66935 - Materials Chemistry Lab

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will have acquired fundamental knowledge of the major classes of materials, their properties, and their applications.

Course contents

PREREQUISITES

General Chemistry; Inorganic Chemistry.

INTRODUCTION

Course organization, laboratory activities, examination, and teaching materials. Introduction to Materials Chemistry.

Part 1 – Fundamental Concepts

• Defects and diffusion in solids.

• Review of binary and ternary phase diagrams.

• Comparison between metallic solids and ceramic materials.

• Crystal defects and mechanical properties.

• Comparison between metallic solids and ceramic materials.

Part 2 – Synthesis of Inorganic Materials

Introduction

Ceramic materials as reactants and as products.

Synthesis of solids from melts and solutions

• Crystallization; Time–Temperature–Transformation (TTT) diagrams.

• Oxide glasses.

• Common solution crystallization techniques.

• Solvothermal processes.

• Sol–gel techniques.

Formation of solids from the gas phase

• Chemical Vapor Transport (CVT).

• Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD).

• Gas-phase synthesis.

Solid-state processes

• Solid-state reactions.

• Solid–gas reactions.

• Ceramic processing.

• Intercalation reactions (overview).

• Nanomaterials (introduction).

CLASSROOM EXERCISES

• Scientific literature: introduction and critical reading.

• Discussion of literature related to superconductors, perovskites, and scheelites.

• Discussion of literature related to ferrofluids and liquid crystals.

• Discussion of X-ray diffraction results (data collected by the teaching assistants) for perovskites and scheelites synthesized during the laboratory sessions.

• Discussion of experimental results on superconductors and ferrofluids.

• Laboratory reports: structure, scientific writing, and preparation (group work).

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Laboratory Sessions – Mandatory AttendanceCOMPUTER LABORATORY

Students will be divided into two groups. Each group will attend one afternoon session in the computer laboratory.

The activity will be carried out individually and will involve the use of the Mercury software to:

1. visualize and analyze the crystal structures of the compounds that will be synthesized during the laboratory sessions;

2. generate simulated powder X-ray diffraction patterns to be compared with the experimental diffraction data collected from the samples prepared in the synthesis laboratory.

SYNTHESIS LABORATORY

Students will be divided into two groups, and each group will carry out five laboratory experiments. Experimental activities will be performed in pairs.

The solid compounds obtained will be characterized by powder X-ray diffraction. Diffraction data will be collected by the teaching assistants, while students will be responsible for analyzing the resulting diffraction patterns.

Each pair of students (or, in some cases, up to three pairs working together) will prepare laboratory reports on two of the experiments: one assigned by the instructor and one selected by the students. The reports, written in the format of a short scientific paper, must be submitted through the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) by the deadline announced during class and published on the VLE (normally by the first half of December).

Experiment 1

Solid-state synthesis of the luminescent material CaWO₄ scheelite, its SrWO₄ analogue, and their solid solutions, followed by investigation of their fluorescence properties as a function of cation composition and temperature.

Experiment 2

Solution synthesis of a transition-metal fluoride perovskite (Fe, Mn, or Cu), followed by characterization by powder X-ray diffraction.

Experiment 3

Solution synthesis of a ferrofluid (using different synthetic methods) and demonstration of its magnetic properties.

Experiment 4

Synthesis of a superconducting material.

Experiment 5

Liquid crystals.

IMPORTANT

Due to the nature of the laboratory activities and teaching methods adopted, attendance requires that all students complete Modules 1 and 2 of the University e-learning course on health and safety before participating in the laboratory activities:

https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-places

Students are also required to attend Module 3, which provides specific training on health and safety in study laboratories. Information regarding the schedule and attendance procedures for Module 3 is available in the dedicated section of the Degree Programme website.

Readings/Bibliography

Before each lecture, the corresponding slides will be uploaded to the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). These slides are intended as a guide to the lectures and do not constitute the primary study material.

The textbooks listed below (i) cover the topics discussed during the lectures and (ii) provide, for interested students, additional background and further reading.

• William D. Callister Jr., Materials Science and Engineering, EDISES (Italian edition), paperback, 2nd or 3rd edition. Alternatively, students may use the condensed version: Callister & Rethwisch, Materiali per l'ingegneria civile e industriale, EDISES, paperback.

  A copy of the Callister textbook is available in the University Library.

• Ulrich S. Schubert and Nicola Hüsing, Synthesis of Inorganic Materials, 3rd or 4th Edition, Wiley. ISBN: 978-3-527-34457-4.

  A copy of the 3rd edition is available in the University Library.

Teaching methods

Lectures, laboratory sessions, and classroom exercises before and after the laboratory activities.

Assessment methods

Assessment

The examination is normally written and consists of three open-ended questions covering the theoretical topics presented during the course.

Students who have not submitted their laboratory reports by the deadline communicated during the course will be required to answer a fourth question concerning the laboratory activities.

Upon request and for duly justified reasons, the examination may be conducted orally, following the same structure.

Grading

• 10 points are assigned to the laboratory reports. Assessment will be based on clarity of presentation, appropriate use of scientific terminology, and accuracy of the content.

• 20 points are assigned to the written (or oral) examination. Assessment will consider the student's ability to organize and present the subject matter, scientific accuracy, appropriate use of scientific language, and clarity of exposition.

At the instructor's discretion, honours (30/30 cum laude) may be awarded to students obtaining the maximum score of 30/30.

Students are strongly advised to take this examination only after successfully completing the Inorganic Chemistry course.

Written Examination

If a written examination is found to be illegible, the instructor will contact the student by email and attach a scanned copy of the examination paper. The student will then be required either to submit a typed transcription (in the body of the email or as a Word or PDF document) or to arrange an appointment with the instructor to rewrite the answers.

Registration of Grades

Written examination. Examination grades are published on AlmaEsami. Students wishing to reject their grade must notify the instructor by email.

The principle of "silence implies acceptance" applies. If no objection is received within three days of publication on AlmaEsami, the grade will be officially recorded.

Oral examination. The grade is normally recorded immediately after the examination or, in any case, within two days.

Students who have registered for an examination session but decide not to take the examination must withdraw from the registration list or notify the instructor by email.

Failure to do so will result in the examination outcome being recorded as "withdrawn."

Students with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or Temporary/Permanent Disabilities

Students with specific learning disorders (SLD) or temporary or permanent disabilities are strongly encouraged to contact the relevant University office well in advance:

https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it

The office will propose any appropriate accommodations. These must be submitted to the instructor at least 15 days in advance for approval. The instructor will evaluate the proposed accommodations in relation to the intended learning outcomes of the course.

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With regard to assessment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools is prohibited. Any use of such tools constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint presentations, blackboard, and scientific visualization software, scientific papers.

Office hours

See the website of Simone D'Agostino