CHM2106 Nano-Structured Materials and Nanotechnology

Without nanomaterials, there is no nanotechnology. As such, this course covers the basic principles associated with Nano science and nanotechnology including the fabrication and synthesis, size dependent properties, characterization, and applications of materials at nanometer length scales with an emphasis on recent technological breakthroughs in the field. In this course, the student can critically assess the promise of nanomaterials. Has practical skills in conducting the entire cycle of scientific experiment: from fabrication of nanostructures to their characterization. Knows the key methods of synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials has essential scientific background for understanding the properties and behavior of materials with reduced dimensions has understanding of several size effects in nanomaterials.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding

• The properties of nanoparticles are strongly dependent on size and shape.
• It is therefore important to synthesize these materials using a methodology that is able to finely control these structural parameters and the corresponding polydispersity degree.
• Focus on synthetic aspects for the design of nanostructured materials.
• Describe different approaches including both the bottom-up (includes both chemical and physical methods) and the top-down methods (mainly physical methods) for the synthesis of nanostructured materials.
• Focus on different type of nanostructures with a special emphasis on carbon nanotubes (CNT), metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, core-shell nanostructures and self-assembly of these nanostructures.
• The dependence of various properties (dielectric, magnetic and optical) with size will be discussed.

Skills and abilities
Describe 

• what a nanostructured material is
• Nanostructured materials that can be found in nature and in technology
• Different methods for preparation of nanostructured materials
• Self-association phenomena that lead to formation of nanostructured materials
• The unique physical properties that arise in nanostructured materials and why they appear
• How the unique properties of nanostructured materials are used in nature and technology.
• Some different characterization methods for nanostructured materials