ADVANCED MATERIALS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The course aims to introduce students to the materials and catalysts necessary for the development of the themes of "green" industrial chemistry, i.e. based on renewable and/or recycled raw materials and applied to environmental protection, in the scenario of the energy transition to be implemented through the development of sustainable processes

The energy and technological transition that is becoming necessary implies a profound transformation of the chemical industry, with a shift from fossil to renewable raw materials and a drastic reduction in environmental impacts. The use of renewable raw materials for the production of intermediates and chemical end products implies the development of new industrial processes, which will be made possible by the production of optimized catalysts for these processes. These materials will not necessarily be drastically different from those used in current industrial chemistry, but they will have to be adapted to the new green chemistry. During ADVANCED CATALYTIC AND ADSORBENT MATERIALS FOR GREEN INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES, the specific problems relating to the optimization of catalysts for some of the main processes of green chemistry will be dealt with in practice. In parallel, the topic of solid adsorbents used in chemical processes and for environmental protection will be dealt with.

The exam will consist of an oral test, consisting of one presentation of 20 minutes with a topic decided by the student and some related questions on different parts of the program carried out. There will be 2 exam sessions for the 'winter' session (January and February) and 3 exam sessions for the 'summer' session (June, July, September). Furthermore, the test can also be taken during the didactic breaks that may be foreseen in autumn and spring.

The oral exam involves discussion on the basis of the presentation and questions that may relate to the entire program presented in class, formulated in terms of theoretical questions or in the form of application problems. The exam aims to ascertain the specific skills acquired and above all the ability to use them combined together to orient themselves in concrete application cases. The quality of the exposure, the correct use of technical terminology and critical reasoning skills will also be assessed.

The teaching material used during the lessons will be available in the teaching room. The notes taken during the lessons and the material in Aulaweb are sufficient for the preparation of the exam, but the following books are suggested as supporting and in-depth texts. Handouts issued by teachers. G. Busca, Heterogeneous Catalytic Materials, Solid State Chemistry, Surface Chemistry and Catalytic Behavior, Elsevier Publishing, 2014.

The teaching aims to consolidate the basic metallurgical knowledge and introduce the physical and applied metallurgy, with emphasis on strengthening processes in steels, aluminium alloys a and their industrial implications. The methods of alloying, plastic deformation, precipitation and secondary hardening will be examined, with reference to the effects on the main mechanical and physical properties. The course will also introduce powder metallurgy, welding and additive manufacturing techniques as well as wet and dry corrosion issues. The integration of this knowledge will enable students to develop a critical approach to the selection and optimization of metallic materials for advanced applications in areas such as manufacturing, structural engineering, and high-performance component design.

The course in Advanced Metallurgy provides an overview of metallic alloy manufacturing technologies, with particular emphasis on high-performance materials and innovative processing methods.
It covers a range of production and processing techniques, including powder metallurgy, welding, heat treatment, plastic forming, and additive manufacturing. The course also addresses corrosion and strategies to improve the mechanical and physical properties of metallic materials through microstructural modification.
Knowledge of Advanced Metallurgy equips students to critically evaluate manufacturing technologies and select the most appropriate materials for complex applications in a variety of fields, including mechanical engineering, aerospace, energy, and biomedical engineering.

The exam is oral.
The examination is an oral interview consisting of three questions, each contributing equally to the evaluation (10/30 each).
The first question is focused on the processing or modification of material properties. In the second and third questions, the student is asked to illustrate and discuss specific aspects of selected alloys introduced during the course. Il voto finale corrisponde alla somma dei punti acquisiti con le risposte.
Students who have a valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances related to lectures, coursework, and exams should speak with both the teacher and Professor Sergio Di Domizio ([email protected]), the Department’s disability liaison.

The exam aims to verify the student's acquisition of adequate knowledge of the teaching topics, in particular, advanced processing technologies and the properties of the main alloys. The student should be able to apply such concepts to address application aspects and use appropriate terminology.
If the learning outcomes are not achieved, the student is invited to study further using the provided teaching material or with additional explanation before repeating the exam.

All slides used for the lectures and other material will be available on Aulaweb. For more information, on preparing for the exam, the following texts are suggested:

• I. Polmear,‎ D. StJohn,‎ J.-F. Nie,‎ M. Qian, Light Alloys: Metallurgy of the Light Metals, Butterworth-Heinemann; 5 edition
• Bhaskar Dutta, Sudarsanam Babu, Bradley H. Jared, Science, Technology and Applications of Metals in Additive Manufacturing, 1st Edition - August 15, 2019, Elsevier
• R. E. Smallman, A.H.W. Ngan, Modern Physical Metallurgy, 8th Edition - September 4, 2013, Butterworth-Heinemann
• J. C. Warner, R. Dean Odell, and Daniel A. Brandt, Metallurgy Fundamentals, 7th Edition, 2025

The course aims to provide an overview of bio-inspired materials and their use in devices for biomedical and environmental applications. The basic principles underlying material design, fabrication and characterization will be given. Laboratory activities will allow students to acquire practical skills in the development of specific biomimetic materials/devices.

Bio-inspired materials and devices aim to mimic nature’s solutions to develop sustainable and innovative technological solutions, crucial for applications such as medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring and drug design. The interdisciplinary approach adopted will provide significant expertise for future material scientists.

The exam will consist of an oral interview on the topics covered during classes. A detailed list of the covered topics is available on Aulaweb.
Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), disabilities, or other educational needs may request exam adaptations by completing the dedicated online form at least seven days before the exam:
https://modulionline.unige.it/richiesta-adattamenti#no-back
They should also contact the teacher and the inclusion representative of the School of Mathematical, Physical, and Natural Sciences ([email protected]) by email.
For more information: https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/richiesta-servizi

The exam will be aimed to evaluate the level achieved by the student with respect to the learning outcomes. In particular, during the interview, the acquired knowledge and the ability to use the technical language will be ascertained. Furthermore, the ability to identify and critically evaluate the basic elements and characteristics (in terms of performance, functionality) of materials and devices proposed by the teachers and/or designed by the student on the basis of laboratory activities will be assessed.

Slides and other teaching materials will be provided by the teacher. Further materials will be made available on Aulaweb.

Aim of the teaching is to provide the basic knowledge on the preparation, characterization, and application of heterogeneous catalysts, also through practical laboratory experiences, introducing the student to the definition of sustainable processes.

66402 - Chemistry and Technology of Catalysis + Laboratory (CTCATAL) is worth 6 forming credits (CFU). It takes place during the first semester of the first year of the Master Degree teaching on Sustainable polyMer And pRocess chemisTry (SMART) .
The teaching deals with various aspects of heterogeneous catalysis. The teaching deals with the preparation and characterization of heterogeneous catalysts, their kinetic performance and the influence of phenomena that limit the overall reaction rate. The approach is pragmatic and oriented to the development of sustainable industrial processes.

Oral examination and evaluation on reports on the laboratory experiences. The discussion during the oral examination will begin from the laboratory experiences and then it will cover the main themes of the teaching: synthesis, characterization and testing of heterogeneous catalysts and applications.
Grading System: Final oral exam: 60%; Laboratory reports: 40%
For students disabilities or with specific learning disabilities (DSA), the examination procedures are in line with the University regulations for the performance of the examinations (https://unige.it/disab-dsa).
Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), disabilities, or other educational needs may request exam adaptations. Well in advance of the exam date (at least 7 days), they must fill out the appropriate online form (https://modulionline.unige.it/richiesta-adattamenti#no-back) and contact the teacher and the inclusion representative of the School of Mathematical, Physical, and Natural Sciences ([email protected]) by email.
For more information about requesting services and adaptations see the Link https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/richiesta-servizi.

The commission is composed of two components and one of them is the teacher of the teaching. The duration of the examination is not less than 30 min. In this way the commission is able to verify the achievement of the learning outcomes. The student should know the main methods of preparation and characterization of catalysts and be able to interpret the influence of mass transfer phenomena on the reaction speed of heterogeneous catalytic reactions both from a theoretical basis and from the laboratory experiences. If the learning outcomes will be not achieved the student is invited to study again and better following some teacher suggestions and explanations.
For students with disabilities or with Learning Disability (DSA), the examination methods are consistent with the University regulations for the conduct of the exams (https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa).

