Learning objectives
Knowledge: The course provides the student with an opportunity to address several practical experiences using the approach of the researcher and therefore no longer that, although very useful, of the replication of an experimental result.
The course highlights the importance of the observation of the phenomenon with respect to the replication of the phenomenon.
One of the aims of the course is to teach the students how to establish the methodology and procedure for running an experiment.
The chemical basis of important phenomena of inorganic chemistry are explained, focusing onhow to exploit the properties of substances and materials for the construction of an operating "device".
Understanding: great importance is given to the experimental approach and how to exploit the properties of individual substances and materials both to confirm what has been studied in the classroom, both to use their properties for practical purposes.
Prerequisites
none
Course unit content
Laboratory experiments on basic concepts and applications of inorganic chemistry:
Chemistry of the SolGel process: preparation of siliceous xerogel, preparation of hybrid organic-inorganic xerogels and their use for the purification of solutions of metals.
Preparation and stabilization of metal nanoparticles and oxides. Use of water soluble organic polymers for the separation of nanoparticles from solution.
Preparation of colored films based on metal oxides. Preparation of conducting glass based on tin oxide.
Functionalization of a surface of silver with an organic monomolecular layer.
Ferrofluids based on magnetite.
Construction of a photovoltaic DSSC cell .
Formation of electrochromic films based on iron cyanometalates.
Full programme
1) Inorganic polymers. FUndamentals of the SolGel process;
Precursors: metal alkoxydes, preparation and properties.
Hydrolysis and condensation reactions. Alcogels. Effect of the
reaction parameters on the formation of silica gels and
xerogels. Electronic and steric affects, solvent effect,
concentration, catalysts, drying methods. Gel. Xerogels and
Aerogels properties and their technological uses.
2) Inorganic-Organic Hybrid materials obtained by sol-gel
methods, Classification and description. Preparation of the
precursors, preparation characterization and properties of I-O
materials.
3) Mixed metal oxides by sol-gel methods.
4) Non-hydrolitic condensation.
5) Sensitized photovoltaic cells (Dye sensitized solar cells).
6) Metal and metal oxides nanoparticles, preparation and
properties.
Laboratory:
1) Preparation of silica xerogel in different reaction conditions. Correlation between their macroscopic properties and their expected structure.
2) a) preparation of amino functionalized hybrid materials
b) Use of the materials as metal absorbents
3) preparation of mixed-metal oxide films.
4) Preparation of fluorescent xerogels by trapping of organic molecules.
5) Infrared characterization of the obtained materials. Lab training on FT-IR. Acquisition of spectra with different techniques: transmission, microreflection, HATR.
6) Preparation on gold and silver nanoparticles, their stabilization with water soluble polymers, cloud point extraction.
7) Preparation of ferrofluidic magnetite stabilizied nanoparticles.
8) Assembling of a dye sensitized solar cell:
coloranti
a) Preparation of Tin oxide conducting glass plates.
b) Preparation of nanocrystalline titanium oxide in anatase phase
c) Assembling of the cell and measuring of its electromotive force under solar and artificial light.
9) Preparation of electrocromic thin films based on iron cyanometalates.
10) Preparation of a silver mirror and its functionalization with a hydrophobic monolayer.
Bibliography
None
Teaching methods
The classroom lectures led by the teacher are paramount throughout the course with regard to both the explanation of the basic concepts and the detailed concepts, that allow the student to carry out and understand the laboratory experiments on their own.
Practical experiences are made individually.
Discovery oriented teaching. Classroom lectures are mostly held using blackboard and colored chalk or projection on screen via computer of diagrams and texts related to the lesson.
Assessment methods and criteria
Correction of a manuscript on laboratory experiments and oral examination
Other information
none
