Course description

This course presents our contemporary knowledge of inorganic, organic and nano-based materials, with emphasis on structure/property relationships. The aim is to provide sufficient breadth and depth coverage of the rapidly evolving field of materials science, particularly materials chemistry. Materials chemistry will be categorized as: Solid state chemistry (e.g. crystalline and amorphous solids, crystalline unit cells, crystallography), Metals (e.g., metallic structures, various treatments for corrosion resistance, magnetism, complex behavior of  Fe-C materials (steel), and shape-memory alloys), Semiconductors (e.g., silicon wafers, light-emitting diodes, modern transistors, photovoltaics and fabrication of integrated circuits), Polymeric materials (e.g., mechanisms of polymerization, applications of soft materials, polymer additives such as flame retardants, and new developments such as self-repairing polymers), and Nanomaterials (e.g., one- and two-dimensional nanostructures (graphene)). Applications will be taken from the latest scientific literature.

Course Pre-Requisites: CHME222

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Apprise newly-acquired knowledge to evaluate and prioritize engineering problems related to synthesis and chemistry of materials.
2. Create inventive methods to improve or optimize chemical processes, aiming at enhanced properties and performances of the materials which are produced.
3. Critically evaluate contemporary issues related to materials science/chemistry.
4. Explain the impact of established and new developments in materials science/chemistry in a global, economic, environmental and societal context.
5. Present the results in writing and orally.

Course Outline

In this course students will learn about: solid state chemistry, including the crystalline and amorphous states; metals and alloys; semiconductors; polymeric materials; nanomaterials; and finishing with some material characterization techniques, including thermal methods and microscopy techniques.