The slides of the teaching are made available in the Aulaweb page of the teaching in which other study and in-depth resources are made available as well as guidelines and materials to support laboratory activities.
D. Murzin, Engineering Catalysis. De Gruyter, Berlin, Boston, 2013
D. Sanfilippo (ed.), The Catalytic Process from Laboratory to the Industrial Plant, Maraschi, Milano, 1994.
G. Bellussi (ed.), Material design for catalytic application, Maraschi, Milano, 1996
Other books for consultation
J.M.Thomas, W.J. Thomas, Principles and Practice of Heterogeneous Catalysis, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, 1996
R.J. Wijngaarden, A. Kronberg, K.R. Westerterp, Industrial catalysis: optimizing catalysts and processes, Wiley-VCH, 1998
F. Cavani et al., Fondamenti di Chimica Industriale, Zanichelli, 2022. Chapter 2 on Principi della Chimica Industriale pagg. 15-95 (It is in Italian)
Supplementary material is provided on request to working students or students with Learning difficulty (DSA) to meet specific needs.

The course will review the basic concepts of inorganic and physical chemistry, to balance the initial knowledge due to the different background of the students. Starting with practical, concrete chemical examples the required basic principles will be derived.

This class , held at the beginning of the first semester, aims to provide and strengthen the student's basic knowledge of chemistry by using simple examples from fundamental chemistry.

The exam consists of a written self-assessment test administered at the end of the class. Based on the outcomes, each student will have the opportunity to review and deepen their understanding of the topics in which knowledge gaps have emerged.For students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), please refer to the “Additional Information” section, in accordance with current regulations and the university’s official guidelines.

The purpose of the examination is to assess the achievement of the learning objectives established for the class, in terms of acquired knowledge, the ability to apply concepts in practice, and the level of independent study skills.
In particular, from the self-assessment test it will be possible to ascertain the student's acquired ability to:

• apply fundamental concepts of inorganic, organic and physical chemistry to develop simple interpretive models and solve basic problems;
• integrate prior and new knowledge to develop the capabilty to learn independently and critically;
• expound concepts learned, both orally and in writing, with adequate language skills.
  If the learning objectives are not fully achieved, students will be encouraged to review and further explore the topics where difficulties emerged, with the support of explanations and teaching materials provided by the instructor.

P.Atkins - J de Paola Chimica Fisica - 2012 (quinta edizione) Zanichelli Bologna (english edition)
Mark Weller, Jonathan Rourke, Fraser Armstrong, Simon Lancaster, and Tina Overton, Inorganic Chemistry – Eighth Edition, 2025, Oxford University Press.
Fundamentals of Polymer Science – P. C. Painter, M. M. Coleman - Technomic Publishing Co., Inc. , 1997- 2nd edition.
Polymers: Chemistry and Physics of Modern Materials – J. M. G. Cowie – Blackie Academic & Professional, Chapman & Hull Eds., 1991 – 2nd edition.

Provide to students the capability to manage new material items based upon an engineering point of view focused on the device need and constraints when created with advanced innovative materials. Carbon fiber as well as ceramic based composites and the technologies to produce, treat, stabilize them will be presented and studied in their specific features. Application methodologies with their main advantages and possible problems will be discussed with the students. Regulatory frameworks, specifically devoted to bring a new product on the market and to take care of the strict biomedical need, will be also highlighted by a specific 8 hrs short course. Comparison between European and Usa normative will be illustrated. Continuous comparative analysis between the scientific and industrial viewpoints will be performed in classroom.

Composite materials are very useful in biomedical engineering but their use requires special care. The course focuses on the study of the characteristics of composite materials and their design methodologies. The materials for the construction of exoprostheses as well as those for endoprostheses will be examined. Definition of matrix and reinforcement. Study of the anisotropic aspects of composites. Characteristics and construction of the main long fiber reinforcements (carbon fibers) and particulate(ceramic-based) composite. Interaction and adhesion between reinforcement and matrix, defects and problems inherent to technology and materials. Prepregs and separate component systems. Woven and non woven materials. Fracture of fibers and laminates, scaffolds and hybrid systems. Reinforcement sizing and layering treatments. Ceramic matrix fibers and composites. Manufacturing techniques. The course will be completed by a module on regulatory aspects in designing with innovative materials.

Oral exam with possibility for the student to introduce an item of her/his choice among those discussed in the course. This option, if applied, will make the item to be discussed in a detailed fashion.

The student will be evaluated by her/his capability to manage the introduced problems and propose a technical solution based and supported by what has been learned in the course

Will be indicated by the teacher

By the end of the course, students will have acquired the fundamental theoretical knowledge and the necessary skills to model simple systems and simulate physical processes at the nanoscale.

The course introduces two fundamental computational methods for studying the properties of a wide range of materials (from synthetic to biological): Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics. After a theoretical introduction based on statistical physics, practical computer-based exercises will follow.

Oral examination based on the presentation and discussion of a simulation project independently carried out by the student. The work will consist of reproducing and extending one of the exercises carried out during the course, applied to a system agreed upon with the teacher. No intermediate tests are planned. For students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), please refer to the “Other information” section for specific arrangements.

Learning will be assessed through an oral exam, during which the student will present a simulation project carried out independently. The student will be asked to replicate one of the exercises covered during the course, introducing modifications to the simulated system or material, in order to evaluate the ability to apply and adapt the computational methods taught. The presentation will be followed by a theoretical question aimed at assessing the understanding of the statistical-physics principles underlying the methods used. The final assessment will take into account methodological correctness, the quality of data analysis, the physical interpretation of the results, autonomy in developing the project, clarity of presentation, and the appropriate use of scientific terminology.

Understanding Molecular Simulation: From Algorithms to Applications - Daan Frenkel, Berend Smit - ELSEVIER, 2nd Edition Additional teaching material, slides, code examples and exercise instructions will be made available on AulaWeb.

Fundamental concepts of computing and programming in the context ot the most widespread computing systems in STEM with procedural and object-oriented imperative languages ​​and related libraries, learning to develop small programs or modify existing code.

The course introduces the student to computing for material science, providing him with the elements of computer science and programming in the scientific field. This includes the use of hardware and software resources to collect and process data, also through the design and implementation of tools such as scripts or applications in various widely used languages, which in turn may exploit preexisting code.

The exam consists of the discussion of a short essay prepared by the student on a programming project of her/his choice.

The purpose of the exam is to assess the student's ability to design, write, compile, link, execute and debug simple code, and the ability to adapt their code to the needs of third parties. Eligibility will be verified based on the points listed.

Specific indications on reference bibliography will be provided by the professor at the beginning of the lectures. All didactic material will be available on course aulaweb.

Learning the fundamental concepts of economics and business organization, and acquiring the ability to apply this knowledge to the context of the national and international industrial production system. These concepts include not only the economic sustainability of industrial interventions and strategies, but also the environmental sustainability of such actions, to be assessed using life-cycle based approaches.

The teaching introduces the student to the main economic-organizational dynamics of a company, highlighting the role of the expert in the business context, with particular attention to the realization, evaluation of profitability and management of investment projects in terms of corporate "sustainability", and thus beyond the mere technical validity of a proposal.

Final oral exam. The oral exam will consist of a series of questions and consequent discussion on the various modules in which the teaching is organized, in order to evaluate the correct achievement of the learning outcomes (see "assessment methods").
The attendance of the lessons constitutes a fundamental prerequisite for the achievement of the learning outcomes of the teaching.
Further information will be provided during the teaching (during the first lesson, and subsequently at the request of the student).
Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD) are reminded that in order to request accommodations during exams, they must first upload their certification to the University website at servizionline.unige.it in the “Students” section. The documentation will be verified by the University's Services for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and SLDs, as indicated on the federated website at the link: SUSTAINABLE POLYMER AND PROCESS CHEMISTRY 11767 | Studenti con disabilità e/o DSA | UniGe | Università di Genova | Corsi di Studio UniGe.
Subsequently, well in advance (at least 10 days) of the exam date, an email must be sent to the professor with whom the exam will be taken, copying in both the School Referent for the inclusion of students with disabilities and SLDs ([email protected]) and the above-mentioned Department. The email must specify:

• the name of the teaching • the date of the exam • the student's surname, first name, and student ID number • the compensatory tools and dispensatory measures deemed functional and requested.
  The contact person will confirm to the teacher that the applicant is entitled to request adjustments during the exam and that these adjustments must be agreed upon with the teacher. The teacher will respond by communicating whether it is possible to use the requested adjustments.
  Requests must be sent at least 10 days before the exam date in order to allow the teacher to evaluate their content. In particular, if you intend to use concept maps for the exam (which must be much more concise than the maps used for study), if the request is not sent within the specified time frame, there will not be enough time to make any changes.
  For further information on requesting services and accommodations, please refer to the document: Linee guida per la richiesta di servizi, di strumenti compensativi e/o di misure dispensative e di ausili specifici.

