Hard Matter: Fundamentals and Applications

The course provides students with a systematic exposition of the fundamental concepts of solid-state matter and its properties, aiming to establish a strong foundation for understanding the vast and diverse phenomenology associated with solid materials. It will help students rationalize the structural, microstructural, thermal, optical, and transport properties of materials.

Students will gain proficiency in the concept of band structure and its relationship with optical and electronic transport phenomena. They will understand phase transition diagrams in solids and their reactivity in relation to defect thermodynamics. Additionally, they will become familiar with and utilize common investigation techniques, including powder diffraction, calorimetry, XPS, UV-Vis and impedance spectroscopy, as well as electron microscopy.