Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2005-2006 (archived)

Module CHEM3051: MATERIALS CHEMISTRY

Department: CHEMISTRY

CHEM3051: MATERIALS CHEMISTRY

Type	Open	Level	3	Credits	20	Availability	Available in 2005/06	Module Cap	None.	Location	Durham

Prerequisites

Core Chemistry 2 (CHEM2012) AND EITHER Core Chemistry 1B (CHEM1022) OR approved Mathematics modules.

Corequisites

Core Chemistry 3 (CHEM3012).

Excluded Combination of Modules

Core Chemistry 2 (CHEM2012).

Aims

To apply chemical principles to the design and evaluation of materials with industrial potential.

Content

Inorganic materials: semiconductors and high temperature superconductors.
Organic superconductors, nonlinear optical materials.
Band theory.
Materials properties.
Determination of structure and structural transitions in solids.
Two assignments.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

Appreciate and describe structural features of non-stoichiometric compounds, interstitial compounds, intercalates, high temperature superconductors and zeolites; relate these structures to specific dielectric, electrical, optical and magnetic properties;
explain the role that organic synthetic methods play in the synthesis of unconventional and novel molecules;
describe the functional groups required in a molecule to obtain specific opto-electrical properties. Students will be able to explain the requirements for speciality polymers;
describe the electronic structure of solids in terms of band theory and use this theory to explain the electrical properties of insulators, semiconductors and metals; explain the origin of dielectric, magnetic, optical and thermal properties of solids;
explain the application of various techniques for probing solids and polymers; identify the relevant characterisation techniques for elucidating structure at different length-scales; interpret and combine data from different techniques; describe hierarchical structures in solids and polymers.

Subject-specific Skills:

Key Skills:

Demonstrate problem solving skills and be able to work confidently with experimental data.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Lectures are used to convey concepts and are examined by written papers. This is thought to be the best method to assess the knowledge of the students.
Workshops are larger groups of students where problems are considered and common difficulties shared. This ensures that students have understood the work and can apply it to real life situations. These are formatively assessed.
At the end of each of the Michaelmas and Epiphany Terms, each student will be given a two hour period to evaluate experimental or theoretical data about a substance or system of interest. This develops problem solving skills in a limited time period.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Lectures	36	3 per week	1 Hour	36
Workshops	4	2 per Term	1.5 Hour	6
Assignment	2	1 per Term	2 Hour	4
Preparation and Reading				154
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination		Component Weighting: 80%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Written examination	3 hour	100%
Component: Assignments		Component Weighting: 20%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Problem-solving assignment 1		50%
Problem-solving assignment 2		50%

Formative Assessment:

Set work, usually in preparation for seminars and workshops.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University