Course catalogue
Create your own master’s programme by choosing between the different specializations of our partner universities.
Academic Programme
Implemented from September 2025
Inorganic Functional Materials (3 ECTS)
All courses during this semester
- Experimental methods on innovative research infrastructures - 5 ECTS
- Digital Micro-certification "The challenges of sustainable chemistry" - 10h
- Transferable skills : French language & interculturality (3 ECTS)
- Quantum mechanics towars quantum computing (5 ECTS)
- Winter school in Data Science (2 ECTS)
- Organic / Inorganic chemistry towards sustainability (5 ECTS)
- Kinetics and Electrochemistry (5 ECTS)
- Introduction to biophysics and microscopies for life science (5 ECTS)
All courses during this semester
- Luminescence spectroscopy of Lanthanides (3 ECTS)
- Summer School in Entrepreneurship (5 ECTS)
- Transferable skills: Polish course (3 ECTS)
- The molecules of life: from structure to chemical function (5 ECTS)
- Thermodynamics and soft matter (3 ECTS)
- Introduction to solid state (5 ECTS)
- Tech-infused perspectives on photochemical reaction dynamics (6 ECTS)
- Transferable skills: Portuguese course (3 ECTS)
- Summer School in Entrepreneurship (5 ECTS)
- Solid State Physics (5 ECTS)
- Molecular Energetics (3 ECTS)
- Laboratory of Materials and Surface Analysis (5 ECTS)
- Interfacial Electrochemistry (3 ECTS)
- Interfaces, Colloids and Self-Assembly (6 ECTS)
All courses during this semester
- 1-year research project - master thesis (equivalent 45 ECTS)
- Progress assessment of the research project (equivalent 6 ECTS)
- Weekly seminars (equivalent 4 ECTS)
- Special Topics in Chemistry (equivalent 5 ECTS)
- French language courses (3 ECTS)
- Nanosciences (6 ECTS)
- Medical applications of nanomaterials and radiations (6 ECTS)
- Top management, corporate law, and project writing for technology transfer and decision making (4 ECTS)
- Tracking ultrafast radiation-induced reactivity (3 ECTS)
- Applications for renewable energy and storage: solar fuels, batteries and hydrogen (6 ECTS) (6 ECTS)
- Scientific Writing and career objectives (2 ECTS)
- Surface Science and Nanostructuring at Surfaces (6 ECTS)
- Polymers for electronics and energy harvesting (5 ECTS)
- Electrochemical systems for fuel and electrolysis cells and batteries (6 ECTS)
- Project-based laboratory on device building (3 ECTS)
- Italian Courses (3 ECTS)
- Chemistry and Technology of Catalysis (5 ECTS)
Content
Introduction to the lecture (2h): Course objectives. Definition of functional materials and its relations to smart materials. Trasducers, sensors and actuators. Use of sensors in high technological devices (e.g. smartphones). MEMS.
Solid state synthesis (6 h):. Solid state reactions: ceramic method, spinel structure and synthesis. Co-precipitation methods. Precursors methods. Mechano-chemical Synthesis. Sintering. Microwaves synthesis Related examples.
Sol-gel method (6h): Sol-gel process: definition, steps and reactions. Process parameters starting from silicon alcoxides: pH, alcoxid/aqua ratio, solvent. Gelation (models) and aging. Aerogel. Sol-gel process starting from inorganic precursors or non silicon alcoxides: process parameters.
Thin-film deposition techniques (6 h): Introduction and process steps. Classification of thin-film deposition technology. Physical vapor deposition and chemical vapor deposition. Examples of use in different fields. Evaporation step. Knudsen number. Step coverage. Deposition steps. Epitaxy. Fractional mismatch. Substrates for epitaxy. Heteroepitaxy of semiconductors. Epitaxy techniques (LPE, VPE, MBE, MOCVD). Energy beams: electron beams, cathodic and anodic arc, pulsed beams, ion-beam sputtering. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and comparison with physical vapor deposition PVD. Gas transport, reactors and typical overall reactions used in CVD. Precursors. Case exemplary study: Deposition of SiO2.
Single crystals growing in funzional materials (2h): P-n junction. Diode Examples of application of p-n juctions. Semiconductor materials list. Methods for single crystal production of semiconductors: Czochralski process, Float-zone growing, Bridgman technique. Wafer production of Si -p and –n doped.
Two examples of functional materials (2h):
Themoelectric materials (1h): Seebeck and Peltier effects. . Figure of merit zT. Thermoelectric modules. Phonon-glass electron crystal (PGEC). Applications.
Piezoelectrics (1h): Piezoelectricity and crystal symmetry. Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and other perovskitic materials. Their applications.
Aims
Introduction to the various processes for the preparation and modification of inorganic materials. Properties of the synthesized materials and applications.
Pre-requiste
Fundamentals of chemistry and physics.
Recommended Books
- Synthesis of Inorganic Materials, U.Schubert, N.Hüsing, Wiley-VCH, 2012
- Basic Solid State Chemistry, A.R.West, Wiley-VCH, 1984
- Solid State Chemistry, Anthony R. West, J. Wiley and Sons 1990
Teaching Staff
Paola Riani
Mauro Giovannini
Hours
24 hours lectures
Grading System
Student evaluation will be carried out in a traditional way, by means of a written final exam.
The written exam will consist in six questions and the student should answer to four of them.
In the case the student is willing to improve his/her mark, he/she could take a further oral examination.