FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
cod. 16690

Academic year 2008/09
2° year of course - First semester
Professor
Academic discipline
Chimica industriale (CHIM/04)
Field
Discipline fisiche e chimiche
Type of training activity
Characterising
32 hours
of face-to-face activities
4 credits
hub:
course unit
in - - -

Learning objectives

Molecular engineering of functional materials

Prerequisites

Fundamentals of organic and physical chemistry

Course unit content

<br />
 Aim of the course: New materials represent one of the frontiers of chemical research. This course will highlight the working methodology in materials research through the study of four different classes of materials. For each class physical, chemical and application aspects will be discussed in a comprehensive way. <br />
Introduction: Nanofabrication via self-assembly and self-organization, transfer of the molecular properties to the macroscopic properties. <br />
Liquid crystals: Definition, physical properties, types of mesophases, Synthesis, structure-property relationship, characterization, electrical and optical properties. LC polymers. Applications: LCD, thermochromism, etc. <br />
Chemical sensors: Working principle of thermal, piezoelectric, electrochemical and optical sensors. Sensing materials like ionophores, host-guest compounds, etc. Applications: gas sensors, liquid sensors, artificial olfactory systems. <br />
Non linear optical materials: Theory. Synthesis and structure-property relationship. Second and third harmonic generation. Kerr effect. Applications: frequency doublers, fiber optics integrated circuits, Mach-Zender modulators. <br />
Conductive polymers: Theory. Electrical conductivity in organic materials. Doping. Synthesis and conductive properties of polyacetylene, polianiline, polypyrrole, polytiofene. Applications: ultralight batteries, conductimetric sensors, etc. <br />

Full programme

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Bibliography

Lecture notes given by the teacher

Teaching methods

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Assessment methods and criteria

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Other information

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