The oral exam will allow the verification of the actual achievement of the learning outcomes of the teaching.
In particular, students will be assessed on their ability to apply theoretical knowledge to realistic scenarios or simple problems. They will demonstrate their ability to interpret a company's economic and financial information to compare investment projects, manage their implementation, and understand the environmental sustainability of related products or production processes.
At the same time, the student's critical reasoning skills and his ability to answer specific questions in a clear and direct way will be assessed, demonstrating greater financial awareness and understanding of environmental issues related to industrial production.
If the learning outcomes are not achieved, the student will be invited to deepen the study and to make use of further explanations by the teacher.

G. Azzone e U. Bertelé – L’impresa- Sistemi di governo, valutazione e controllo- 5a Ed. –Rizzoli Etas, 2011
M. Peters, K. Timmerhaus and Ronald West - Plant Design and Economics for Chemical Engineers- 5a Ed. –McGraw-Hill Education, 2003
Notes of the lessons
Supplementary material will be provided upon request to working students or students with SLD to meet specific needs.

The purpose of the course is to provide the concepts of electrochemistry and the aspects of materials science constituting the basis of the most promising electrochemical systems for energy. At the end of the course the student will have acquired the theoretical knowledge on the structure and operating principle of each device, whether it be for conversion (spontaneous current flows - galvanic cells, photoelectrochemical cells - and forced - electrolysers) or for storage (secondary batteries, supercapacitors).

The course examines the principles governing electrochemical systems for energy conversion and storage, with particular emphasis on the role of materials, defects, surfaces, interfaces, microstructure and transport phenomena in determining performance and durability. These concepts are applied to fuel cells, electrolysers and batteries, integrating experimental characterization and multiphysics modelling.

The final assessment consists of a Take-Home Assignment (THA), worth 40% of the final grade, and a final written examination, worth 60%. The THA consists of an individual, complex scientific problem based on experimental and/or simulation data. Students are required to interpret results, identify the phenomena limiting performance, and propose possible solutions or further investigations. The written assignment accounts for 30% of the final grade, while 10% is assigned to a brief individual discussion (5–10 minutes) aimed at verifying the student’s personal understanding of the work. The final written examination consists of open-ended questions and questions involving the interpretation of electrochemical data, curves and/or electrochemical spectra, aimed at assessing individual mastery of the fundamental concepts and the ability to reason under time constraints. No multiple-choice tests or quizzes are used.

The THA primarily assesses the ability to integrate knowledge of materials, electrochemistry, transport and characterisation. The assignment is assessed in terms of the ability to interpret data, identify the mechanisms responsible for the observed behaviour, propose well-motivated strategies for further investigation or improvement, and communicate the analysis clearly and scientifically. The brief individual discussion evaluates understanding and the ability to justify the main choices made in the assignment. The final written examination evaluates individual achievement of the learning outcomes through open-ended questions, data interpretation and the ability to establish cause-and-effect relationships. Scientific correctness and the appropriate use of data are essential criteria in all assessment activities.

R. O’Hayre et al., Fuel Cell Fundamentals, 4th ed., Wiley, 2022.
A. J. Bard, L. R. Faulkner, H. S. White, Electrochemical Methods: Fundamentals and Applications, 3rd ed., Wiley, 2022.
J. Newman, K. E. Thomas-Alyea, Electrochemical Systems, 3rd ed., Wiley, 2004.
Teaching materials provided by the teacher. Specific bibliographic references will be provided during the course.

The students will appreciate the potential of photovoltaics (PV) as a viable paradigm for the conversion of solar irradiation into electricity to satisfy humankind’s power needs. After having dealt with the foundations of PV and first generation PV technologies in the course entitled “Solar Energy and Solar Cells” (second semester), students of this course at the third semester will learn to classify and analyse inorganic crystalline materials based on their composition and chemical bonding. They will understand and apply both classical and quantum-mechanical based bonding and electronic structure theories to selected inorganic PV materials. They will describe the relationship between crystal structure, bonding type, and physical properties. They will appreciate the impact and relevance of point and extended defects in such materials during fabrication and operation, with a focus on second generation technologies, known as thin films. Based on the chemical nature of the various PV materials, they will learn some basic principles for the design of effective fabrication routes.

This course offers an advanced treatment of inorganic materials for photovoltaic (PV) applications, with a focus on crystalline solids and thin-film technologies. Building on prior knowledge of solar energy conversion and photovoltaic fundamentals, it adopts a materials-oriented perspective on the relationships between composition, crystal structure, chemical bonding, and electronic properties. The course examines how these factors determine the functional behavior of inorganic semiconductors used in second-generation PV technologies. Particular attention is devoted to defects, doping, and fabrication processes, with emphasis on chalcogenide and perovskite absorbers and transparent conductive oxides, as well as on advanced photovoltaic concepts beyond conventional single-junction devices.

The exam will consist of an oral interview based on the course syllabus.
For students with disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD), please refer to the “Further Information” section.

Thanks to the oral exam and given that the two instructors have several years of experience in conducting examinations in the subject area, the examination board is able to assess with a high degree of accuracy whether the learning objectives of the course have been achieved. When these objectives are not met, students are encouraged to deepen their study and to seek further clarification from the course instructors.

1. Antony R. West, Basic Solid State Chemistry, Wiley-VCH
2. Ulrich Müller, Inorganic Structural Chemistry, Wiley-VCH
3. Richard Dronskowski, Computational Chemistry of Solid State Materials, Wiley-VCH
4. Peter Würfel, Physics of Solar Cells: From Principles to New Concepts, Wiley-VCH
5. Arthur J. Nozik et al., Advanced Concepts in Photovoltaics, RSC Energy and Env. Series

Lo studente acquisirà le conoscenze di base della lingua nazionale e uno sguardo alla cultura e al patrimonio nazionale del paese ospitante.

Il corso, della durata di 24 ore, si propone di sviluppare la competenza comunicativa in lingua italiana a livello A1 del QCER, privilegiando in particolare le abilità linguistiche ricettive (comprensione scritta e orale) e la competenza metalinguistica.

Esame scritto
Per gli studenti con disabilità o con DSA si rimanda alla sezione Altre Informazioni.

Turra, E. (2017), Azione! Imparare l’italiano con i video, Loescher, Torino.

Acquisition of theoretical knowledge and experimental practice concerning the main instrumental techniques for the characterization of polymeric materials' properties (molecular, thermal, morphological, structural and mechanical)

The physical properties of a polymeric product are dictated in part by the intrinsic characteristics of the macromolecular chains, but also by the thermo-mechanical history imposed during solidification. The knowledge of the different analytical techniques that allow to determine the characteristics of a polymer is an essential tool in order to understand the relationship between processing and structure, and therefore to optimize processes and materials to obtain the desired properties.

Each group of students will be asked to draft a short written report describing the activities and results obtained for a given laboratory exercise carried out, at choice of the group. The report will then be corrected and evaluated by the teacher, who will attribute a grade (to the group's activity). This grade will then be perfected in the oral exam, which focuses on the topics of the course, covered during the frontal lessons and exercises. The oral exam aims to evaluate the effective learning of the single student. The final grade is then assigned by the teacher taking into account both the student's contribution to the group activities (exercises and writing report), and the individual oral exam.

During the assistance of the groups of students in the laboratory exercises, the teacher will evaluate the effective involvement of the individual students in the experience, and the ability to carefully carry out the experimental measurements. Reading and correcting the laboratory reports presented by each group will allow to evaluate the ability to collaborate, the understanding of the topics covered and the use of correct technical-scientific language. The individual oral exam will allow to ascertain in detail the achievement of an adequate level of knowledge in the field of characterization of the properties of polymeric materials, and in general the ability to deduce relationships between molecular structure and properties, also on the basis of the knowledge acquired in previous courses in the polymer field.

