Learning objectives
Knowledge and understanding: the main goal is to provide to the student the tools for the comprehension and the dissertation of bulk materials, hybrid materials and nanomaterilas using the concepts acquired in organic chemistry; particular attention will be paid to the influence of the structure-activity relationship, and to modern organic reactions allowing to tailor material properties.
Learning skills: students will acquire the specific language of the material chemistry field and will achieve the ability to correlate the various aspects of materials, from basic chemical properties to technological applications.
In particular, at the end of the course the student will be able to:
• recognize the synthetic techniques and to carry out the structural characterization of organic materials and of organic /inorganic hybrid materials
• correlate the structure and the properties of organic materials even in complex systems;
• critically understand a problem related to his profession and to propose specific solutions;
• design and complete an experiment through individual or team activities.
• retrieve bibliographic information to plan and carry out the synthesis of organic materials and organic /inorganic hybrid materials.
• collect and interpret experimental data in the laboratory;
• set up experimental activities;
• organize team-work;
• adapt to different work areas and issues;
• deliberates on important scientific and ethical issues.
• communicate chemical problems in a written and verbal form, even with the help of multimedia systems;
• sustain a contradictory on issues related to his studies;
• interact with people in multidisciplinary projects;
• carry out experimental training activities for undergraduate students.
• retrieve information from literature, databases and on the internet;
• learn independently, addressing new scientific issues or professional problems;
• continue to study solutions to complex problems, including interdisciplinary ones, finding the information needed to formulate answers and knowing how to defend their own proposals in specialized and non-specialized contexts.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of the concepts developed in the Organic Chemistry 1, Organic Chemistry 2 and in the Chemistry and technology of polymeric material courses
Course unit content
In the first part of the course, the degradation and resistance of organic
materials will be discussed, with focus on reactions under extreme
conditions. Scale for describing extreme acid or extreme basic conditions
will be introduced. Oxidation, pyrolysis and combustion and methods for
prevention will be described. The properties of organic materials relevant
for applications, and their connection with the molecular structure and
with intermolecular non-covalent interactions will be then illustrated. In
the second part of the course, the structure and chemical properties of
principal classes of organic materials of industrial interest will be
described, from ‘classical’ materials (wood, paper, fabrics, polymers) to
more specialized ones such as hybrid organic-inorganic materials,
nanomaterials and biomaterials, with examples of applications. Finally,
strategies for tailored modification of bulk materials, interfaces, and
organic nanomaterials will be discussed
Full programme
A-Reactivity (2 CFU) Kinetics in organic reactions and in organic material
chemistry. Degradation of organic materials by chemical treatments and
methods for avoiding it. Acidity and basicity extreme conditions: effect on
the various class of materials. Acidity and basicity scales in non-aqueous
media. Radical reactions: principles and applications in material
chemistry. Oxidation, autooxidation and photooxidation on organic
materials. Pyrolysis and combustion. Photodegradation and photostability
B-Structure (1 CFU) Principal classes of organic materials of industrial
interest. Classical organic materials: wood, paper, fabrics. Brief recall on
polymers (from polymer chemistry course) and focus on polymers for
high-tech applications. Gel forming materials. Organic coatings. Organicinorganic
hybrid materials. Biomaterials. Organic nanomaterials. Carbonbased
nanomaterials: fullerene, nanotubes, nanographene.
Biointerphases. Examples of functional materials for advanced
applications. C-Properties (1 CFU) The supramolecular view of stiffness,
adhesiveness, plasticity, crystallinity and amorphous state.
Stereochemical properties of materials. Helicity. Swelling and gel
formation. Biodegradability. Self-healing. D-Tailored modification. (2 CFU)
Transformation of bulk material (e.g. biomineralization, carbon fibers).
Surface chemistry and surface treatments. Surface derivatization.
Bioconjugation and bio-ortogonal chemistry. Organic reactions on
nanomaterials.
Bibliography
Teacher's handouts. Sources for in-depth study F.A. Carey e R.J. Sundberg
Advanced Organic Chemistry 5th Edition, Springer, 2007 J. March
Advanced Organic Chemistry Reactions, Mechanisms, and Structure, 7th
Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2013 Molecular Materials: Preparation,
Characterization, and Applications, Sanjay Malhotra, B. L. V. Prasad, Jordi
Fraxedas CRC press. Functional Organic Materials: Syntheses, Strategies
and Applications, Thomas J. J. Müller, Uwe H. F. Bunz, John Wiley & Sons,
2007
Teaching methods
Oral lectures
At the end of the course students will be involved in the study and in-depth study of a topic of their interest, discussing it in front of teachers and colleagues
Assessment methods and criteria
The exam consists of a written test and an oral test.
The knowledge required to pass the exam are:
Capacity
Demonstration of knowledge and understanding, supported by basic knowledge of Organic Chemistry, in applying these concepts to Materials Chemistry with professional attitude and originality. Ability to apply knowledge of Organic Chemistry of Materials in a broader and multidisciplinary context, understanding the links with other subject of the Chemistry Master Degree; maturity and knowledge necessary to undertake further studies with a self-directed degree of autonomy
Skills
Demonstration of knowledge of the structure and reactivity of bulk organic materials, hybrid materials and organic nanomaterials and their applications. Knowledge of relationships between structure and properties of organic materials.
Knowledge of main transformations and reactivity of organic materials and of synthetic methods for their tailored modification.
The written exam consists of 3 questions, under the form of case-studies. It is passed if 2/3 questions are answered correctly or, alternatively, if at least 60% of the total content expressed is correct and comprehensive.
The oral examination consists of the discussion of the written exam with a deepening of the theoretical part, in particular aspects not included in the written exam.
Other information
Teacher's handouts will be available in various formats in the web site.
