This thesis focuses on the growth of a new type of two-dimensional (2D) material known as hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) using chemical vapor deposition (CVD). It also presents several significant breakthroughs in the authors’ understanding of the growth mechanism and development of new growth techniques, which are now well known in the field. Of particular importance is the pioneering work showing experimental proof that 2D crystals of h-BN can indeed be hexagonal in shape. This came as a major surprise to many working in the 2D field, as it had been generally assumed that hexagonal-shaped h-BN was impossible due to energy dynamics. Beyond growth, the thesis also reports on synthesis techniques that are geared toward commercial applications. Large-area aligned growth and up to an eightfold reduction in the cost of h-BN production are demonstrated. At present, all other 2D materials generally use h-BN as their dielectric layer and for encapsulation. As such, this thesis lays the cornerstone for using CVD 2D h-BN for this purpose.

The book is in five parts: Part I introduces the physical and chemical structure of polymers and their breakdown; Part II reviews electrical degradation in polymers, and Part III reviews conduction and deterministic breakdown in solids. Part IV discusses the stochastic nature of break-down from empirical and modelling viewpoints, and Part V indicates practical implications and strategies for engineers. Much of the discussion applies to non-crystalline materials generally.

This book discusses the functional ink systems of graphene and related two-dimensional (2D) layered materials in the context of their formulation and potential for various applications, including in electronics, optoelectronics, energy, sensing, and composites using conventional graphics and 3D printing technologies. The authors explore the economic landscape of 2D materials and introduce readers to fundamental properties and production technologies. They also discuss major graphics printing technologies and conventional commercial printing processes that can be used for printing 2D material inks, as well as their specific strengths and weaknesses as manufacturing platforms. Special attention is also paid to scalable production methods for ink formulation, making this an ideal book for students and researchers in academia or industry, who work with functional graphene and other 2D material ink systems and their applications. Explains the state-of-the-art 2D material production technologies that can be manufactured at the industrial scale for functional ink formulation; Provides starting formulation examples of 2D material, functional inks for specific printing methods and their characterization techniques; Reviews existing demonstrations of applications related to printed 2D materials and provides possible future development directions while highlighting current knowledge gaps; Gives a snapshot and forecast of the commercial market for printed GRMs based on the current state of technologies and existing patents.

Reliability issues associated with semiconductors, foundries, IoT and other areas

Sintering is one of the final stages of ceramics fabrication and is used to increase the strength of the compacted material. In the Sintering of Ceramics section, the fabrication of electronic ceramics and glass-ceramics were presented. Especially dielectric properties were focused on. In other chapters, sintering behaviour of ceramic tiles and nano-alumina were investigated. Apart from oxides, the sintering of non-oxide ceramics was examined. Sintering the metals in a controlled atmosphere furnace aims to bond the particles together metallurgically. In the Sintering of Metals section, two sections dealt with copper containing structures. The sintering of titanium alloys is another topic focused in this section. The chapter on lead and zinc covers the sintering in the field of extractive metallurgy. Finally two more chapter focus on the basics of sintering,i.e viscous flow and spark plasma sintering.

Prepared as a textbook complete with problems after each chapter, specifically intended for classroom use in universities.