Physical Chemistry of Materials
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course will illustrate the basic principles of physical chemistry of materials, with focus on response properties and on modern synthesis and analysis methods.
Expected learning outcomes
Students will acquire the main physical and physico-chemical skills for understanding and interpreting the responses of solid materials to mechanical, thermal and optical stimuli, in the context of advanced materials design and tailor-made preparation.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Properties of materials and tensors: definitions and basic operations. Calculation of a property along specific directions. Representation quadric. Influence of symmetry. Voigt and Mandel-Voigt notation. Examples: second-rank, third-rank, and fourth-rank tensors. Crystalline, amorphous and composite materials. Mechanical properties of bulk materials. Isotropic stress-strain: definition, characteristic curve. Anisotropic stress-strain. Stress and strain tensors, with worked examples. Elastic response: stiffness and compliance. Thermal expansion (positive and negative). Isothermal compressibility. Poisson ratio, characteristic moduli. State equations. Dielectric and optical materials. Optical properties. Propagation of the electromagnetic field in bulk materials. Refractive index. Dispersion and anomalous dispersion. Correlation: piezoelectricity, pyroelectricity and electrostriction. Electro-optical and elastic-optical effects. Pockels effect. Kerr effect. Introduction to non-linear optics. Optical activity.
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of thermodynamics and vector algebra. These are normally acquired in the Physical Chemistry 1 with Laboratory, Institutions of Mathematics and Numerical Calculus courses of the bachelor's degree in chemistry.
Teaching methods
The course is delivered through lectures. Questions and interventions from students are encouraged. Lecture notes are made available to students through the e-learning platforms available at Unimi (for example, MyARIEL).
Teaching Resources
J. F. Nye - Physical Properties of Crystals; Oxford Science Publications, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1985
Yu. I. Sirotin, M. O. Shaskolskaya - Fundamental of Crystal Physics; MIR publishing, Moscow, 1982
R. M. A. Roque-Malherbe - The Physical Chemistry of Materials; CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, 2010
D. Tabor - Gases, liquids and solids; Penguin Library of Physical Sciences, 1989
Class slides, lecture notes
Yu. I. Sirotin, M. O. Shaskolskaya - Fundamental of Crystal Physics; MIR publishing, Moscow, 1982
R. M. A. Roque-Malherbe - The Physical Chemistry of Materials; CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, 2010
D. Tabor - Gases, liquids and solids; Penguin Library of Physical Sciences, 1989
Class slides, lecture notes
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an oral interview, during which students will answer questions aimed at probing their preparation on specific topics, their ability to reason, connect different issues and solve problems. To this end, some simple case studies from Literature may also be proposed by the instructors and solved with their guidance. The evaluation will take place on a scale out of thirty and the exam is considered passed if the student achieves a sufficient evaluation (minimum 18/30) in both parts. Exceptional performances will be rewarded with an honorable mention (30/30 cum laude).
CHIM/02 - PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Professors:
Conte Riccardo, Lo Presti Leonardo
Shifts:
Professor(s)
Reception:
To be agreed via email. Please send an email to [email protected]
Department of Chemistry, First Floor, Sector A, Room 131
Reception:
To be arranged by e-mail
Prof. Lo Presti Office R21S, Dept. of Chemistry, Ground Floor, South Section