99555 - Plasma Industrial Applications M

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student is able to characterize the state of the art of industrial processes assisted by thermal (hot) plasmas for the production and treatment of high added value materials, as well as to analyze the most recent technologies that make use of non-equilibrium (cold) plasmas at atmospheric pressure, for applications in various sectors related to the energy, mechanical and biomedical industries. During the course, these technologies will be discussed in terms of design, economic sustainability and experimental analysis. The student also has knowledge of the main tools adopted in the field of intellectual property protection (patents and scientific articles) and has acquired methodologies for their systematic analysis. The student is also able to synthesize patents and scientific articles and contextualize them with respect to the state of the art of their industrial sector of reference.

Course contents

Module 0 – Foundations of Intellectual Property and Research Methodology

Objectives:

• Introduce the fundamental tools for protecting intellectual property, with a focus on patents and scientific publications.

• Develop skills for systematic information retrieval and critical analysis of technical documents.

• Foster collaborative work through structured group activities.

Topics Covered:

• Introduction to intellectual property rights: patents, copyrights, and scientific literature.

• Systematic research strategies and use of patent databases.

• Teamwork dynamics: roles and responsibilities in research groups.

• Project planning tools: Gantt charts and timeline management.

• Defining and applying SMART objectives in research and innovation contexts.

Module 1 – Cold Plasma Physics and Chemistry and Technological Development

Objectives:

• Provide a foundational understanding of cold plasma chemistry and physics as a basis for technological applications.

• Analyze key documents and case studies to understand the evolution of plasma-based processes.

Topics Covered:

• Fundamentals of cold plasma generation and behavior.

• Classroom and group analysis of scientific and technical documents.

• Student-led exploration of technological advancements in plasma-based processes (teamwork).

Module 2 – Magnetic-confinement Fusion: From Fundamentals to Industrial Development

Objectives:

• Introduce the scientific principles behind plasma-assisted nuclear fusion.

• Analyze key documents and case studies to understand the evolution of plasma-assisted fusion.

• Explore the industrial development of fusion technologies through collaborative research.

Topics Covered:

• Basic principles of plasma-assisted fusion and confinement methods.

• Group analysis of technical documents and patent literature.

• Student-led investigation of technological evolution and industrial applications (teamwork).

Readings/Bibliography

• Lieberman, Lichtenberg, Principles of Plasma Discharges and Materials Processing, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (2005)
• Fridman, Plasma Chemistry, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK (2008)
  
• Jeffrey P. Freidberg, Plasma Physics and Fusion Energy, Cambridge University Press

Teaching methods

Lectures with overhead projector and slides

Problem based exercises

Flipped class exercises

Group works

Assessment methods

Students will be divided into teams, and the exam will consist of the evaluation of two group reports: one report on Module 1 topics and one on Module 2 topics. Each report must be a maximum of 5 pages.

If both reports are deemed satisfactory, students will proceed to the oral examination phase, which will assess individual understanding and contributions.

The final grade will be composed of three components:

• Team Report Evaluation – quality, clarity, and completeness of the written report.
• Individual Task Evaluation – assessment of the specific task or section developed by each student within the report.
• Oral Discussion – individual oral examination covering all parts of the report, including both technical content and personal contributions.

Teaching tools

Supporting documents made available on Virtuale

Office hours

See the website of Matteo Gherardi

See the website of Romolo Laurita