Modern surface science methods to study structure and elemental composition of solids

Facts  
Duration: 1 semester
Period: Fall (2) Semester
Credits: 2 ECTS
Contact Hours: 50
Self-study: 22
Hours: 72

Main Objectives

  • to give theoretical knowledge about physical and chemical aspects of surface science methods;
  • to give knowledge about characterization methods essential to study the physical-chemical properties of solid materials (size, morphology, dispersion on the sup-port, atomic structure, chemical composition, oxidation state, poisoning, etc.) 
  • getting knowledge about surfaces properties (surface atomic reconstructions, faceting, chemical composition, adsorbed species, adsorption sites, oxidation state, organization and characteristics of nanoparticles on surfaces).
  • profound theoretical development of the basic representations about features of materials;
  • forming knowledge about opportunities to use modern surface science methods to investigate features of structure and chemical state of different materials.

Learning Outcomes

Formation of competence:

а) intercultural:

  • know the basic concepts of  English language in the Principles of physics and application of surface science; physical principles, advantages and disadvantages of surface science methods considered during the course; application of the results ob-tained by the methods;
  • be able to explain the data obtained with surface science methods, use the da-ta, apply skills and knowledge in unassisted writing of articles, abstracts; apply the basic concepts of surface science methods to explain theoretical material and analyz-ing the experimental data;

b) professional:

  • have skills: working with the calculated formulas to solve computational problems regarding the details of the surface structures of materials; modeling and prediction of catalyst properties  and catalytic processes; reviewing scientific and me-thodical literature.

Professor

Francisco Cadete Santos Aires

Apply

Read more

Course annotation

Course unit code

Specialization04.04.01 – Chemistry

Course unit title

Modern surface science methods to study structure and elemental composition of solids

Name(s), surname(s) and title of lecturer(s)

Prof. Francisco Cadete Santos Aires

Level of course

Master

Semester

3

ECTS credits

2

Working hours

Contact hours

50

lectures

28

seminars

22

practical classes

laboratory classes

consultations

Independent work

22

Total

72

Work placement

none

Language of instruction

English

Prerequisites

Chemistry, Physics

Objectives of the course

Learning outcomes

A student’s assessments methods

aims:

-to give theoretical knowledge about physical and chemical aspects of surface science methods;

-to give knowledge about characterization methods essential to study the physical-chemical properties of solid materials (size, morphology, dispersion on the sup-port, atomic structure, chemical composition, oxidation state, poisoning, etc.) 

-getting knowledge about surfaces properties (surface atomic reconstructions, faceting, chemical composition, adsorbed species, adsorption sites, oxidation state, organization and characteristics of nanoparticles on surfaces).

-profound theoretical development of the basic representations about features of materials;

-forming knowledge about opportunities to use modern surface science methods to investigate features of structure and chemical state of different materials.

Formation of competence:

а)intercultural:

-know the basic concepts of  English language in the Principles of physics and application of surface science; physical principles, advantages and disadvantages of surface science methods considered during the course; application of the results ob-tained by the methods;

-be able to explain the data obtained with surface science methods, use the da-ta, apply skills and knowledge in unassisted writing of articles, abstracts; apply the basic concepts of surface science methods to explain theoretical material and analyz-ing the experimental data;

b) professional:

-have skills: working with the calculated formulas to solve computational problems regarding the details of the surface structures of materials; modeling and prediction of catalyst properties  and catalytic processes; reviewing scientific and me-thodical literature.

Presentations, tests and written exam.

Teaching methods

Lectures, groupwork, delivery of individual presentations, independent study of literature, casestudies, roleplays, brainstorming.

Course unit content

Title

Lecturers  (hours)

Self-study (hours)

General Introduction

8

4

Surface structure. Surface crystallog-raphy. Thermody-namics. Adsorption

10

4

Reciprocal space methods.  LEED. SXRD. GISAXS

10

4

Direct space meth-ods. General intro-duction.   STM. AFM.

10

4

Spectroscopies. XPS. AES. LEIS. Vibration spectros-copies

10

4

Defense of the presentations

2

Tests

2

50

22

Assessment requirements

Student’s skills in this subject will be evaluated by means of presentations in the seminars, written tests and final examination.

Assessment criteria

The assessment of the presented works is carried out by the following criteria:

– compliance of the contents to a subject;

– existence of logical communication of stated information;

– compliance of registration to requirements;

– work is handed over in time.

The composition of final accumulative mark

Final accumulative mark consists of:  3 tests – 10 %, group presentation of individual work – 20 %, exam –  50 %

Course outline arranged by