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CHEM3051: Materials Chemistry

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Type	Open
Level	3
Credits	20
Availability	Available in 2025/2026
Module Cap
Location	Durham
Department	Chemistry

Prerequisites

Core Chemistry 2 (CHEM2012) AND Introduction to Materials Chemistry (CHEM1127)

Corequisites

Core Chemistry 3 (CHEM3012) OR Bioactive Chemistry 3 (CHEM3211) OR Chemical Physics 3 (CHEM3411)

Excluded Combinations of Modules

Aims

To apply chemical principles to the design and evaluation of materials with technological potential.

Content

Structural characterisation of solids.
Electronic structure of solids: theory and applications.
Inorganic functional materials: structural properties; electronic properties.
Organic materials.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

To use crystallographic concepts to describe and interpret crystal structures and to appreciate and use the fundamentals of diffraction theory.
To describe the electronic structure of solids in terms of band theory and use this theory to explain the electrical properties of insulators, semiconductors and metals; explain the origin of electronic, magnetic, optical and thermal properties of solids.
To appreciate and describe structural features of non-stoichiometric compounds, interstitial compounds, intercalates, high temperature superconductors and zeolites; relate these structures to specific chemical, electrical, optical and magnetic properties.;
To explain the role that organic synthetic methods play in the synthesis of unconventional and novel molecules.;
To describe the functional groups required in a molecule to obtain specific opto-electrical properties and explain the requirements for speciality polymers.

Subject-specific Skills:

Perform simple calculations related to the structures and properties of the types of materials discussed.

Key Skills:

Demonstrate enhanced problem-solving and confidence when interpreting experimental data, based on feedback provided verbally, in workshops and in feedback lectures.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

At the end of Michaelmas and Epiphany Terms, students will be given a formative self-assessed problem-solving assignment evaluating experimental or theoretical data about a material or system of interest. Each assignment has a feedback session.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total	Monitored
Lectures	34	2 per week	1 hour	34
Workshops	5	2 in Term 1 and 3 in Term 2	2 hours	10	Yes
Feedback Sessions	2	1 in Term 2 and 1 in Term 3	1 hour	2
Preparation and Reading				154
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination		Component Weighting: 100%
Element	Length / Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
On Campus Written Examination	2 hours	100

Formative Assessment

Set work in preparation for workshops. Assignments.

More information

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