Syllabus academic year 2007/2008
PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY OF NANOSTRUCTURESFAF045

Higher education credits: 9. Grading scale: UG. Level: A (Second level). Language of instruction: The course will be given in English. Optional for: F4, F4nfe, K4m, N4. Course coordinator: Professor Fredrik Höök, fredrik.hook@ftf.lth.se, Fysik, kurslaboratoriet. Prerequisites: The course requires 120 hp or more in chemistry, physics, nanoscience or similar with LTH or the natural science faculty. The course might be cancelled if the numer of applicants is less than 10. The number of participants is limited to 50 Selection criteria: Credits remaining for the degree. Assessment: The teaching is based on lectures and seminars including discussions centered around scientific publications in the area (26 hours) and individual studies. A presentation at one seminar is compulsory, and at least 50% of the lectures must be attended. The course is finished with a written exam and one in depth project. Home page: http://www.nano.ku.dk/pcn.

Aim
The aim of the course is to introduce concepts of relevance within fabrication and manipulation of nanostructures, methods for analysis of their structure and function as well as their applications.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

have significantly increased knowledge about concepts of relevance in fabrication and manipulation of nanostructures, methods used to analyze nanostructures as well as function and applications of nanostructures.

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

be able to

• find scientific information not included in the course material

• assimilate and summarize scientific articles

• write well structured project reports which summarize, explain and analyse either experimental or theoretical scientific articles

• present result in oral presentations and be active in scientific discussions

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

have increased knowledge about fundamental aspects with respect to theory, methods and the scientific challenges that are addressed within nanoscience in a broad perspective.

Contents
· Meseoscopic physics and supramolecular chemistry

· Fabrication of nanostructures

· Characterization of nanostructures

· Electrical, magnetic and optical properties of nanostructures

· Applications within for example electronics and medicine

The physical and chemical properties of nanostructures are increasingly important in fields as diverse as molecular biology and microelectronics. The course introduces key concepts in nanostructure fabrication, analysis and applications. The course gives the student an overall perspective of front-line research topics in materials science on the nanometer scale, as well as an in-depth insight into one of these topics which is chosen for the oral presentation and the report.

Literature
Lecture notes and scientific articles.