Chemistry of Materials

Recommended Prerequisites

General Chemistry; Physical Chemistry; Inorganic Chemistry; Organic Chemistry.

Teaching Methods

The teaching methods in the theory and practical classes have as their objective the global learning of the discipline. Each student will carry out a literature search on a topic in the area of current interest, using the Internet and finding other appropriate sources of information. The practical part will exemplify the work of the theoretical classes with the preparation and study of the physicla chemical properties of polymers, ceramics, liquid crystals and other systems of interest.

 

Learning Outcomes

This course introduces students to the philosophy and methodology of Chemistry of Materials using the materials tetrahedron: synthesis and processing, properties, structure and composition, performance. This objective is divided into the following learning outcomes:

1. Knowledge and the capacity for understanding

- understanding and using concepts of chemistry in the area of materials

- understanding the connection with other disciplines

- ability to synthesise this information

2. Aplication of the knowledge and understanding: application to resolve problems in new situations

3. Decision making: knowing how to predict and interpret data; oral and written discussion of specific decisions and recommendations

4. Comunication

- understanding and knowing how to use information sources. Capacity for literature search and retrieval

- knowing how to transmit the knowledg acquired, including to the non-specialist public

5. Competences in self-learning: lifelong capacity for autonomous learning

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

The materials tetrahedron: synthesis and processing, properties, structure and composition, performance. Cristalinity of solids. Band theory. Defects. Porous solids. Doping and semiconductors. Metals and alloys; composites; corrosion. Ceramics and glasses. The sol-gel process and new materials. Superconductivity in ceramics. Crystalinity, tacticity and the effect of additives on the glass phase. Optical properties. Natural and synthetic polymers: homopolymers and copolymers. Thermoplastics and resins. Morphology and the degree of crystallinity. Rheoplogy. Crosslinking. Functional polymers. Conducting and conjugated polymers. Soft matter. Mesophases and liquid crystals. Relation between shape and structure. Thermotropic and lyotropic mesophases. Aggregation in surfactants. Nanomaterials and advanced materials. Bottom up versus top down. Quantum dots and metallic nanoparticles. Nanospheres, nanotubes and nanoparticles. Self-assembly and supramolecular chemistry. Biomineralization.

Head Lecturer(s)

Christopher Michael Ashton Brett

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Synthesis work: 30.0%
Exam: 70.0%

Bibliography

H.A. Alcock, Introduction to Materials Chemistry, Wiley, Hoboken, 2008.

 

K. Holmberg, B. Jonssson, B. Kronberg, B. Lindman, Surfactants and Polymers in Aqueous Solution, John Wiley, 2nd edn., 2002.

 

A.B. Ellis, M.J. Geselbracht, B.J. Johnson, G.C. Lisensky, W.R. Robinson, Teaching General Chemistry. A Materials Science Companion, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 1993.

 

J.S. Seixas de Melo, M.J. Moreno, H.D. Burrows, M.H. Gil,(eds) Química de Polímeros, Coimbra, Imprensa da Universidade, 2004.

 

M.P. Stevens “Polymer Chemistry”, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 3rd edn. 1999.

 

G.A. Ozin, A.C. Arsenault, “Nanochemistry. A Chemical Approach to nanomaterials”, Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 2005.

 

W.F. Smith, Princípios de Ciência e Engenharia dos Materiais, (trad. M.E. Rosa, M.A. Fortes, L. Guerra-Rosa, M. de Fátima Vaz) Mc-Graw-Hill, Lisboa, 1998.