Course Description
Fundamental and applied research in nanomaterials is an area of active research that will yield many new discoveries in the near future. Focuses on understanding methodologies for the formation (e.g., molecular self-assembly, photolithographic patterning, electrochemistry) and characterization (e.g., optical spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy) of nanomaterials.
Athena Title
NANOMATERIALS
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Nanoscience is the study and manipulation of matter on an atomic and molecular level. At this scale, materials often exhibit new properties that do not exist in their large-scale counterparts. Therefore, the field of materials science has focused on the formation and characterization of “nanomaterials” for use in a wide array of new and enhanced electronic and structural components. Fundamental and applied research in nanomaterials is an area of active research that will yield many new discoveries in the near future. Nanoscience is an interdisciplinary field, as it involves research at the interface between chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering. Therefore, although the structure of this course assumes an undergraduate-level understanding of chemistry and physics, it is intended as an introduction to nanomaterials, and no prior experience with such studies is assumed. The major focus of the course will be understanding methodologies for the formation (e.g., molecular self-assembly, photolithographic patterning, electrochemistry) and characterization (e.g., optical spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy) of nanomaterials. A significant portion of this course will also involve learning to do literature searches for information of interest and integrating that information into an oral presentation and a 1/2-page abstract of your talk. An additional 1/2-page abstract will be written for an audience of non-scientists. These skills will be quite useful in your future careers as scientists.
Topical Outline
Introduction - Course overview: What are nanoscience and nanotechnology? Why are they so interesting? Micro- and Nano-lithography - The process of making patterns on a small scale for use in electronic materials. Self-Assembled monolayers (SAMs) - Building patterns with molecules. How and why molecules spontaneously form ordered structures on surfaces. Surface structure. Carbon nanotubes - What are they? Where do they come from? Do they come in peace? Their physical properties and electronic applications. Science Library Primer - Web of Science, SciFinder Scholar, Google Scholar, using Endnote with MS-Word. Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) - a small probe is used to image and/or manipulate atoms and molecules. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) - Instrument design & basic principles. AFM - Imaging modes. AFM - Image artifacts. AFM - Lithographic techniques. Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) - Instrument design and basic principles. STM - Imaging modes. STM - Image artifacts. Electrochemistry - The room-temperature way to modify surfaces at the nanoscale, electrochemistry at nanoscaled electrodes.
Syllabus