Master of Engineering (MEng)

MEng Materials Science and Engineering with Metallurgy

If you think your future lies in metallurgy, then join us and study advanced alloys, which will enable you to change the world.
  • Duration: 4 years
  • Year of entry: 2025
  • UCAS course code: F200 / Institution code: M20
  • Key features:
  • Scholarships available
  • Accredited course

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

Course unit details:
Graphene & Nanomaterials

Course unit fact file
Unit code MATS44202
Credit rating 15
Unit level Level 7
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

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

Aims

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.

Learning outcomes

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

Teaching and learning methods

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

 

Knowledge and understanding

  • 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.

Intellectual skills

  • 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.

 

Practical skills

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

Transferable skills and personal qualities

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

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Other 30%
Written exam 70%

Feedback methods

Feedback given (written and verbal)

Recommended reading

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

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 30
Independent study hours
Independent study 120

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Aravind Vijayaraghavan Unit coordinator

Return to course details