MSc Advanced Engineering Materials / Course details

Nanomaterials are an important class of transformative materials that are used in a range of applications from smart phones to solar energy. The unit will cover a range advanced topics in nanomaterials with a special focus on 2D materials such as graphene as well as 2D materials beyond graphene.

This unit covers advanced topics in nanotech. Its aim is to prepare students for nanomaterials careers using research-focused teaching approach thus improving student employability in academia and industry by: Engendering an appreciation of wider aspects of nanomaterials as a field using research-based examples. Equipping students with a synthetic tool kit for careers in nanoscience. Delivering an appreciation of the potential socio-economic impact of nanotechnology. Delivering an appreciation of health and safety and environmental concerns regarding the widespread adoption of nanotechnology.

A greater depth of the learning outcomes will be covered in the following sections:

• Knowledge and understanding
• Intellectual skills
• Practical skills
• Transferable skills and personal qualities

Lectures, group tutorials (problem sessions), recommended textbooks, web resources, self- teaching worked examples, past exam papers, electronic supporting information (Blackboard).

• Propose and justify synthetic routes toward nanomaterials (excluding lithography, which is covered in Y3).
• Describe physical characterisation techniques applied to nanomaterials – based on literature case studies.
• Discuss the various classes of nanomaterials by dimensionality and their applications based on nanoscale properties.
• Appraise the use of nanomaterials as probes in medical applications (therapeutic, diagnostic). Have an appreciation of multimodal and theranostic nanomaterials that combine advanced functionalities.
• Have an appreciation of other nanomaterials including MOFs and molecular machines and explain why they are of interest in terms of their applications.
• Describe the main features of graphene as a nanomaterial and evaluate applications of the material in opto-electronics, composites and any other application discussed.
• Describe the main features of two-dimensional semiconductors and be able to justify their use as a complementary technology to graphene.
• Assess the main routes towards assembly of nnomaterials into macroscale objects via such routes as aerogels and supramolecular assembly.
• Compare and contrast the major characterisation techniques used in nanomaterials research (including EM, SPM, and spectroscopy) and justify their choice based on the data that each technique provides.
• Assess the disruptive effects of nanotechnology and socio-economic benefits and hazards of widespread adoption and deployment.
• Summarize current research directions in nanotechnology as well as propose suggestions for future research directions.

• Appraise general top-down and bottom-up strategies toward nanomaterials. 
• Select and justify appropriate synthesis for any given material type and application.
• Be given a nanomaterial and propose experimental techniques to characterise it, or an aspect of it, to publication standard with a discussion of what information can be gained from each experiment.
• Discuss types of materials that are currently being investigated in nanoscience and what applications they could be used for based on appraisal of their scale-dependant properties.

• Be able to carry out simple experiments in nanomaterials or write up a nano science report after being given authentic lab data.

• Solve numerical problems.
• Work as part of a team.
• Write concise and relevant reports in an appropriate format.

Feedback given (written and verbal)

Textbook of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, B.S Murty, Springer, ISBN: 978-3-642-28030-6 Handbook of Nanomaterials Properties, B. Bhushan, Springer, ISBN: 978-3-642-31107-9 “Nanochemistry: A Chemical Approach to Nanomaterials”, G.A. Ozinand A. Arsenault, Taylor and Francis Nanotechnology: principles and Practice (3rd Edn),DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-09171-6__1