Nanotechnology and materials science are two terms frequently used in the scientific literature comprising a broad range of materials, such as metallic materials and alloys, inorganic ceramics, carbon-based materials like fullerenes and graphene, polymers, composites, and biological materials. However, in a typical undergraduate chemistry curriculum these topics are briefly studied in general and inorganic chemistry courses in subjects like structure and bonding, and their relationship with properties. Aiming a better introduction to nanotechnology, it is necessary to expose the students to the study of characterization techniques commonly used in materials science. For instance, techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and electron microscopies are techniques not properly emphasized or sometimes not even mentioned during undergraduate chemistry courses. In order to fulfill the need for presenting these techniques, the present work describes the design and teaching of an advanced elective undergraduate course about characterization techniques commonly used in solid state chemistry and materials science at Ithaca College, a primarily undergraduate institution in the central area of New York state. Among the techniques studied were: powder X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and techniques for elemental analysis. For each technique, the students were introduced to the physical principles underlying the technique, studied real examples present in the current scientific literature, and discussed how the technique could be applied to other experimental situations involving inorganic, organic and biological materials. The inclusion of these techniques in some part of the undergraduate chemistry curriculum may represent a significant advantage to the students aiming to further their careers in graduate schools in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, professional and allied health schools, and in industrial fields as well. The course was positively evaluated by the students, with 100% of the anonymous course evaluation respondents stating that the course provided to them information they would not receive in any other course from chemistry and biochemistry curricula, and that they would recommend the course to other students.

Designing and teaching a course about characterization techniques for nanotechnology and materials science in an undergraduate institution

256th National Meeting (2018)

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