This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.
Undergraduate Handbook 2006-2007 (archived)
Module CHEM4451: CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
Department: Chemistry
CHEM4451: CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
| Type | Level | Credits | Availability | Module Cap | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 4 | 20 | Available in 2006/2007 | None. | Durham |
Pre-requisites
- Chemical Physics 3 (CHEM3411), Molecules and their Interactions (CHEM3041), AND Computational Chemistry (CHEM2061).
Corequisites
- Chemical Physics 4 (CHEM4411).
Excluded Combinations
- Materials Chemistry (CHEM3051) AND Research Skills (CHEM4081).
Aims
- To apply chemical principles to the design and evaluation of materials.
Content
- Inorganic materials.
- Electronic structure of solids.
- Material properties.
- Characterisation of materials.
- Practical electronic structure calculations.
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.
- describe the functional groups required in a molecule to obtain specific opto-electrical properties and 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.
- calaulate a range of molecular properties using an electronic structure package, and judge the quality of published calculations.
Subject-specific Skills
Key Skills
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Facts and new concepts are introduced in lecture courses.
- These are backed up by workshops where the student attempts problems and is helped with any difficulties.
- Knowledge is tested by examinations both open and closed-book including a computer practical.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total Hours | Attendance Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 29 | 2 per week | 1 Hour | 29 | |
| Workshops | 3 | 1 per term | 1.5 Hours | 4.50 | |
| Practicals | 2 | All in Epiphany Term | 2 Hours | 4 | |
| Other (Assignments) | 2 | 1 per term | 2 Hours | 4 | |
| Preparation and Reading | 158.50 | ||||
| Total | 200 |
Summative Assessment
| Component | Component Weighting | Element | Length/Duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | 67% | Written examination | Two-and-a-quarter hours | 100% | |
| Coursework | 33% | Michaelmas term assignment 1 (PESC) | 55% | ||
| Michaelmas term assignment 2 | 15% | ||||
| Epiphany term assignment | 30% |
Formative Assessment
Workshop problems.
Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods
and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative
assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress
procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be
required to leave the University.