CODE 104073 ACADEMIC YEAR 2026/2027 CREDITS 3 cfu anno 2 ADVANCED MATERIALS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 11967 (LM SC.MAT.) - GENOVA SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR CHIM/02 LANGUAGE English TEACHING LOCATION GENOVA SEMESTER 1° Semester OVERVIEW The course Nanostructured Magnetic Materials: A technological approach will focus on the design of nanostructured magnetic materials (NMM) with tunable and optimized magnetic properties for specific applications (e.g. magnetic separation, drug delivery, magnetic hyperthermia, MRI, etc.). AIMS AND CONTENT LEARNING OUTCOMES This teaching will teach students how to design nanostructured magnetic materials (NMM) with tunable magnetic properties. Students will learn the main wet chemistry synthesis method of NMM focusing on magnetic nanoparticles. Then, by the correlation between crystalline structure, morphology and magnetic properties, the morpho-structural feature of the materials will be optimized for specific application (e.g. magnetic separation, drug delivery, magnetic hyperthermia, MRI). AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES A physical property depends on the size of an object when its size is comparable to a characteristic length scale relevant to that property. In magnetism typical sizes – as for example the magnetic domains sizes or lengths of exchange coupling interactions are in the nanometer range. For this reason, over the past decades, great attention has been directed towards nanostructured magnetic materials, in which the constituents are organized on a length scale ranging from 1 to 100 nm. In particular, magnetic nanoparticles have generated much interest because of their application in high density data storage, ferrofluid technology, catalysts and biomedical application (e.g. magnetic separation, drug delivery, contrast enhanced MRI). This course will teach students how to design and synthetize nanostructured magnetic materials (NMM) with tunable magnetic properties. The materials will then be tested for specific applications (e.g. magnetic separation, drug delivery, magnetic hyperthermia, MRI) optimizing their magnetic properties. The skills acquired in this course are particularly suited to the profile of Materials Scientist: Technology Specialist. However, the introductory part related to fundamental concepts of magnetism also provides skills that are also relevant to the profile of Materials Scientist: Research Specialist. PREREQUISITES Background in Mathematics, General Physics and general Chemistry is recommended TEACHING METHODS Lectures (10 hours) Laboratory activity (30 hours). Classroom attendance is strongly recommended, and it is considered essential to perform experimental activity. Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), disabilities, or other educational needs must contact the lecturer and the Inclusion Coordinator of the School of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences (sergio.didomizio@unige.it) by email at the beginning of the classes in order to agree on teaching methods that, while respecting the objectives of the course, take into account individual learning methods. For further information regarding the request for services and accommodations, consult the link https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/richiesta-servizi. SYLLABUS/CONTENT The detailed program will be also available on AULA WEB and it will be discussed with the students during lectures After a brief introduction on the fundamental concept of magnetism, a synthetic description of magnetism at the nanoscale (i.e. Supermagnetism) will be given. Then, the main synthesis method of Nanostructured Magnetic Materials will be described and, focusing on magnetic nanoparticles, the correlation between crystalline structure, morphology and magnetic properties relevant to specific applications (e.g. drug delivery, biosorption, magnetic hyperthermia) will be discussed. In this part students will learn how to design nanostructured magnetic materials with tunable properties for specific applications. Then, students will synthetize by chemical method magnetic nanoparticles, and they will characterize materials from morho-structural and physical point of view. Synthetized materials will be tested within original research project, for specific application (e.g. magnetic separation), working on the optimization of physical properties of materials for a specific application. RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY S. Blundell, Magnetism in condensed matter. Oxford: Oxford Univesity Press, 2001. L. Suber and D. Peddis, “Approaches to Synthesis and Characterization of Spherical and Anisometric Metal Oxide Magnetic Nanomaterials,” in Nanomaterials for life science, Wiley., vol. 4, C. S. S. R. Kumar, Ed. Weinheim: Wiley, 2010, p. 431475. D. Peddis, P. E. Jönsson, S. Laureti, and G. Varvaro, Magnetic interactions: A tool to modify the magnetic properties of materials based on nanoparticles, vol. 6. 2014. G. Muscas, N. Yaacoub, and D. Peddis, Novel Magnetic Nanostrucures Unique properties and applications. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier, 2019. TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD SAWSSEN SLIMANI Ricevimento: Every day by appointment. LESSONS LESSONS START The schedule of classes is published @ Link Class schedule The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy EXAMS EXAM DESCRIPTION The assessment consists of an oral examination lasting approximately 45–60 minutes. At the end of the course each student should critically discuss in a talk his/her laboratory activity (30%) and the results obtained (60%). Also, the lab-book prepared by the student during the experimental activity will be evaluated (10%). Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), disabilities, or other educational needs may request exam adaptations. Well in advance of the exam date (at least 7 days), they must fill out the appropriate online form (https://modulionline.unige.it/richiesta-adattamenti#no-back) and contact the teacher and the inclusion representative of the School of Mathematical, Physical, and Natural Sciences (sergio.didomizio@unige.it) by email. For more information about requesting services and adaptations see the Link https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/richiesta-servizi. ASSESSMENT METHODS The oral examination will be carried out in front at least two professors and it aims to verify the student’s ability to rationalize the experimental results. The preparation of the lab book will allow to evaluate the student’s ability to describe the experimental activity selecting qualitatively and quantitatively the information necessary to rationalize the experimental results.
