The Department of Solid State Physics was established in 1980 after separating from the Department of Electronics - Solid State Physics and became part of the Faculty of Physics – Technical Physics at the University of Science, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City. The department currently offers two main training programs: Bachelor’s and Doctoral degrees. The first Heads of the Department were Mr. Phạm Doãn Hân (1980–1984), Mr. Quang Hán Khang (1984–1988), Mr. Trương Quang Nghĩa (1990–2008), and since 2008, Mr. Trần Quang Trung.
**Figure 1. Faculty members who have worked/are working at the Department of Solid State Physics (from left to right): Mr. Trần Văn Chơn, Mr. Quang Hán Khang, Mr. Trần Quang Trung, Ms. Vũ Thị Phát Minh, Mr. Trần Minh Sơn, and Mr. Trương Quang Nghĩa.**
With a team of experienced, dedicated, and innovative faculty members, the Department of Solid State Physics has achieved significant success in teaching and scientific research. Specifically, numerous textbooks and monographs have been published to support the teaching and research activities of students, as well as master’s and doctoral candidates specializing in Solid State Physics or Materials Science.
Some notable publications include *General Crystallography* (1979, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Quang Hán Khang), *General Physics* (2000, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trương Quang Nghĩa), *Thermoluminescence* (2010, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trương Quang Nghĩa), *Solid State Physics* (2012, Prof. Dr. Lê Khắc Bình and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Nhật Khanh), *Physical Properties of Crystals* (2012, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trương Quang Nghĩa), *Exercises and Solutions for Physical Properties of Crystals* (2020, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trương Quang Nghĩa), and *LabVIEW Programming* (2023, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trương Quang Nghĩa and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trần Quang Trung). Additionally, internal textbooks have been prepared for students, such as *Semiconductor Devices* (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trần Quang Trung), *General Crystallography* (MSc. Vũ Thị Phát Minh), and *Ultrasound Physics* (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trương Quang Nghĩa). The department also conducts various levels of scientific research projects and publishes numerous papers in reputable domestic and international journals.
**Figure 2. Some books authored by faculty members of the Department of Solid State Physics.**
Over more than 40 years of operation, the Department of Solid State Physics has trained numerous Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral graduates with strong expertise, contributing significantly to societal development. Many alumni have become key experts at universities, research institutes, and manufacturing facilities. The department continues to develop research groups focusing on scientifically and practically significant directions, including:
1. Fabrication of new materials, nanomaterials, and 0D, 1D, 2D, 3D semiconductors using PVD, CVD, and chemical methods.
2. Development of semiconductor devices such as LEDs, OLEDs, MOSFETs, solar cells, and gas sensors.
3. Automation in sample fabrication and measurement.
The department has made substantial contributions to building and upgrading equipment systems for sample fabrication, measurement, and analysis to enhance the quality of research and training. A notable example is its leadership in fabricating 2D materials like graphene and phosphorene, as well as developing methods for detecting sensitive gases and VOCs at the University of Science.
**Figure 3. Some equipment at the Department of Solid State Physics: (top row, left to right) VO2 thin film deposition system, black phosphorus crystal synthesis system, glove box; (second row, left to right) PECVD system, evaporation system, gas sensing measurement system.**
**Figure 4. Images of some materials fabricated at the Department of Solid State Physics.**
The department continuously strives to innovate and improve to enhance the quality and optimize training processes. In addition to compulsory courses, it offers various elective courses to allow students to choose subjects that align with their abilities and future career requirements.
The department currently possesses a robust infrastructure capable of meeting the demands of training and research in Semiconductor Technology, a branch of Solid State Physics. A standout facility is a ~20m² cleanroom with a cleanliness level of approximately 1000 cm⁻², equipped with systems for controlling temperature, humidity, and air purity. This supports semiconductor device fabrication processes such as photolithography, plasma etching, chemical etching, and thin-film deposition via PECVD or sputtering. Additionally, measurement systems like IV, CV, and Hall for electrical characterization, as well as optical and ellipsometry systems for studying optical properties and thin films, are fully equipped. Supporting systems such as oxidation, doping, and evaporation are also integrated to ensure effective education, research, and semiconductor material fabrication.
**Figure 5: Modern cleanroom system equipped with high-tech equipment.**
Regarding collaboration, the department has established partnerships with various faculties and research institutes both domestically and internationally to promote research activities. Specific partners include the Faculty of Technical Physics at the College of Technology, Vietnam National University, Hanoi; the Institute of Materials Science at the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology; the Physics Department at the University of Moncton, Canada; Nanolab at the University of Technology in Prague, Czech Republic; the Physics Department at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia; the Physics Department at Tohoku University and Osaka University in Japan; and the Materials Science Departments at Pusan University and Ulsan University in South Korea.
**Figure 6. Some activities at the Department of Solid State Physics.**
Regarding career opportunities, graduates and researchers from the department possess comprehensive expertise and essential soft skills. They can take on specialized roles at international companies, organizations, research institutes, or teach at universities and colleges. Some companies where graduates can seek employment include ii-iv, E-silicon, Olympus, Renassa, First Solar, Intel Marvel, and many others. Additionally, students have opportunities to pursue further studies abroad in countries such as Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, the USA, France, and the Czech Republic.
The Department of Solid State Physics warmly welcomes students and researchers to study, conduct research, and work at the department.