CHEMMAT 725 : Advanced Functional Materials

Engineering

2023 Semester Two (1235) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Electronic properties of materials. Functional properties. Materials applications for energy storage, environmental protection and resource recovery. Nanomaterials and nanotechnology.

Course Overview

This is a level 8 paper for a Master of Materials Engineering degree.  It will be taught together with CHEMMAT 755 “Materials for Energy and Environmental Applications”. After CHEMMAT 121 and 204, this is the only paper that studies the electronic/functional properties of materials and focuses on materials energy and environmental applications. Energy and the environment are the two most important challenges worldwide people face in the 21st Century. Students should understand the critical roles that materials play in energy and environmental industries. This paper also introduces the new development of functional materials, including nanomaterials and nanotechnology, protection of resources, materials ethics, and sustainability.

Course Requirements

Restriction: CHEMMAT 755

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the classical theories of electrical conduction and energy band/bandgap theory and be able to analyze the conduction property of complex materials. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
  2. Apply the semiconducting mechanism to define intrinsic and extrinsic (p- and n-type) semiconductors, and critically evaluate doping effect and p-n junctions, demonstrate the ability to design common semiconductor devices, and microelectronic techniques. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  3. Demonstrate the ability of using the basic magnetic and superconducting properties to evaluate the properties of materials. Using the basic concept to critically evaluate the types of magnetism, magnetic domain structure, and magnetic energy. Using Hysteresis loop to analyze and calculate the properties of soft and hard magnetic materials and demonstrate the ability to use these materials for suitable applications. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  4. Critically evaluate the newest development of nanomaterials and nanotechnology, demonstrates the ability to use this knowledge to design new nanostructures for required or special applications. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6)
  5. Create and design materials for environment cleaning and valuable materials recovery. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6)
  6. Demonstrate the understanding of the properties and application of dielectric materials, be able to explain the mechanisms behind the uses, and demonstrate the ability to use this knowledge to design materials for sensing, actuating, and recording applications. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  7. Identify and explain the use of thermoelectric materials and demonstrate an appreciation for the uses of such materials. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
  8. Demonstrate an understanding of the main reaction mechanisms of batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors. Critique the emerging challenges of electrochemical energy storage technologies. Demonstrate the ability of materials selection for battery cells, and be able to evaluate the performance of different types of batteries and electrode materials. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
  9. Critically evaluate the operational characteristics, capacity, and performance of a battery, and be able to design suitable methods to evaluate battery performance. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments and reports 45% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 55% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Assignments and reports
Final Exam

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 38 hours of lectures, 3 hours of laboratory work for the project on “Energy storage technology”, 40 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 69 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including labs will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including group discussions/tutorials.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

A part of the assignment will be arranged as literature reading, class discussion, review writing and lab report.

Health & Safety

Students must ensure they are familiar with their health and safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

A lab session is added to the programme.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.