Physical Chemistry of Materials
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course will illustrate the basic principles of physical chemistry of materials, with focus on response properties and on modern synthesis and analysis methods.
Expected learning outcomes
Students will acquire the main physical and physico-chemical skills for understanding and interpreting the responses of solid materials to mechanical, thermal and optical stimuli, in the context of advanced materials design and tailor-made preparation.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Mechanical Properties in Bulk Materials. Isotropic stress-strain: definition, characteristic curve. Anisotropic stress-strain. Voigt notation. Elastic response: stiffness and compliance. Thermal expansion (positive and negative). Relationship of Hooke's Law to the Interatomic U(r). Zener Model for Anelasticity. Typical Relaxation Times for Microscopic Processes. Strengthening Mechanisms. Creep and Hardness Testing. Hall-Petch Relation and Analysis of Crack Propagation. Poisson's ratio, characteristic moduli. Equations of state. Optical Properties. Propagation of the electromagnetic field in materials. Refractive index. Dispersion and anomalous dispersion. Correlation: piezoelectricity, pyroelectricity, and electrostriction. Electro-optic and elasto-optic effects. Pockels effect. Kerr effect. Introduction to nonlinear optics. Optical activity. Crystalline, Amorphous, and Composite Materials. Thermodynamics of Materials: Binary and ternary phase diagrams, eutectic, monotectic, peritectic, eutectoid, and peritectoid mixtures, incongruent melting, spinodal decomposition, crystallization. Control of extrinsic defects with reference to major preparation techniques.
Ceramic, Dielectric, and Optical Materials. Synthesis and Processing of Materials.
Ceramic, Dielectric, and Optical Materials. Synthesis and Processing of Materials.
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of thermodynamics and vector algebra. These are typically acquired in the courses Physical Chemistry 1 with Laboratory, Mathematics, and Numerical Calculation of the Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry
Teaching methods
The course is delivered through lectures. Questions and interventions from students are encouraged. Lecture notes are made available to students through the e-learning platforms available at Unimi (for example, MyARIEL).
Teaching Resources
J. F. Nye - Physical Properties of Crystals; Oxford Science Publications, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1985
Yu. I. Sirotin, M. O. Shaskolskaya - Fundamental of Crystal Physics; MIR publishing, Moscow, 1982
R. M. A. Roque-Malherbe - The Physical Chemistry of Materials; CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, 2010
D. Tabor - Gases, liquids and solids; Penguin Library of Physical Sciences, 1989
Yu. I. Sirotin, M. O. Shaskolskaya - Fundamental of Crystal Physics; MIR publishing, Moscow, 1982
R. M. A. Roque-Malherbe - The Physical Chemistry of Materials; CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, 2010
D. Tabor - Gases, liquids and solids; Penguin Library of Physical Sciences, 1989
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an oral interview, during which students will be required to answer questions aimed not only at assessing their knowledge of specific course topics but also at evaluating their reasoning skills, ability to make connections, and problem-solving capabilities. To this end, students may also be presented with simple case studies from the literature, which will be solved under the guidance of the instructors. The evaluation will be based on a thirty-point scale, and the exam is considered passed if the student achieves a passing grade (minimum 18/30) in both parts. Outstanding performance will be rewarded with a distinction (30/30 with honors).
CHIM/02 - PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Professors:
Cappelletti Giuseppe, Conte Riccardo
Professor(s)
Reception:
To be arrenged
Personal Office (3112, Dept of Chemistry, Third floor, Western Section)
Reception:
To be agreed via email. Please send an email to [email protected]
Department of Chemistry, First Floor, Sector A, Room 131O