Notes to the course and slides of the lectures available on aulaweb

This teaching will teach students how to design nanostructured magnetic materials (NMM) with tunable magnetic properties. Students will learn the main wet chemistry synthesis method of NMM focusing on magnetic nanoparticles. Then, by the correlation between crystalline structure, morphology and magnetic properties, the morpho-structural feature of the materials will be optimized for specific application (e.g. magnetic separation, drug delivery, magnetic hyperthermia, MRI).

The course Nanostructured Magnetic Materials: A technological approach will focus on the design of nanostructured magnetic materials (NMM) with tunable and optimized magnetic properties for specific applications (e.g. magnetic separation, drug delivery, magnetic hyperthermia, MRI, etc.).

The assessment consists of an oral examination lasting approximately 45–60 minutes. At the end of the course each student should critically discuss in a talk his/her laboratory activity (30%) and the results obtained (60%). Also, the lab-book prepared by the student during the experimental activity will be evaluated (10%). Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), disabilities, or other educational needs may request exam adaptations. Well in advance of the exam date (at least 7 days), they must fill out the appropriate online form (https://modulionline.unige.it/richiesta-adattamenti#no-back) and contact the teacher and the inclusion representative of the School of Mathematical, Physical, and Natural Sciences ([email protected]) by email. For more information about requesting services and adaptations see the Link https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/richiesta-servizi.

The oral examination will be carried out in front at least two professors and it aims to verify the student’s ability to rationalize the experimental results. The preparation of the lab book will allow to evaluate the student’s ability to describe the experimental activity selecting qualitatively and quantitatively the information necessary to rationalize the experimental results.

S. Blundell, Magnetism in condensed matter. Oxford: Oxford Univesity Press, 2001.
L. Suber and D. Peddis, “Approaches to Synthesis and Characterization of Spherical and Anisometric Metal Oxide Magnetic Nanomaterials,” in Nanomaterials for life science, Wiley., vol. 4, C. S. S. R. Kumar, Ed. Weinheim: Wiley, 2010, p. 431475.
D. Peddis, P. E. Jönsson, S. Laureti, and G. Varvaro, Magnetic interactions: A tool to modify the magnetic properties of materials based on nanoparticles, vol. 6. 2014.
G. Muscas, N. Yaacoub, and D. Peddis, Novel Magnetic Nanostrucures Unique properties and applications. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier, 2019.

Please see english version

L'insegnamento è tenuto esclusivamente in lingua inglese. Si veda il corrispondente campo nella versione in inglese della scheda insegnamento

L'insegnamento è tenuto esclusivamente in lingua inglese. Si veda il corrispondente campo nella versione in inglese della scheda insegnamento

L'insegnamento è tenuto esclusivamente in lingua inglese. Si veda il corrispondente campo nella versione in inglese della scheda insegnamento

The course introduces the students into some of the most relevant production and transformation processes of materials considering advanced manufacturing technologies. A special focus on materials for electrochemical systems is also considered. Therefore, the course:

Advanced Manufacturing is the production capability given by the introduction of additive manufacturing techniques in the production chain of innovative industrial goods.

Written test related to the Electrochemical issues, oral dissertation for AM related items.

By evaluating the comprehension of the problems and the capability of students to propose and discuss/defend possible solution accordingly to the Course topics

If needed they will be proposed by the Teachers

By exploiting arguments derived from statistical and quantum physics a description of the properties of solids at the microscopic level will be derived. Students will master the concepts of crystal lattice, lattice dynamics, and electronic band structure. The correlations of crystal lattice and bandstructure will be highlighted in order to describe metallic, semiconductor and insulator behavio. Particular emphasis will be placed in describing the electronic bandstructure of semiconductors. Concepts dealing with the dynamical trasport properties in semiconductor including the formation of p-n junctions will be addressed. The students will address the physical basis and working principle of crucial technological devices such as Light emitting Diodes, Lasers and Solar cells.

This course, delivered in the first semester of the first year of the Master's Degree programme, provides students with a fundamental understanding of the physical properties of crystalline solids, including metals, insulators, and semiconductors. The course introduces crystal structures, lattice vibrations, electronic states, and the thermal properties of solids, highlighting the relationship between microscopic structure and macroscopic physical behaviour. Particular emphasis is placed on semiconductor physics, which provides the foundation for the advanced courses in electronics and optoelectronics offered in the second semester.

The exam will consist of an oral interview lasting approximately 45 minutes. During the interview, topics covered in the course will be discussed, focusing on theoretical knowledge and its application to practical examples. The student may begin the exam by choosing one topic from the syllabus (accounting for about one-quarter of the exam), while the remaining time will be dedicated to exploring the other parts of the program in greater depth.

During the oral exam, the actual achievement of the expected learning outcomes will be assessed. The level of knowledge acquired on specific topics of the syllabus will be evaluated, as well as the understanding of the role of physical mechanisms that determine the properties of solids. Additionally, the student’s critical thinking skills in addressing specific cases posed by the instructor will be examined. The quality of the presentation, correct use of specialized terminology, and the ability to engage in critical reasoning regarding the specific cases proposed by the instructor will also be assessed.

Teaching Materials: Lecture materials and slides will be made available on Aulaweb/TEAMS.
Recommended Textbooks:
J.R. Hook and H.E. Hall, Solid State Physics, John Wiley & Sons
S.H. Simon, Oxford Solid State Basics
S.O. Kasap, Principles of Electronic Materials and Devices, McGraw-Hill
R.F. Pierret Advanced Semiconductor Fundamentals , Addison Wesley

Learn the fundamental concepts of computational simulation of materials and processes of industrial interest, and acquire tools and skills to solve a variety of problems within the industrial production system.

Development of models for the numerical simulation of transport phenomena (mass, energy and momentum) applied to complex materials (e.g. polymers) with the aid of the computational modeling software Comsol Multiphysics. The theoretical principles of advanced numerical simulation of problems involving the materials commonly used in the process industry and the technical skills to use a computational code for solving the models that describe them will be provided.

Written exam with final oral assessment. The written exam will consist of analyzing a potential industrial problem involving mass transport, momentum, and heat in order to define its mathematical model and prepare its solution using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. The oral exam will consist of a series of questions and a subsequent discussion on the resolution of a previously assigned case study to be solved using CFD simulation. This will complement the written exam and assess whether the learning objectives have been achieved (see "Assessment Methods"). The overall assessment will be determined by averaging the written and oral exam scores, rounded up.
The attendance of the lessons constitutes a fundamental prerequisite for the achievement of the learning outcomes of the teaching.
Further information will be provided during the teaching (during the first lesson, and subsequently at the request of the student).
Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD) are reminded that in order to request accommodations during exams, they must first upload their certification to the University website at servizionline.unige.it in the “Students” section. The documentation will be verified by the University's Services for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and SLDs, as indicated on the federated website at the link: https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa.
Subsequently, well in advance (at least 10 days) of the exam date, an email must be sent to the professor with whom the exam will be taken, copying in both the School Referent for the inclusion of students with disabilities and SLDs ([email protected]) and the above-mentioned Department. The email must specify:

• the name of the teaching
• the date of the exam
• the student's surname, first name, and student ID number
• the compensatory tools and dispensatory measures deemed functional and requested.
  The contact person will confirm to the teacher that the applicant is entitled to request adjustments during the exam and that these adjustments must be agreed upon with the teacher. The teacher will respond by communicating whether it is possible to use the requested adjustments.
  Requests must be sent at least 10 days before the exam date in order to allow the teacher to evaluate their content. In particular, if you intend to use concept maps for the exam (which must be much more concise than the maps used for study), if the request is not sent within the specified time frame, there will not be enough time to make any changes.
  For further information on requesting services and accommodations, please refer to the document: Linee guida per la richiesta di servizi, di strumenti compensativi e/o di misure dispensative e di ausili specifici.

The discussion on the resolution of the assigned case study will allow the verification of the actual achievement of the learning outcomes of the teaching.
In particular, students will be assessed on their ability to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired in response to realistic scenarios or to solve simple problems involving transport phenomena that affect the behavior of materials in industrial processes, demonstrating their ability to set up and perform numerical simulations using computational fluid dynamics software and critically analyze the obtained results.
Students will also be evaluated on their critical thinking skills and ability to respond clearly and directly to specific questions, demonstrating their understanding of the theoretical principles of advanced numerical simulation of fluid dynamics problems, as well as their ability to develop mathematical models for fluid dynamics problems and use a calculation code to solve such models.
If the learning outcomes are not achieved, the student will be invited to deepen the study and to make use of further explanations by the teacher.

