BSc Materials Science and Engineering

Smart or functional materials underly an important class of materials that are used in a range of applications from smart phones to solar energy. The unit will introduce the fundamental aspects of the materials composition and structure that underly their properties.

The unit aims to: 

• Introduce the principles underlying the crystal structures of ceramics and the network structure of silicate glasses, demonstrate how the symmetry of structures can control physical properties. 
• Extend simple concepts of crystal defects to their behaviour in ionic solids, covering: conservation of charge, cation and anion substitution, divergence from stoichiometry and doping, Kröger-Vink notation and the electronic properties of defects.
• Introduce a number of applications of smart ceramics focussing on their operating principles, including: ferrites and inorganic magnets, gas sensors, ionic conducting ceramics in batteries and fuel cells, transparent conductors for solar cells and touch screens.
• Present an introduction to the molecular structure of conducting polymers and organic materials;
• Illustrate applications of organic semiconductors from solar cells to polymer transistors and organic light emitting diodes; 
• Introduce the concept of liquid crystals, their fundamental principles and applications in displays.
• Introduce the concept of graphene and 2D materials.

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

Upon completion of this course students will be able to:

• Explain the chemical compositions and crystal structures of materials that form the spinel, inverse spinel and perovskite crystal structures.
• Apply a knowledge of crystal structures, doping and defect properties and electronic structure and explain the mechanisms of operation of a range of smart or functional ceramics and nanomaterials.
• Describe how magnetic, piezoelectric and ferroelectric and optical phenomena arise in solids.
• Evaluate  conducting mechanisms in solids and polymers and apply this knowledge to distinguish doping mechanism in inorganic and organic semiconductors.
• Summarize the concept of liquid crystals and evaluate their classification.
• Describe the crystal structures of layered materials and two-dimensional crystals, and summarise the effect of the reduced dimensionality on the key physical properties of 2D materials using the example of graphene and categorise the main methods of 2D material synthesis and appraise each synthetic route.

• Evaluate and compare a range of smart and functional ceramic, inorganic materials and nanomaterials based on input and output phenomena.
• Evaluate the importance of p bond for the electron delocalisation in small organic molecules and apply this knowledge to the idealised model of poly(acetylene). Be able to formulate the main conclusion of the Huckel’s theory for the idealised poly(acetylene).
• Apply the knowledge of the charge transport mechanisms in relation to operation of organic light emitting diodes and field-effect transistors.
• Evaluate the main classes of liquid crystals and core physical mechanisms determining their structure and optical properties.

• Execute simple experiments to characterise the electrical properties of inorganic materials and graphene.
• Relate observed phenomena to course content.

Verbal and written

The recommended reading for this unit can be found on the online unit reading list.

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2027 will be £10,050 per annum. Tuition fees for international students will be £41,900 per annum.

For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability and we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances.

For information about scholarships and bursaries please visit our undergraduate student finance pages and our the Department funding pages.