Inorganic and Materials Chemistry A
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| CHEM4024 | Chemistry | 4 | 10 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- CHEM4024
- School
- Chemistry
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
Carbon Nanostructures: This part of the module considers the structural diversity of inorganic carbon nanostructures, the physicochemical properties of carbon nanomaterials and their technological applications. Polymer Materials: This part of the module considers the synthesis of different polymer structures, characterisation methods and the importance of structure property relationships for materials.
Topics include:
(a) Bonding rules in carbon nanostructures: structural relationship between diamond, graphene, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes.
(b) Fullerenes as 0D carbon nanostructures: structural diversity and chemical reactivity.
(c) Nanotubes as 1D carbon nanostructures: physicochemical properties and technological applications.
(d) Graphene as 2D carbon nanostructure: physicochemical properties and technological applications.
(e) Introduction to polymeric properties, outlining the modern approaches to advanced materials manufacture.
(f) Introduction to the key analytical techniques required for modern polymeric materials characterisation.
(g) Modern polymer synthetic strategies and detailed mechanisms of controlled polymer synthesis.
(h) An understanding of the most important structure property relationships and how these can be controlled and exploited.
Target Students
MSci Chemistry OR MSci Medicinal and Biological Chemistry OR MSci Chemistry and Molecular Physics OR MSci Biochemistry and Biological Chemistry OR Natural Sciences AND Level 4 students.
Classes
- One 1-hour seminar each week for 2 weeks
- Two 1-hour lectures each week for 11 weeks
Lectures and Seminars
Assessment
- 100% Exam 1 (2-hour): Second re-assessment: If a further re-assessment is allowed by satisfying the conditions of Undergraduate Course Regulation 19, the form of the further re-assessment for this module will be 100% coursework.
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
To give knowledge and understanding of (i) the structure, bonding and physicochemical properties of carbon nanostructures; (ii) the key technological applications of graphene, carbon nanotubes and fullerenes; (iii) the historical and the most modern approaches to advanced polymeric materials manufacture; (iv) the most important structure property relationships of polymeric materials and how these can be controlled, measured and exploited.Learning Outcomes
At the end of the module, a student should be able to
1. Understand the structure and bonding in sp2-carbon structures: graphite, graphene, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes
2. Compare and contrast methods of production of graphene, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes
3. Compare and contrast methods of characterisation of graphene, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes
4. Rationalise the chemical reactivity of sp2-carbon nanostructures
5. Understand mechanisms of reactions of C60 and higher fullerenes with radicals, nucleophiles and cycloaddition reagents
6. Appreciate technological applications of carbon nanomaterials
7. Understand the difference between monomer, oligomer, statistical, block, graft and star type polymers
8. Be able to describe the key methods of polymer synthesis including step growth and chain growth and the key catalytic approaches to controlled and living polymerisation e.g. – RAFT, ATRP, CCTP
9. Be able to relate differences in structure to product material properties
10. Be able to show the utility of specific polymer properties to commercial applications
11. Understand the most relevant polymer characterisation techniques and how they can be applied to demonstrate unique polymer properties
12. Transferable skills: problem-solving, written communication and numerical skills.