Notes of the lessons.
R.B. Bird, W.E. Stewart, E.N. Lightfoot, Transport Phenomena, Wiley, 2002
User's guide di COMSOL Multiphysics.
Material available on https://www.cfd-online.com
Supplementary material will be provided on request to working students or students with SLD to meet specific needs.

The teaching will provide the student with the basic elements of the physical chemistry of magnetic materials. By the correlation of morpho-structural features, chemical-physical properties, and synthetic techniques the student will be trained in the design nanostructured magnetic materials for specific applications.

Nanostructured Magnetic Materials is an inorganic and physical chemistry-oriented course devoted to the study of the theoretical and experimental principles underlying the physical chemistry of nanostructured materials with magnetic properties. The course explores the relationships between synthesis, structure, morphology, and magnetic properties, providing students with the tools required for the rational design of functional magnetic materials. Furthermore, the course is built around the correlation between synthesis, structure, and properties, an approach that represents a general methodology in materials science and is broadly applicable to the study and design of advanced functional materials.

The assessment consists of an oral examination lasting approximately 45–60 minutes, conducted in the presence of two faculty members from the relevant scientific disciplinary sector. The assessment includes: Oral examination (70% of the final grade). The examination begins with a presentation (maximum duration: 15 minutes), optionally supported by a PowerPoint presentation, on one or more scientific articles assigned by the instructor. The presentation will serve as the basis for the subsequent discussion, during which students will be asked to further discuss the topics covered in the articles and demonstrate their knowledge of the entire syllabus, with particular emphasis on the ability to critically interpret the scientific literature, experimental data, and the relationships between synthesis, structure, properties, and performance of nanostructured magnetic materials. Individual laboratory notebook (5% of the final grade). Students are required to prepare an individual laboratory notebook containing a detailed record of all experimental and data analysis activities carried out during the laboratory sessions. The laboratory notebook must be submitted to the instructor at least one week before the oral examination. Laboratory report (25% of the final grade). Students, working in small groups, are required to prepare a laboratory report according to the guidelines provided during the course. The report should include: (a) a description of the theoretical background and experimental procedures; and (b) the analysis, interpretation, and critical discussion of the experimental results. The laboratory report must be submitted to the instructor at least one week before the oral examination. The final grade will be based on the student's theoretical knowledge, ability to critically analyse the scientific literature and experimental results, laboratory skills, and appropriate use of scientific terminology.

The assessment of the intended learning outcomes will be based on the integrated evaluation of the oral examination, the individual laboratory notebook, and the laboratory report. In particular, the oral examination will assess the student's knowledge of the topics covered in the teaching, as well as their ability to critically analyse and discuss the scientific literature, interpret experimental data, and correlate the synthesis, structure, properties, and performance of nanostructured magnetic materials. Students' reasoning skills, critical thinking, scientific communication, and appropriate use of technical terminology will also be evaluated. The evaluation of the individual laboratory notebook will assess the student's ability to document laboratory activities in a rigorous and systematic manner, organize experimental data appropriately, and clearly describe experimental procedures, observations, and results. The evaluation of the laboratory report will assess the student's ability to critically analyse and interpret experimental results, relate them to the theoretical concepts covered during the teaching, and present them according to the standards of scientific communication. The report will also be used to evaluate the ability to prepare a well-organized scientific document and to work effectively as part of a team. Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), disabilities, or other educational needs may request exam adaptations. Well in advance of the exam date (at least 7 days), they must fill out the appropriate online form (https://modulionline.unige.it/richiesta-adattamenti#no-back) and contact the teacher and the inclusion representative of the School of Mathematical, Physical, and Natural Sciences ([email protected]) by email. For more information about requesting services and adaptations see the Link https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/richiesta-servizi.

S. Blundell, Magnetism in condensed matter. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001.
J.M.D. Coey, Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2010.
D. Peddis, P. E. Jönsson, S. Laureti, and G. Varvaro, Magnetic interactions: A tool to modify the magnetic properties of materials based on nanoparticles, vol. 6. 2014.
G. Muscas, N. Yaacoub, and D. Peddis, Novel Magnetic Nanostrucures Unique properties and applications. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier, 2019.

"Knowledge of the main experimental techniques specific to the field. Reading and deepening of a scientific article. Introduction to a multidisciplinary experimental approach. By the end of the course, the student must have gained autonomy in critically reading a scientific article, understanding its modeling and experimental parts. He or she must also be able to expound an argument clearly and comprehensively. Considering the topics covered, the teaching is suitable for the professional profile choice ""Materials Scientist:research specialist""."

Durante il corso vengono presentati argomenti inerenti alla nanotecnologia, insieme alle principali tecniche di caratterizzazione e misura dei materiali nanostrutturati. Particolare attenzione sarà dedicata alla biomimetica.

Per sostenere l'esame, lo studente deve preparare una presentazione su uno degli argomenti trattati durante il corso o a sua scelta un argomento inerente alla nanotecnologia. La presentazione deve avere una durata di circa 20 minuti e si deve basare su uno o più articoli scientifici.

Lo studente deve dimostrare di essere in grado di comprendere e presentare i risultati di un articolo scientifico. La presentazione deve essere chiara e approfondita. Lo studente deve dimostrare di padroneggiare sia la parte sperimentale che quella modellistica.

Per ogni argomento trattato, il materiale presentato e quello per approfondimento sono raccolti in Aulaweb.

Training activities that provide the knowledge of advanced scientific English for Italian students

The teaching unit is designed to enhance the knowledge of advanced scientific English for Italian students.

The final exam consists of an Oral assessment to ensure that the trainees have met the course objectives.
There will be 3 exams available for the winter session (end of January-February) and 4 exams for the summer session (June, July and September).
Students with disabilities or with specific learning disabilities (DSA) should refer to the section Teaching Methods.

There will be 1 final oral exam which will assess the learning of the theoretical aspects and the ability to reason. The discussion will test the use of specialized scientific vocabulary through an accurate and clear of the phenomena and concepts studied.
The final grade is given as a Pass or Fail and, to pass it, the candidate must score a minimum of 18 out of 30.

Resources, material and feedback will be provided on Microsoft Teams and/or Aulaweb.
Supplementary material is provided at the request of student workers or students with SLD to meet their specific needs.

This class aims to provide knowledge of the physical foundations necessary to understand the properties of confined materials and the chemical methods for their preparation

The teaching unit introduces the fundamental physico-chemical mechanisms that govern the properties of confined materials.

The exam consists of an oral examination lasting approximately 40 minutes, aimed at assessing the student’s understanding of the topics covered during the teaching unit.

The oral examination will consist of questions focusing on the topics covered in the lessons. The Exam Commission is composed of two tenured professors. The achievement of the course’s educational objectives will be assessed based on
a) the candidate’s acquisition of the fundamental knowledge required for a proper understanding of the topics included in the syllabus
b) the candidate's ability to navigate rationally within the subject area, including the appropriate use of connections between different topics
c) the candidate’s ability to critically analyse issues related to the production and characterization of the materials discussed during the course.
Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), disabilities, or other educational needs may request exam adaptations by completing the dedicated online form at least seven days before the exam:
https://modulionline.unige.it/richiesta-adattamenti#no-back
They should also contact the teacher and the inclusion representative of the School of Mathematical, Physical, and Natural Sciences ([email protected]) by email.
For more information: https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/richiesta-servizi

All slides will be available in Aulaweb starting from the day of corresponding lesson. This material will be sufficient for exam preparation.
The following books are suggested as focus texts:
G. Konstantatos and E.H. Sargent, Colloidal Quantum Dot Optoelectronics and Photovoltaics, Cambridge University Press, 2013.
M. Kuno, Introductory Nanoscience, Garland Science, 2012.

The teaching aims to provide students with the fundamental elements needed to understand solid-state physical chemistry. In particular, it will reinforce their knowledge of the theoretical principles of diffraction through practical experiences involving the use of specific crystallographic software. Additionally, correlations between the structural and electronic properties of materials will be discussed.

