The course is an introduction to the most important concepts in materials science and engineering. You will learn how the control of chemical bonding, synthesis, processing, structure and defects can be used to tailor the properties and performance of materials for applications that range from sustainable sources of energy, to construction, to consumer electronics. Case studies are also included to highlight environmental issues associated with materials degradation. This course includes lab demonstrations of key materials properties and a final project where students research an area of materials technology of their own interest.
This course will cover the fundamental materials science issues central to the design of sustainable energy technology. The goal of this course is to expose students to the emerging advances in materials science and materials chemistry that underpin technologies for energy conversion (fuel cells, thermoelectrics, photovoltaics, wind energy etc..), storage (biofuels, artificial photosynthesis, batteries etc) and distribution (smart grids and hydrogen and methane economy concepts etc..) and to place these in a real world context. This class will emphasize concepts in “green materials and green engineering practices” that are emerging with a global focus on “Sustainable Technology.” “Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.” Engineering materials and processes at all scales; molecular/nanometer, micro, and the macro-scale are critical to developing the tools society required to meet the growing needs for energy and sustainable materials for the built environment.
After introducing basic electrochemical concepts including cell potential and cell thermodynamics, electrochemical kinetics, mass transport and cell overpotentials, redox reactions, electrolytic versus galvanic cells, standard reduction potentials, and key reactions in electrochemical energy conversion and storage, this course will cover the broad impact of electrochemical phenomena on materials. Topics that will be discussed include:
Basic principles of chemical thermodynamics as applied to macro and nano-sized materials. This course will cover the fundamentals of classical thermodynamics as applied to the calculation and prediction of phase stability, chemical reactivity and synthesis of materials systems. The size-dependent properties of nano-sized systems will be explored through the incorporation of the thermodynamic properties of surfaces. The prediction of the phase stability of two and three component systems will be illustrated through the calculation and interpretation of phase diagrams for metallic, semiconductor, inorganic systems.