LEARNING OUTCOMES

"Aim of the course is to provide the student with an updated overview in the field of inorganic materials with particular focus on techniques for synthesis, processing and controlled modification of materials in view of their most current applications "

TEACHING METHODS

Traditional lectures

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Introduction to the lecture: Definition of functional materials and its relations to smart materials. Trasducers, sensors and actuators. Use of sensors in high technological devices (e.g. smartphones). MEMS.

Solid state synthesis:. Solid state reactions: ceramic method, spinel structure and synthesis. Co-precipitation methods. Precursors methods. Mechano-chemical Synthesis. Sintering. Microwaves synthesis. Related examples.

Sol-gel method: Sol-gel process: definition, steps and reactions. Process parameters starting from silicon alcoxides: pH, alcoxid/aqua ratio, solvent. Gelation (models) and aging. Aerogel. Sol-gel process starting from inorganic precursors or non silicon alcoxides: process parameters.

Thin-film deposition techniques:  Introduction and process steps. Classification of thin-film deposition technology. Physical vapor deposition and chemical vapor deposition. Examples of use in different fields. Evaporation step. Knudsen number. Step coverage. Deposition steps. Epitaxy. Fractional mismatch. Substrates for epitaxy. Heteroepitaxy of semiconductors. Epitaxy techniques (LPE, VPE, MBE, MOCVD). Energy beams: electron beams, cathodic and anodic arc, pulsed beams, ion-beam sputtering. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and comparison with physical vapor deposition PVD. Gas transport, reactors and typical overall reactions used in CVD. Precursors. Case exemplary study: Deposition of SiO2.

Single crystals growing in funzional materials:  P-n junction. Diode Examples of application of p-n juctions. Semiconductor materials list. Methods for single crystal production of semiconductors: Czochralski process, Float-zone growing, Bridgman technique. Wafer production of Si -p and –n doped.

Two examples of functional materials:

Themoelectric materials:  Seebeck and Peltier effects. . Figure of merit zT. Thermoelectric modules. Phonon-glass electron crystal (PGEC). Applications.

Piezoelectrics: Piezoelectricity and crystal symmetry. Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and other perovskitic materials. Their applications.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Synthesis of Inorganic Materials, U.Schubert, N.Hüsing, Wiley-VCH, 2012

Inorganic materials, D.W.Bruce, D.O’Hare, J.Wiley&Sons, 1997

Basic Solid State Chemistry, A.R.West, Wiley-VCH, 1984

Solid State chemistry, Anthony R. West, J. Wiley e Sons 1990