Learning objectives
At the end of the course the student is expected to be able:
- to know an overview of the state of the art and potential developments in the field of molecular nanotechnologies. (1st Dublin Descriptor)-Draw the necessary tools, choose the most appropriate experimental techniques and know how to apply them to the major issues in molecular nanotechnologies. (2nd Dublin Descriptor)
- to judge the most appropriate experimental techniques, also in terms of accuracy and sensitivity, relevant to molecular nanotechnologies. (3rd Dublin Descriptor)
- to produce a written report in Italian or English, providing an analytical and critical examination of the results of a simple set of experiences. Know how to treat orally the same topics. (4th Dublin descriptor)
- Learn how to conduct experiments autonomously. (5th Dublin Descriptor)
Prerequisites
None
Course unit content
This course will develop some aspects of laboratory techniques for the production and characterization of selected families of nanostructures.
Focus shall be on the following research techniques:
- Optical techniques: fundamentals of spectroscopy micoRaman,
and (epi) fluorescence,
- Ellipsometry and Brewster angle microscopy
- Electron microscopy SEM and SEM-EDX
- Scanning force microscopy (AFM and its relatives)
- Mechanical properties in 2D and 3D (MPT, ISR, rheometry in general)
- Elements of advanced spectroscopy, based on scattering of synchrotron radiation and neutrons.
Students interested only in a particular subset of techniques could focus their activities only on those of interest.
Full programme
See the corresponding ELLY website
Bibliography
The notes of the lectures and exercises, and all the supporting material (slides, research articles, manuals.) are made available to students by sharing them on Elly platform. In addition, to the shared material, these books contain useful material for more in-depth study:J. Mewis & N. J. Wagner - Colloidal Suspension Rheology - Cambridge Uni Press (2012)
J. Als-Nielsen & D. Mc Morrow - Elements of Modern X-ray Physics - Physics Wiley (2010)
R.H. Tredgold - Order in Thin organic films - Cambridge Uni Press (1994)
S. A. Safran - Statistical Themodynamics of Surfaces, Interfaces, and Membranes -Westview (2003)
Teaching methods
The course consists of 6 credits, corresponding to 62 hours of teaching.
This will be articulated in an introductory part of lectures (typically 2h / week), which will be alternated to teaching activities in the laboratory (typically 4 h / week) in which the students will put into practice what they learned, also facing some of the difficulties inherent in carrying out an experiment.
In the final part of the course, the students will form groups each of which will focus on a particular projects based on some of the techniques learned.
Assessment methods and criteria
Students will be asked to write a report on their project. (weight 50%)
The examination will then take place in oral form (weight 50%). It will be focused on the discussion of this report, on the results achieved (for example, on their meaning, as well as on the accuracy of certain determinations).
Other information
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