MEng Materials Science and Engineering with Polymers

Nanomaterials are an important class of transformative materials that are used in a range of applications from smart phones to solar energy.

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