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
Initially, the chemical properties of the main classes of materials of technological/industrial interest will be recalled, from common materials (such as wood, paper, fabrics, polymers) to special materials. Degradation reactions of organic materials, resistance to them and methods to avoid them will be discussed. The reactions of pyrolysis, oxidation, combustion, photochemical and hydrolytic degradation will be described, as well as the concepts related to them. Some properties of materials that derive from the molecular structure and supramolecular interactions will also be described, in particular mechanical, optical and interaction with solvents.
In the second part of the course, synthetic techniques for the preparation of organic materials for electronics and photonics will be introduced, with an overview of the main structural factors that influence the properties of these compounds. The synthesis and properties of carbon-based materials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, fullerenes and carbon quantum dots will be presented. In the last part of the course, the classes of molecules and the strategies used for the preparation and characterization of organic materials on surfaces (self-assembled monolayer) will be illustrated.
Full programme
A - Reactivity (2 CFU)
Recalls on the structure of the main organic materials and their diffusion. Kinetics of reactions in the Chemistry of organic materials. Thermal decomposition and pyrolysis. Use of pyrolysis
reactions in the analysis and in the manufacture of materials (carbon fibers). Oxidation, self-oxidation and photo-oxidation of organic materials. Combustion. Principles of photochemical reactions. Photodegradation and photostability. Extreme acidic or basic conditions: effects on the various
classes of compounds. Acidity and basicity scales in non-aqueous solvents. Material transformation strategies (bulk or surface modification). Biodegradability and reversibility of materials.
B - Properties (1 CFU)
Properties dependent on the structure. Mechanical properties. Stereochemical properties of materials. Polymeric elicity. Intermolecular interactions, adaptive supramolecular materials.
Solubility: solvent descriptors and theories. Swelling and gel formation. biodegradability. Self-repair. Adhesiveness and main classes of molecular and supramolecular adhesives. Biointerphase and anti-fouling properties.
C - Organic materials for photonics and electronics (1 CFU)
Properties of organic materials for electronics (basic electronic properties, donor and acceptor groups, stability and processability). Synthesis of conjugated systems using alkene forming reactions and by organometallic compounds. Synthesis of donors and acceptors. Polymerization reactions.
D - Carbon-based nanomaterials (1CFU)
Synthesis, characterization and physical properties, applications in bioimaging, sensing of carbon nanotubes, fullarenes, graphene and carbon dots in materials science.
E - Self-assembly of organic molecules in nanostructures (1 CFU)
Chemical reactions for the synthesis of organic nanomaterials on surfaces (Ulmann Coupling, condensation, polymerization and bioconjugation reactions). Methods to promote self-assembly of organic structures on surfaces (Langmuir-Blodgett techniques, layer-by-layer aggregation, self
assembly in solution). Molecular design and building blocks (amphiphilic molecules, gelators, pi-systems, dendrimers). Self-assembly on inorganic materials.
Bibliography
Teacher's handouts.
Sources for in-depth study
Dennis A. Dougherty e Eric Anslyn Modern Physical Organic Chemistry University Science Books, 2006.
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
B. Fahlman Materials Chemistry-second edition Springer, 2011
Molecular Materials: Preparation, Characterization, and Applications, Sanjay Malhotra, B. L. V. Prasad, Jordi Fraxedas CRC press.
Timothy C. Parker, Seth R. Marder, Synthetic Methods in Organic Electronic and Photonic Materials - A Practical Guide, RSC, 2015 Stephen R. Forrest, Organic Electronics: Foundations to Applications, Oxford University Press, 2020
Teaching methods
Oral lectures
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.
2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
The course aims to describe materials and their transformations. In this perspective, the consequences of the degradation of materials and their biodegradability are also presented, as well as more advanced solutions for a rational and sustainable use of resources.
