Course catalogue
Create your own master’s programme by choosing between the different specializations of our partner universities.
Academic Programme
Implemented from September 2025
Laboratory of Materials and Surface Analysis (6 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
Group laboratory work to solve problems in the area of characterization of (nano)materials and surfaces with particular focus on:
- Identification of strategies to solve the problem proposed.
- Planning the experiments.
- Sample collection and treatment.
- Physico-chemical characterization.
- Optimization of experimental parameters.
- Characterization of the (nano)material / surface (by analysis of elements/compounds, functional group, texture, structure, morphology, physical properties, chemical reactivity etc.) and eventual study of interferences.
- Report writing.
- Presentation and critical discussion of results.
Aims
This course unit aims to provide students with the development of their laboratory work skills to solve problems / challenges in specific areas of the physico-chemical characterization of (nano)materials and surfaces, using a project-based learning (PBL) methodology. The PBL course will enable the students to develop a research project which will allow them to have an integrated view of the characterization processes and encourage them to participate in the all steps of the work planning (including the definition of sampling strategy, transport and sample conservation, choice of instrumental methods, sample treatment, collection and treatment of experimental data, critical discussion of the results and writing of the final report).
Recommended Books
- Holler, F. J., Skoog, D. A., Crouch, S.R. (2007). Principles of Instrumental Analysis (6th Edition), Thomson. ISBN: 978-0-495-01201-6.
- Tantra, R. (2016) Nanomaterial Characterization: An Introduction. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 978111875346.
- Sibilia, J. P. (1996) A guide to materials characterization and chemical analysis. VCH, New York. ISBN: 978-0-471-18633-5.
- Crompton T. R. (2009) Introduction to Polymer Analysis. Smithers Rapra Technology. ISBN: 978-1847353849.
Teaching Staff
Carlos Pereira (responsible)
Eduardo Marques
Manuel Azenha
Hours
42 h (project-based learning)
Grading System
The classes are practical laboratories with tutorial supervision, according to a project-based learning approach. In the first practical class, a nanomaterial to be characterized and the purpose of the characterization will be assigned to each group of students. Through a tutorial follow up, the strategy of analysis and the set of instrumental methods to be used will be established. The group of students will present a work plan that should take into account the sampling, treatment of sample, instrumental procedure to discussion prior to execution. The execution of the work will be monitored by the teachers. The evaluation will take into account the performance in the practical classes (30%) and evaluation of the report and its discussion (70%).