The course is dedicated to the physical chemistry of materials with a particular focus on X-ray diffraction and structure-property correlation.

The exam is usually oral. The exam commission is composed of at least two teachers. To ascertain the actual preparation of the student and the understanding of the subject, during the exam the student will have to answer questions on both the theoretical and practical part, with specific reference to the exercises/practices carried out during the lessons. For students with disabilities or with DSA, please refer to the Further Information section.

In addition to the student's ability to frame/present a topic in a general context, his/her reasoning ability and his/her ability to answer specific questions are evaluated. Passing the exam presupposes the actual acquisition of theoretical concepts; in particular, the student must demonstrate that he/she has correctly understood the meaning of certain physical and/or chemical-physical laws and that he/she is able to give the correct interpretation of the reason why certain phenomena occur.
The evaluation takes into account the student's ability to use appropriate technical-scientific terminology combined with the coherence of the presentation of concepts. The ability to apply theoretical knowledge in real situations or to solve simple problems is also positively evaluated.

In addition to the lecture material, available on Aulaweb, the following texts are recommended: • C. Giacovazzo, H.L. Monaco, G. Artioli, D. Viterbo, G. Ferraris, G. Gilli, G. Zanotti, M. Catti “Fundamentals of Crystallography” Ed. C. Giacovazzo • V. K. Pecharsky, P. Y. Zavalij “Fundamentals of powder diffraction and structural characterization of materials” Kluwer Academic Press • International Tables of Crystallography Vols.1-4 • A.R. West - Solid State Chemistry and its Applications - 2014 (second edition) Wiley

The student will review the basic concepts of general physics and statistical physics as well as those of quantum and condensed matter physics, balancing the initial knowledge due to the different background of the students. Starting with practical and foundational examples the introductory principles of solid state physics will be derived.

This course will review the basic concepts of classical and quantum physics to allow the students to engage with the study of the Principles of Solid State Physics

The exam consists of a written self-assessment test administered at the end of the class. Based on the outcomes, each student will have the opportunity to review and deepen their understanding of the topics in which knowledge gaps have emerged
.For students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), please refer to the “Additional Information” section, in accordance with current regulations and the university’s official guidelines.

The purpose of the examination is to assess the achievement of the learning objectives established for the class, in terms of acquired knowledge, the ability to apply concepts in practice, and the level of independent study skills.
In particular, from the self-assessment test it will be possible to ascertain the student's acquired ability to:

• answer questions about the fundamental concepts of classical and quantum physics.
• integrate prior and new knowledge to develop the capabilty to learn independently and critically;
• expound concepts learned, both orally and in writing, with adequate language skills.
  If the learning objectives are not fully achieved, students will be encouraged to review and further explore the topics where difficulties emerged, with the support of explanations and teaching materials provided by the instructor.

Principles of electronic materials and devices by S.O Kasap, Mc Graw Hill

Basic knowledge of chemical and physical properties of conjugated polymers and organic semiconductors. Use of such materials in organic optoelectronics and photonic devices (sensors, transistor, led and photovoltaic cells)

Organic and polymer semiconductors are revolutioning the consummer electronic market. Nowdays, mobile telephones and TV-sets are often equipped with OLED screens while wearable electronics is becoming more and more important. Additional optoelectronic applications are also coming to the market. However, the knowledge of materials allowing for this revolution is poor. Aim of this class is to provide a knowledge of chemistry and physics fundamentals, the understanding of material properties and working principles of electronic devices made by organic semiconductors.

• Oral exam held by two professors, one of them being D. Comoretto.
• The duration of the exam is no shorter than 30 minutes.
• The student discusses 3 topics covered during the course, two of which are selected by himself (it could be useful to use a short presentation - about 4-5 slide per topics).
• Sustainable polyMer And prTcess chemisTry, SERP+, or Chemical Sciences students - who carry out a reduced program - discuss an original power-point presentation or written relation on an item related to the class. The student selects the item more suitable to his/her aptitudes/needs with the help of the teacher among those reported in the scientific literature and/or provided on aula-web (usually one or two papers). The presentation has to be suitable for understanding by students of the same level.
  For all students, following evaluation methods are used:
  •The student must show to have understood main physical/chemical/technological fundamentals related to the topics and to use the suitable technical vocabulary (up to 20/30).
  •The clarity of presentation (up to 5/30) and ability to answer questions (up 5/30) will be also evaluated.
• Goal of the exam is to verify the achievement of the class aims.
• If aims are not achieved, the student is invited to make a deeper study and to ask the teacher for additional explanations before repeating the exam.
• In order to guarantee the correspondence between aims and exam topics, the detailed program is uploaded to AulaWeb and described at the beginning of the course.
  Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), disabilities, or other educational needs may request exam adaptations. Well in advance of the exam date (at least 7 days), they must fill out the appropriate online form (https://modulionline.unige.it/richiesta-adattamenti#no-back) and contact the teacher and the inclusion representative of the School of Mathematical, Physical, and Natural Sciences ([email protected]) by email.
  For more information about requesting services and adaptations see the Link https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/richiesta-servizi.

References & Books
Lessons notes provided by the teacher (D. Comoretto)
Selected papers published on international scientific journals.
M. Pope and C. Swemberg “Electronic processes in organic crystals and polymers”, Oxford Sci Publ. New York 1999. (Chapter 1).
M. Klessinger and J. Michl “Excited states and photochemistry of organic molecules”, VCH, New York 1995. (selected paragraphs)
J.B. Birks “Photophysics of Aromatic Molecules”, Wiley monographs in chemical physics, 1970. (selected paragraphs)
M.C. Petty "Molecular Electronics", Wiley 2007. (selected paragraphs)

In this project based laboratory course students will be guided through the basic experimental procedures for the fabrication and characterization of an organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells. Each step of the OPV cell fabrication will be done by the students independently and actively, but under continuous guidance and supervision of a tutor. Students will be then guided through the most appropriate experimental techniques and procedures. Once the device fabricated and characterized, student will be engaged in a critical analysis of the results exploiting basic concepts learnt in other courses. To achieve this goal, students will avail themselves of a laboratory entirely dedicated to this activity, aiming to a “learn by making” instruction level.

Student will make an electrical characterization of inorganic solar cells in order to understand the role of their optical response, electrodes, the meaning of I-V curve as well as of internal and external quantum efficiency.
Unit A) DEVICE ENGINEERING

• Device Engineering and material selection
  After a brief remainder of the structure and property of a bulk heterojunction OPV cells, the student will define two suitable device architectures (e.g. planar junction, bulk heterojunction, use of hole and/or electron blocking layers etc) and select the proper active materials. The student will compare properties of materials available on the market for optimizing the following main building blocks of a OPV cell:
  1) Device electrodes (typically ITO coated glass for the anode and silver paste for the cathode)
  2) Holes and electron injection layers (e.g. PEDOT-PSS as hole transport material)
  3) Photoactive materials (e.g. regioregular polyalkylthiophenes (rrPATs) as electron donor and [6,6]-Phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as electron acceptor)
  Unit B) FABRICATION
  According to the selection made in unit A, the following fabrication steps will be performed:
• Thin film deposition from solution for material characterization
  Students will investigate deposition techniques (e.g. spin-coating, drop casting) and evaluate the most appropriate one through spectroscopy. Casting of suitable materials (e.g. PEDOT-PSS, rrPAT, PCBM, and rrPAT:PCBM blends). In this phase it will be possible for them to investigate the effect of different loads of PCBM, and post-deposition treatments (i.e. thermal annealing and solvent annealing) to probe the role of polymer conformation on the film properties.
• Device realization (deposition of thin active layers and electrodes) and material characterization
  After optimization, the active layers will be casted on anode coated glass, and cathodes will be prepared by modified silver paste or other commercially available metallic inks. Optical properties of materials (both as solutions and thin films) such as transmittance and/or reflectance spectra will be recorded for thin films during fabrication. Photoluminescence spectroscopy will be used to control the degree of charge-transfer achieved in rrPAT:PCBM blends.
  Unit C) Electro-optical device characterization
  Optical characterization (total reflectance) of inorganic and organic devices will be performed to evaluate the light intensity coupled to the device.
  Current-voltage (I-V) curves will be measured on both inorganic and organic devices under controlled illumination conditions to determine the photo-conversion characteristics (Isc, Voc and fill factor) and the efficiency. The impact of series and shunt resistance on the I-V curves will be also critically discussed. Similar data will be also recorded for a commercial silicon solar cell.
  Measurement of the spectrally resolved External Quantum Efficiency (EQE) , combination with the Reflectance spectrum of the device and estimate of the Internal Quantum Efficiency (IQE). These measurements will allow to evaluate the main effects determining the loss of photo-conversion efficiency.
  Unit D) ANALYSIS
• Critical data analysis
  The electrical data for the different cells will be compared with the different parameter used for their growth in order to understand their role on cell performances. Particular focus will be devoted to the comparison of electrical properties with the optical ones recorded in unit C. Critical comparison of the performance of the best organic cell produced with a commercial silicon one will be also performed.
• Feedback to the growth and characterization steps
  The assessment of the performances on the devices will be used to provide suggestion to improve materials, architectures and fabrication performed in module I and II.

