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Research School of Chemistry · ANU College of Science and Medicine
Hard materials power modern society and are at the forefront of efforts to transition away from a fossil fuels based economy to more sustainable energy and manufacturing ecosystem. Mobile phones, solar panels, electric vehicles and medical implants all rely on new materials with designer physical properties. This course covers the chemistry of synthesising and charactering such materials - specifically the discipline of solid state chemistry. The course is split into three sections covering chemical bonding in the solid state, the electronic structure of crystalline solids and applications of functional materials. The types of materials which will be examined range from those used in: i) electronics (dielectrics, capacitors, ferroelectrics, piezoelectrics); ii) electrocatalysis and photocatalysis; iii) magnetism; and iv) energy capture (photovoltaics) and storage (batteries). An emphasis will be placed on methods used to characterise hard materials and correlating structure (both local and bulk) to chemical and physical properties.
Mid-semester exam
Learning outcomes 1, 2
Assignments/lab reports (hurdle requirement: Attendance at all laboratory sessions and the submission of all reports is required in order to pass the course)
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Final exam
Learning outcomes 3, 4
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including: - Face-to face components which may consist of 3 x 1 hour lectures per week plus 27 hours of laboratory throughout the semester. - Approximately 67 hours of self-study which will include preparation for lectures, presentations and other assessment tasks. Other Information Students must attendance at ALL laboratory sessions and submit ALL laboratory reports. Students who fail to attend a laboratory session cannot submit a written report on that laboratory for assessment. Attendance at all laboratory sessions and the submission of all reports is required in order to pass the course.
Atkins, P. & de Paula, J., 2022. Physical Chemistry. (any recent edition) Oxford: Oxford University Press. Atkins, P., Overton, T., Rourke, J., Weller, M. & Armstrong, F., 2010. Inorganic Chemistry. 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.