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Outline:

The module provides students with knowledge and understanding of the mechanical, electrical, and optical properties of a variety of materials, including metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites as well as materials for energy conversion and storage. It discusses the relationship between material properties and their microstructure.

Aims:

The aim of the module is to provide students with:

• Knowledge and understanding of the mechanical, electrical and optical properties of a variety of materials, including metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, and energy materials.
• Knowledge and understanding of the relationship between material properties and the microstructure.

Intended Learning Outcomes:

• ÌýÌýÌý Understand the relationship between interatomic potentials and the properties ofÌý metals, ceramics and polymers
• ÌýÌýÌý Describe point, line and surface defects in crystals and discuss their role in controlling the mechanical and electrical properties of materials
• ÌýÌýÌý Explain the role of dislocations in plastic deformation and strengthening mechanisms used to counter it
• ÌýÌýÌý Explain the atomistic mechanisms involved in fracture, fatigue and creep and use fracture mechanics to calculate the critical stress
• ÌýÌýÌý Explain how the exceptional mechanical properties of nanostructured materials relate to microstructure
• ÌýÌýÌý Sketch and interpret phase diagrams and use them to determine phase compositions and equilibrium microstructures
• ÌýÌýÌý Sketch and interpretÌý isothermal transformation diagrams and understand the shape in relation to nucleation and growth mechanisms
• ÌýÌýÌý Sketch and describe the microstructures of eutectoid steels and the relationship with the mechanical properties
• ÌýÌýÌý Describe the mechanical properties of alloys and nanostructured alloys and explain the properties in terms of the atomistic mechanisms
• ÌýÌýÌý Explain the properties of ceramic materials in terms of crystal structures and bonding
• ÌýÌýÌý Explain the relationship between the exceptional properties of carbon nanotubes and the atomic structure, and discuss potential applications
• ÌýÌýÌý Describe and explain the structure and properties of amorphous and semicrystalline polymers
• ÌýÌýÌý Define elastic, plastic and elastomeric polymers, sketch the stress-strain curves and explain in terms of the atomistic mechanisms
• ÌýÌýÌý Describe properties of composite materials and understand their importance in the context of renewable energy generation, e.g. in wind turbines
• ÌýÌýÌý Explain the exceptionalÌý properties of nanocomposite materials
• ÌýÌýÌý Describe and explain the physical principles of solar energy conversion in e.g. solar cells and photoelectrochemical cells
• ÌýÌýÌý Knowledge of structure, optical and electrical properties of materials for renewable energy conversion, especially semiconductors
• ÌýÌýÌý Describe state-of-the-art approaches for artificial photosynthesis, that is, water splitting and conversion of CO2 in fuels
• ÌýÌýÌý Describe and explain the physical principles for energy storage, especially in batteries and supercapacitorsÌý
• ÌýÌýÌý Knowledge of structure and properties of materials for energy storageÌý

Teaching and Learning Methodology:

This course is delivered via weekly lectures supplemented by a series of problem solving tutorials and additional discussion.

In addition to timetabled lecture and PST hours, it is expected that students engage in self-study in order to master the material. This can take the form, for example, of practicing example questions and further reading in textbooks and online.

Indicative Topics:

ÌýÌýÌý Introduction

ÌýÌýÌý Part I: Basic principles
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý –Ìý Bonding and crystal structure
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý –Ìý Defects and diffusion
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý –Ìý Elastic and plastic deformation
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý –Ìý Failure and strengthening of materials
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý –Ìý Phase diagrams
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý –Ìý Phase transformation and alloys

ÌýÌýÌý Part II: Non-metallic Materials (Week 27-28)Ìý

–Ìý Ceramics and Glasses
–Ìý Carbon Materials, polymers, composite materials, colloids, liquid crystals

ÌýÌýÌý Part III: Energy Materials (Week 29-30)

–Ìý Supercapacitors and Batteries
–Ìý CO2 and clean energy, solar cell materials and photoelectrochemcial cells