98678 - MOLECULAR NANOTECHNOLOGY

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student has acquired the basic concepts and the main strategies for the bottom-up construction of functional nanostructures, starting from molecules and using the paradigms of supramolecular chemistry: molecular devices and machines, dendrimers, nanoparticles, self-assembled monolayers and thin films.

Course contents

Prerequisites: knowledge of the fundamental concepts of spectroscopy, photochemistry and electrochemistry.

Attendance: the course has no compulsory attendance.

Programme: the course deals with the following topics; for each one the general principles and some significant examples are described.

1. Introduction

What is nanotechnology?

Applications of nanotechnology

Working at the nanoscale

2. Supramolecular chemistry

Supramolecular interactions

Host-guest chemistry

Self-assembly

3. Multicomponent molecular species

Nanosystems with peculiar topologies

Dendrimers

4. Supramolecular catalysis and nanoreactors

Catalytic processes inside molecular and supramolecular hosts

Self-replication

Micelle and vesicle-based systems

5. Chemical functionalization of surfaces

The Langmuir-Blodgett technique

Functional self-assembled monolayers

Characterization and imaging of surfaces

6. Nanomaterials

Size effect and quantum confinement

Metal and semiconductor nanoparticles

Carbon-based nanomaterials

Nanoporous materials

7. Mechanical molecular machines and motors

Basic principles

Biomolecular motors

Artificial molecular machines: recent achievements and potential applications

Readings/Bibliography

The course covers advanced topics of great scientific relevance and therefore in continuous evolution. There is no textbook covering the whole program; the following texts are recommended for the study and in-depth study of parts of the course:

1) J.-M. Lehn, Supramolecular Chemistry – Concepts and Perspectives, VCH, Weinheim, 1995 (part 1, 2, 4 of the programme).

2) V. Balzani, A. Credi, M. Venturi, Molecular Devices and Machines – Concepts and Perspectives for the Nanoworld, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2008 (parti 1, 3, 7).

3) D. S. Goodsell, Bionanotechnology: Lessons from Nature, Wiley, New York, 2004 (part 1 and 7).

4) C. N. R. Rao, A. Muller, A. K. Cheetham (Eds.), The Chemistry of Nanomaterials, Vol. 1 e 2, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2004 (part 1 and 6).

Other relevant recommended references will be reported on the slides of the presentations used in class.

Teaching methods

The module is carried out in the second semester, and consists of class lectures that illustrate the basic principles of supramolecular chemistry and nanosciences; for each specific topic, the introductory concepts as well as some singificant examples taken from the scientific literature are presented.

Assessment methods

Oral examination.

Teaching tools

Overhead projector, PC, video projector, powerpoint presentations, videos.

Office hours

See the website of Serena Silvi