Entry requirements

120 credits in Science including 90 credits Chemistry. The courses Materials Chemistry, 5 credits and Inorganic Chemistry, 5 credits, or equivalent.

Learning outcomes

After completion of the course the student should have

• Describe materials and their properties (experimentally and theoretically) as a function of atomic and molecular structure, e.g. intercalation compounds, polymers, transition metal complexes, perovskites, ionic conductors used in batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, hydrogen storage, catalysis
• Explain the reactivity of transition metal complexes and their role in homogenous catalysis.
• Explain the difference in properties of nanostructured materials compared to bulk materials and their importance for chemical renewable energy systems
• Describe and explain some important materials chemistry synthesis and characterisation methods.
• Explain surface structure and reactivity that influences the properties of renewable energy systems.
• Describe aging processes at a molecular level and their relation to material properties.
• Describe environmental and health aspects of the materials used for chemical renewable energy systems.

Content

Material properties at an atomic and molecular level for chemical renewable energy systems; batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, hydrogen storage, catalysis. Bulk material versus nano structured material and thin film systems, surface effects and surface properties. The most important synthetic and characterisation methods for producing and understanding energy related materials on both an experimental and theoretical level.

Electrode materials and their properties; semi-conductor materials, electronic and ionic conductivity, surface properties, coordination compounds, intercalation compounds.

Electrolytes; Liquids, solids electrolytes (polymers, gel, ceramics), ionic liquids, etc.

Materials for heterogeneous catalysis and homogeneous catalysis. Mechanistic principles for, and fundamentals of homogenous catalysis; reactivity and applications.

Instruction

Lectures, tutorials, problem solving classes and laboratory exercises.

Assessment

Written examination at the end of the course (4 credits). The laboratory course corresponds to 1 credit.