PH22035: Material physics
[Page last updated: 30 January 2025]
Academic Year: | 2024/25 |
Owning Department/School: | Department of Physics |
Credits: | 5 [equivalent to 10 CATS credits] |
Notional Study Hours: | 100 |
Level: | Intermediate (FHEQ level 5) |
Period: |
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Assessment Summary: | EXOB 100% |
Assessment Detail: |
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Supplementary Assessment: |
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Requisites: | Before or while taking this module you must take PH22006 |
Learning Outcomes: |
After taking this unit the student should be able to:
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Synopsis: | The quest for new materials is a major challenge for physics as the world becomes less dependent on fossil fuels, and information technology grows beyond what silicon can deliver. We will consider real-world materials, tracing the route from quantum mechanics to macroscopic properties. Concepts of 'smart', 'functional' and 'advanced' materials for energy, healthcare and quantum applications will be introduced through selected examples, along with cutting-edge techniques for materials science.
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Content: | Hot topics in materials physics (1 lecture hour): Modern classification of materials as "advanced", "functional" or "smart", with examples of each. The search for new and "designer" materials.
Thermodynamics and material properties (2 lecture hours): Maxwell relations in classical thermodynamics, compressibility, thermal expansion coefficient, heat capacity, in gases and solids.
Structure-property relationship of ideal solid materials (4 lecture hours): Review of the atomic structure of crystalline metals, semiconductors, insulators and glasses. Description of how this influences their physical properties including elasticity, hardness, strength, optical absorption, ferromagnetism, piezoelectricity, electrical and thermal conductivity.
Defects and other types of disorder in real materials (4 lecture hours): Bulk and thin film growth techniques. Formation of defects and impurities. Material microstructure and granularity. Surfaces and surface-specific properties.
Amorphous materials and glasses (4 lecture hours): The glassy state, glass transition, entropy crisis, Kauzmann Paradox, viscosity in glass forming liquids, fragility, glass structure.
Materials characterisation tools (5 lecture hours): Introduction to principles underlying key materials characterisation tools. These include electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometry, Raman spectroscopy, optical spectroscopy. Understanding of how to analyse results to reveal information about defects and microstructure in real materials.
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Course availability: |
PH22035 is Optional on the following courses:Department of Physics
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Notes:
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