Nanochemistry

Aim and Content

Nanochemistry is an undergraduate level course for students interested in the science of nanostructured materials. The nanosize regime of approximately 1 to 100 nanometres is of fundamental importance in material science technology. The change of chemical and physical properties, depending on size effects, provides the ultimate inspiration for the development of nanostructured catalysts and quantum confined materials. The course will introduce students to the synthesis, characterisation, functionalisation, and application of these new materials.

The course emphasises the following topics: metallic and oxidic nanoparticles, ligand-stabilised nanoclusters, nanoporous materials (open-framework inorganics) such as metalorganic frameworks, crystalline porous silica materials including zeolites, zeotypes, pillared clays, and periodic mesoporous silica, nanoporous oxides, nanoporous metals, and nanoporous carbons such as ¿activated carbon¿ and single-walled nanotubes. Synthetic strategies include the inversed micelle technique, templating and pillaring approaches, the sol-gel process via metal alkoxide precursors, isomorphous substitution, cocondensation, postsynthetic derivatisation, impregnation, metal vapor phase deposition, surface organometallic chemistry, and ship-in-the-bottle synthesis. The course will also demonstrate the potential relevance of such nanostructured materials for advanced material science, organic synthesis, catalysis, and adsorption/separation processes.

Learning Outcomes

After completing the course KJEM244 the student will be able to:

• describe different types and properties of nano materials
• explain the synthesis of production of nanostructured compounds
• identify and describe methods used to characterise different nano materials
• relate the structure of the compound to their properties
• discuss use and application of nano materials

Course offered (semester)

Spring. Last time spring 2014. The course will be replaced by the course NANO244 (runs first time autumn 2014).

Pre-requirements

Pre-requirements: Knowledge of inorganic chemistry.

Compulsory Requirements

None

Assessment methods

The portfolio assessment is based on oral exam (accounts for 70% of the final grade) (In case more than 4 candidates are registered, the examination may be written (3h)) and oral presentation of project (30%). Compulsory work are valid for six following semesteres.

Grading Scale

The grading scale used is A to F. Grade A is the highest passing grade in the grading scale, grade F is a fail.