holcman Vladimír, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

2. Back-gated few-layers graphene gas sensors

   Graphene, as a monoatomic layer of hexagonally arranged carbon atoms, currently requires a strong research effort. Due to its unique structure and electrical properties, this material is destined for use in modern electronics, for example as an extremely sensitive gas or liquid sensors. Unique sensitivity and chemical selectivity can be enhanced by measuring noise response instead of measuring mean voltages and currents. Noise processes are generally monitored for many electronic components and are associated with their local/volume electrical stress, change of doping, act of charge capture/release etc. Dominantly, noise 1 / f is observed, which, in conjunction with the 2D structure of graphene, provides a unique opportunity to extend knowledge in the field of sensorics and modern graphene-based electronics.

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

3. Dielectric spectroscopy of ceramic powders

   The thesis deals with various methods of measuring the dielectric constant and dielectric loss on ceramic powders. This is a rather complex task and will be based on two existing measurement methods. The first method is based on the mixing rule of ceramic powder with epoxy, and the second method is based on dielectro-phoretic principle. However, the results obtained by both methods are speculative and an effort is made to find a new measurement technique or to modify these already known methods.

   Tutor: Holcman Vladimír, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

4. Electrical characterization of nanostructures by SPM

   Low-dimensional electronic structures demands sensitive characterization techniques. Wrong choice of measurements method can affect the nanostructures, modify its properties. Furthermore, ambient conditions influence the measurement and making additional complications in interpretation of the results. The objective of this study is non-destructive investigation of local electrical properties of nanostructures, including correlation between mechanical and electrical contrast of SPM-data. The result of the work should be the development of methods and calibration samples for the quantitative assessment of electrical parameters.

   Tutor: Sobola Dinara, doc. Mgr., Ph.D.

5. Field Emission Properties of Inorganic Semiconductive ZnO Thin Films

   The objective of this study is to describe the effects of semiconductive coating on the surface of metal nanostructures that are located inside strong electric field. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) of a zinc oxide semiconductor oxide will be used to obtain experimental layer on a conductive substrate. The ALD is a vapor phase technique that may be used to deposit thin films onto a substrate even on a very sharp tips. So far, there is no well-studied field-emission structure with a ZnO coating that is able to provide stable current of electrons using cold field emission. Generally, field emission structures are not only important not for free electron sources but they are used for sensors and for other nanoelectronics applications. Determination and evaluation of proper parameters of the ZnO layer is supposed to be done by analysis of the total emission current and by description of the charge current transport within the junction.

   Tutor: Sobola Dinara, doc. Mgr., Ph.D.

6. Synthesis and properties of multiphase Bi-Fe-O thin films

   The objective of this study is influence of preparation parameters on structural properties of Bi-Fe-O system. Phase variation depends on method and chosen parameters of thin films formation. Pulse laser deposition of Bi-Fe-O films from BiFeO3 target (with higher chemical and phase purity) is supposed to be used for preparation of the films. This technology allows obtaining high-quality heterostructures and excluding the presence of impurities. Currently, there is no complete information about the nature of the phase formation of Bi-Fe-O compounds. Materials on the basis of Bi-Fe-O are important for design of sensors, memory devices other applications of nanotechnology. Control of phase purity of Bi-Fe-O thin films is supposed to be studied in correlation with magnetic and electrical properties.

   Tutor: Sobola Dinara, doc. Mgr., Ph.D.

7. Utilization of Fenton reaction for catalytic decomposition of water contaminants

   Goal of this doctoral thesis is the exploration of Fenton reaction and interaction of ferrous oxides and FeC on molecular level with water contaminants, like methyl orange, methyl blue, rhodamine etc. A membrane from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or other similar polymeric material with required properties is used for fixation in order to keep the catalytic material in one place and to allow for an easier recycling. The effect of ultraviolet radiation on the disinfecting properties of catalytic filter is also important.

   Tutor: Kaspar Pavel, Ing., Ph.D.

1. round (applications submitted from 01.04.2023 to 30.04.2023)

1. New circuit elements for designing high efficiency power supplies for space applications

   Using existing topologies of switching converters, design innovations leading to higher efficiency while maintaining the robustness and reliability required for space applications. At the same time, focus on the use of new switching transistors realized by GaN and SiC technologies.

   Tutor: Fujcik Lukáš, doc. Ing., Ph.D.