Oral exam held by two professors, one of them being P.Lova and C. Giordano.
The duration of the exam is no shorter than 30 minutes.
The exam consists in the discussion of data recorded and analyzed during the lab activity.
The student must demonstrate comprehension of the main features related to the physical/chemical/technological fundamentals of the device, characterization and materials as well as device realization by using the suitable technical vocabulary (up to 15/30).
The clarity of presentation (up to 5/30) and ability to answer questions (up 10/30) will be also evaluated.

Goal of the exam is to verify the achievement of the class aims.
If aims are not achieved, the student is invited to make a deeper study and to ask the teacher for additional explanations before repeating the exam.
In order to guarantee the correspondence between aims and exam topics, the detailed program is uploaded to AulaWeb and described at the beginning of the course.

M.C. Petty "Molecular Electronics", Wiley 2007.
Materials Concepts for Solar Cells” by Thomas Dittrich (Imperial College Press)
J. Nelson “The physics of solar cells”, Imperial college Press, 2003
Check official schedule on the course website as well as communication by the Master Course coordinator/teachers.

In this project based laboratory course students will be guided through the basic experimental procedures for the fabrication and characterization of an organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells. Each step of the OPV cell fabrication will be done by the students independently and actively, but under continuous guidance and supervision of a tutor. Students will be then guided through the most appropriate experimental techniques and procedures. Once the device fabricated and characterized, student will be engaged in a critical analysis of the results exploiting basic concepts learnt in other courses. To achieve this goal, students will avail themselves of a laboratory entirely dedicated to this activity, aiming to a “learn by making” instruction level.

L'insegnamento è tenuto esclusivamente in lingua inglese. Si veda il corrispondente campo nella versione in inglese della scheda insegnamento

L'insegnamento è tenuto esclusivamente in lingua inglese. Si veda il corrispondente campo nella versione in inglese della scheda insegnamento

L'insegnamento è tenuto esclusivamente in lingua inglese. Si veda il corrispondente campo nella versione in inglese della scheda insegnamento

L'insegnamento è tenuto esclusivamente in lingua inglese. Si veda il corrispondente campo nella versione in inglese della scheda insegnamento

Knowledge of the main chemical, rheological, mechanical and dynamic-mechanical properties of polymers, polymer composites and biomaterials. Structure-property correlations of polymers, composites and nanocomposites. Basic notions of biofunctionality, biocompatibility and hemocompatibility of polymer-based materials. Examples of specific applications and development strategies of composites, nanocomposites and biomaterials.

The class provides the conceptual framework necessary to understand the relationships between molecular characteristics, physical–mechanical properties, and viscoelastic behavior of polymer-based materials, with a view to their application in manufacturing processes in general and in biomedical applications in particular.

The assessment consists of a written and an oral examination, both conducted by the professors in charge. The number and distribution of exam sessions during the academic year are defined in accordance with the regulations of Degree Course.
The written examination includes:
a section comprising 10 multiple-choice and/or true/false questions, with 1 point awarded for each correct answer; no penalty is applied for incorrect or unanswered questions. For questions requiring multiple correct answers, partial scores may be assigned proportionally;
a section consisting of 5 open-ended questions or problems, each graded up to a maximum of 3 points.
The written examination is graded up to a maximum of 25/30 and has a duration of 120 minutes.
The oral examination, accounting for up to 5/30, consists of the discussion of the laboratory report.
Access to the oral examination is granted with a minimum score of 13/30 in the written test; a score of 18/30 or higher allows the student to opt out of the oral examination.
Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), disabilities, or other educational needs may request exam adaptations. Well in advance of the exam date (at least 7 days), they must fill out the appropriate online form (https://modulionline.unige.it/richiesta-adattamenti#no-back) and contact the teacher and the inclusion representative of the School of Mathematical, Physical, and Natural Sciences ([email protected]) by email. For more information about requesting services and adaptations see the link: https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/richiesta-servizi.

The examination is aimed at verifying the achievement of the learning outcomes of the class, with particular reference to the ability to:
correlate the properties of polymer-based materials and composites with their composition, structure, and use in manufacturing processes;
relate the potential biocompatibility of polymer-based materials and composites to their molecular characteristics and application domains;
critically compare and integrate data obtained from the characterization techniques and structure–property relationships addressed in the class.
The examination also assesses the level of subject mastery and the appropriate use of scientific and technical terminology.
If the learning objectives are not achieved, further individual study of the class content is recommended, including consultation with the professors, before retaking the examination.

The following supporting texts are suggested limited to the program contents:
M.T. Shaw, W.J. Mac Knight "Introduction to Polymer Viscoelasticity", 3nd edition, Wiley 2005
H.A. Barnes, J.F. Hutton, K. Walters " An introduction to rheology", 1st Edition, Volume 3 - June 1, 1989
L.E. Nielsen "Mechanical Properties of Polymers and composites Vol 1 e 2", New York: Marcel Dekker 1974
J.D. Ferry “Viscoelastic properties of polymers”, John Wiley & Son 1980
A. Atala, “Principles of regenerative medicine”, 2nd edition, London: Academic, 2010
“Perspectives on biomaterials: proceedings on the 1985 International Symposium on Biomaterials”, O.C.C- Lin & E.Y.S. Chao, Eds., 1985 (CSB Chimica)
J.B. Park, R.S. Lakes, “Biomaterials-An Introduction”, Springer-Verlag, N.Y. Inc., 2007
A.F. von Recum, “Handbook of Biomaterials Evaluation: Scientific, Technical and Clinical Testing of Implant Materials”, CRC Press, 1999 (ISBN 1560324791).
Specific guidelines on the reference bibliography related to the class content will be provided by the professor at the beginning of the lectures.
Supplementary material is provided upon request in cases of partial attendance due to work commitments or for students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), disabilities, or other educational needs.

The students will also acquire knowledge on scientific writing and bibliometry. Visits to industrial sites and seminars given by industrials will make the students acquainted to the problematics of industrial

Questo corso preparerà gli studenti alla scrittura della tesi, di un progetto o di un articolo scientifico. Verranno introdotti ai metodi ed ai criteri di valutazione seguiti dalle riviste scientifiche e dalle commisisoni giudicatrici. Nel corso verranno organizzate visite a siti industriali e si terranno seminari tenuti da persone dell'industria sulla ricerca industriale.

L'esame consisterà nella presentazione e nella critica di un articolo lavoro scientifico. Lo studente dovrà evidenziarne i punti di forza e di debolezza.
Per gli studenti con disabilità o con DSA si rimanda alla sezione Altre Informazioni.

L'esame consiste nella preparazione di un compito di circa 20000 caratteri ed una presentazione di tale contenuto della durata di 15 minuti. IL saggio dovrà contenere una bibliografia critica della letteratura sull'argomento trattato e dimostrare la padronanza delle tecniche di scrittura scientifica apprese nel corso. Ad ogni studente verrà richiesto di sviluppare aspetti diversi dell'argomento del saggio al fine di produrre un manoscritto di rivista coerente chec ontenga i contributi di tutto il gruppo di lavoro. Il saggio dovrà essere presentato alla commisisone esaminatrice ed ai compagni di corso. In tale occasione dovrà rispondere a domande relative alla presentazione ed al contenuto dell'opera. La valutazione riguarderà la chiarezza, la coerenza e la consistenza della esposizione come pure il contenuto scientifico.

