66293 - Solid State Structure and Reactivity

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Moduli: Giuseppe Falini (Modulo 1) Simona Fermani (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Chemistry (cod. 9072)

Learning outcomes

Broad knowledge of morphological and structural characteristics of: (1) inorganic/macromolecular materials and nanomaterials produced by biological systems; (2) synthetic biomimetic materials for relevant technological applications. Basic knowledge of modern methods for the study of protein crystals via X-ray diffraction.

Course contents

Prerequisites: The student who accesses this teaching must be in possession of a good preparation in the fundamentals of inorganic chemistry and of the solid state.


Program of the I teaching unit:

1) Fundamentals of the solid state
2) Foundations of crystallography
3) X-ray diffraction: single crystal and powders
4) Definition of the surface of solids
5) Adsorption processes and laws that govern them
6) Methods of characterization of surfaces
7) Synthesis of solid-state materials
8) Production techniques of single macroscopic crystals
9) CVD and PVD techniques
10) Glasses
11) Biomaterials and bioceramics


Program of the II teaching unit

All the experimental steps and the problems for the resolution of the three-dimensional structure of a biological macromolecule will be treated in detail. Furthermore, the following crystallization methods will be illustrated theoretically and in the laboratory: vapor diffusion with drop drop and with drop, dialysis and batch drop.


Readings/Bibliography

Lecture notes, slides.

Reference texts:

Mann S. Biomimetic materials chemistry.Weinheim: Wiley-VCH; 1997

- Kendall JB, editor. Biomaterials Research Advances. New York, NY:Nova Science

Publishers; 2010:93–143.

- Dee KC, Puleo DA, Bizios R. An Introduction to Tissue-Biomaterial Interactions. Hoboken: Wiley-Liss; 2003.

- J.D. Guthrie and B.T. Mossman Health Effects of Mineral Dusts, edited by J.D. Guthrie and B.T. Mossman (Rev. Miner. 28, Chelsea, MI, 1993),

- Bergfors, T., Editor. Protein Crystallization: Second Edition. 2009. International
University Line, La Jolla, California.

- McPherson, A. Preparation and analysis of protein crystals, Krieger.

- Ducan E. Mc Ree, Practical Protein Crystallography, Second Edition.


Teaching methods

Lectures and lab units.


Assessment methods

Oral examinations (30-45 minutes)


Teaching tools

Overhead projector, PC, powerpoint, samples of biogenic and biomimetic materials.

Office hours

See the website of Giuseppe Falini

See the website of Simona Fermani