Experimental Methods for Structural and Thermal Analysis

The course aims to equip students with a basic understanding of the following:
i) Principles and applications of powder X-ray diffraction,
ii) Thermal analyses,
iii) Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
iv) Mass spectrometry

Through these topics, students will develop the skills necessary to independently solve common qualitative and quantitative problems. They will learn techniques for structural identification and description of the thermal behavior of both organic compounds, materials and metallorganic complexes.

By the conclusion of the course, students will have acquired the following competencies:
- Ability to interpret X-ray powder diffraction data effectively,
- Proficiency in interpreting thermal events observed in Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA),
- Capability to utilize databases and perform basic qualitative and quantitative analyses of mixtures of polycrystalline powders,
- Competence in interpreting results obtained from combined diffraction/thermal analyses,
- Ability to interpret one-dimensional NMR spectra of proton (1H) and carbon (13C)
- Ability to interpret bidimensional homonuclear and heteronuclear NMR spectra
- Ability to read mass spectra (MS) and interpret observed fragmentation to justify the chemical formula
- Skills in identifying the structure of simple organic compounds using NMR and mass (MS) spectra.