OVERVIEW

The Solid State Physical Chemistry course is a free-choice, 4CFU course with topics pertaining purely to the field of physical chemistry-inorganic chemistry. In order to take this course, the student must have a foundation in Mathematics and Physics and must have taken Physical Chemistry III as some parts of the course recall quantum mechanical concepts.s. 

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching aims to provide the student with the molecular basis of thermodynamics and the fundamental elements for understanding the phenomena that define the electrical and electronic behavior of solids.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching aim to provide the student the molecular basis for an understanding from a statistical point of view of the thermodynamic. Second objective is the acquisition of the fundamental knowledge for understanding the phenomena defining the electrical and electronic behavior of solids. At the end of the course student should have the necessary knowledge for molecular understanding of the thermodynamic laws and of the phenomena of thermal and electrical conduction in solids.

PREREQUISITES

Background acquired in courses in Physical Chemistry I, General Physics, Institutional mathematics, numerical calculus

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures that are  strongly recommended. Lecture slides will be made available during the course.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course presents two distinct topics: an introduction to the concepts of thermodynamics as seen from a molecular point of view, i.e., statistical thermodynamics, and a study of the basic aspects of conductors and semiconductors. Statistical thermodynamics: distinguishable and indistinguishable particles; Maxwell-Boltzmann approximation; calculation of the main thermodynamic quantities by statistical means: heat work and internal energy (1st principle), entropy (2nd principle); hints at the behavior of bosons and fermions. Electronic properties of solids: free electron theory in metals; band theory in solids; semiconductor theories and applications; superconductors. The detailed course syllabus will be available on aulaweb and will be discussed with students during the course  

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

T.L. Hill An introduction to Statistical Thermodynamics

C.Kittel Introduction to Solid State Physics

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

DAVIDE PEDDIS (President)

SAWSSEN SLIMANI

FABIO MICHELE CANEPA (President Substitute)

CRISTINA ARTINI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The schedule of classes is published at https://chimica.unige.it/didattica/orari_CTC

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam of about 50/60 minutes with the use of the blackboard.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The reasoning ability of the student as well as his ability to solve very simple problems is evaluated.

Exam schedule