Il materiale didattico verrà fornito dai docenti durante il corso.

The course, delivered in the second semester, will guide students toward a thorough understanding of the potential of solar energy to meet humankind’s power needs by exploring a diverse portfolio of renewable energy conversion technologies, with a strong emphasis on photovoltaics (PV). First, they will gain insight into the physical basis of light-matter interaction, linking the optical response to the electronic band structure of materials relevant to PV technologies. Subsequently, they will acquire knowledge about solar energy radiation potential and learn how to apply solar radiation databases to assess the performance of a PV plant in a specific location. They will understand the physical foundation of the photovoltaic effect and first-generation PV technologies, which are primarily based on single-junction silicon solar cells and account for 90% of the PV market. They will also explore the physical and material-related constraints that limit PV conversion efficiency, addressing cutting-edge solutions and new materials currently being researched for high-efficiency devices. Finally, the students will gain hands-on laboratory experience conducting the electro-optical characterization of PV cells. During the third semester, students interested in PV may attend the course titled Inorganic Materials: From the Ground to Photovoltaics, where they will delve into the chemistry of inorganic PV materials, with a focus that goes beyond silicon technologies.

The course describes the physical mechanisms underlying the direct conversion of solar radiation into electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect. Students will gain an understanding of the fundamental thermodynamic limits to efficiency, as well as the constraints on material selection and design parameters for high-efficiency devices.
The course also includes a laboratory activity focused on the electro-optical and morphological characterization of commercial solar cells.

The exam will consist of an oral interview lasting approximately 45 minutes, on a date that can be arranged with the instructors, who must be contacted well in advance. The oral examination will be conducted in the presence of two faculty members from the examination committee. During the exam, the student may present one topic of their choice from the course syllabus (approximately one-third of the total exam time), while the remaining time will be dedicated to an in-depth discussion of the other topics covered in the course.
For students with disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD), please refer to the section "Additional Information."

During the oral examination, the actual achievement of the expected learning outcomes will be assessed. The evaluation will focus on the level of knowledge acquired on specific topics covered in the course, the degree of understanding of the physical mechanisms that determine the operation and efficiency of a photovoltaic device, and the student’s critical ability in addressing specific cases presented by the teacher.
In addition, the quality of the presentation, the correct use of specialized terminology, and the ability to engage in critical reasoning in relation to the cases proposed by the instructor will also be evaluated.

• “Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering” Eds. A.Luque and S. Hegedus, Wiley • “The Physics of Solar cells” by Jenny Nelson (Imperial College, UK) World Scientific Press • “Materials Concepts for Solar Cells” by Thomas Dittrich (Imperial College Press) 2nd edition

Deals with the necessity to fill the gap between the scientific and technical knowledge acquired by the students at the University and the requests they will have to face in their work career either in academic institutions or industry: in other words with the necessity to develop entrepreneurship.

The School on Science Management for Scientist and Engineers is the place where you can
fill the gap between your academic path and the demands of the present job market,
learn how to transfer your research results in a commerciable product and become an entrepreneur,
develop a competency framework to think outside the box.

The students will present their Project in front of a jury and will defend it

The mark will be determined on the basis of how well the students defended their proposal

Appropriate and focused material will be shared by the teachers during the Summer school

Relevance of surfaces and interfaces in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. The course will introduce: a) the surface excess quantities and thermodynamical properties of surfaces; b) the surface crystallographic structure with relaxation and reconstruction phenomena; c) the surface electronic ground state properties and the surface states; d) the surface magnetic properties. Specific cases for semiconductor, oxide and insulator surfaces, graphene and other ultrathin films will be discussed with respect to dimensionality with extension towards one and zero dimensions, i.e atomic wires, surface steps and clusters. Excited states at surfaces will be treated: surface phonon spectra, surface electronic and magnetic excitations. Connections to plasmonics, Energy harvesting in solar cells and photoinduced chemistry will be stressed. Gas-Surface interaction, physisorption and chemisorption, dynamics of the interaction, adsorption, desorption, sticking and simple catalytic reactions will be discussed. Crystal growth, MBE, CVD, ablation techniques, nanosized films and clusters will be introduced as well as self-assembled monolayers, artificial nanostructures and surface functionalization. Experimental methods for surface characterization, like Scanning Probe Microscopies and Diffraction Methods, as well as Surface Sensitive Electronic and Vibrational Spectroscopies will be introduced.

Frontal lectures (40 hours):
Surface crystallographic structure.
The geometric surface plane and the two-dimensional surface lattice, its unit cell and symmetry properties, and surface relaxation and reconstruction.
Direct and reciprocal lattices.
Notation of surface structure: low Miller index surfaces, vicinal surfaces, superlattices.
Examples of the reconstruction of metal and semiconductor surfaces.
Modification of the surface structure by physisorption and chemisorption and crystal growth modes.
Determination of the surface structure: diffraction methods vs microscopy.
Low energy electron diffraction (LEED), and treatment of multiple scattering and dynamical LEED.
Small angle scattering and high resolution in reciprocal space.
Low energy electron microscopy and scanning probe microscopies (STM, AFM).
Characterization of surface composition: Auger electron and X-Ray induced photoemission.
Surface Thermodynamics.
Surface excess quantities.
Surface energy, surface tension and work needed to create a surface.
Surface heat capacity.
Surface energy and surface composition for alloys segregation.
Island growth and ripening phenomena.
Surface Lattice Dynamics.
The Surface phonon spectrum, bulk bands, and surface modes. T
he Rayleigh wave.
Surface phonon anomalies.
Vibrational and thermal desorption spectroscopies.
Surface Debye temperature.
Surface Electronic properties.
The jellium model: internal potential and work function.
The surface dipole layer and the face dependence of the work function.
Surface band structure, and density of states at the surface and surface states.
The image states and implication for photochemistry.
Electronic excitations and surface plasmons.
Graphene and other two dimensional crystals.
Electronic properties and lattice dynamics in purely two dimensional systems.
Adsorption of gases and catalysis.
Self assembled monolayers and artificial nanostructures.
Physisorption vs Chemisorption.
Gas surface interaction.
Precursor states.
Activated adsorption.
Examples of catalytic reactions in the heterogeneous phase.
Laboratory training (12 hours).
Low energy electron diffraction.
X ray photoemission and Auger electron spectroscopies.
Scanning probe microscopies: STM, AFM.

The exam will consist in an oral interview. The studnets will be asked to anwer two questions about:
a) the theoretical concepts and their application in material science
b) the experimental methods shown in the laboratory part.

The level reached by the students will be assessed considering:
a) the adequacy of the language used to answer the questions and the clarity of the graphs used to answer them.
b) the capability to resume clearly the methods used in the experimental part of the course.
c) the knowledgde of the basic concepts of surface science covered in the theoretical lessons.
d) the capability to identify the experimental methods requried for the measurement of the main observables (e.g: surface structure, phonon dispersion, electronic excitations, adsorption properties)

Gabor A. Somorjai and Yimin Li: Introduction to Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, second edition, Wiley.
Teacher’s slides and other material will be provided to the students by the teacher.

To understand the physical processes ruling the thermal and electric transport and the magnetic properties in advanced materials. To identify the key properties to be used for the choice of materials in specific applications. To learn experimental methods to characterise relevant magnetic and transport properties.

This course examines the transport and magnetic properties of different classes of advanced materials. Particular attention is devoted to the physical mechanisms that determine their electrical, thermal, and magnetic behavior. The course provides the theoretical background needed to understand how microscopic processes influence macroscopic properties. Examples will include materials of technological interest and their relevance for modern applications. Some simple semiconductor devices will also be studied, with emphasis on their operating principles and physical interpretation.

The exams will consists of:
brief discussion of one of the experimental reports written by small group of students after each experimental activity and provided at least ten days before the exam.
Answer to two questions on the syllabus.

The degree of achievement of the learning outcomes will be determined considering:
The completeness and readability of the reports on the experimental activity.
The degree of understanding demonstrated in answering the questions during the oral exam.
The capability to use the acquired knowledge to select materials for specific applications during the oral exam. Each part will contribute for 1/3 to the final score.

S. Blundell: Magnetism in Condensed Matter Oxford University Press
K.Brennan: The Physics of Semiconductors - With Applications to Optoelectronic Devices
Slides used for the lessons.