Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After the course, the student

  • is able to describe the most important differences between nanomaterials and macroscopic materials
  • can explain how the nanoscale features affect the mechanical, electrical, magnetic, optical, and thermal properties of materials
  • can find & read scientific papers related to nanomaterials
  • can discuss about nanomaterials' sustainability
  • group work skills

Credits: 5

Schedule: 02.09.2024 - 11.12.2024

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Kirsi Yliniemi

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

Kirsi Yliniemi (kirsi.yliniemi@aalto.fi)

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    The course gives a physico-chemical overview of solid and soft nanomaterials, including the following topics:

    • Types of nanoscale materials
    • Properties of nanomaterials (thermal, electric, magnetic, optic,  mechanical) and their differences to macroscale materials
    • Sustainabily aspects of nanomaterials

    The course has also a compulsory group work and online exam.

  • applies in this implementation

    Lectures (Period I):

    1. Introduction to Nanoscale
    2. Stability of Nanomaterials
    3. Synthesis of Nanomaterials and Self-Assembly
    4. Carbon nanomaterials
    5.  Propeties I: Electrical
    6. Properties II: Optical
    7. Properties III: Magnetic and Dielectric
    8. Properties IV: Mechanical and Thermal
    9. Chacterisation of Nanomaterials
    10. Nanotoxicity and Nanosafety
    11. Sustainability of Nanomaterials
    12. Group Work kick-off: Practicalities and how to make a successful group work

    Weekly Exercise sessions (Period I):

    • contain calculations, multi-choice questions and essays
    • first 5 weeks during Study Period I


    Group work (compulsory, Period II):

    • Create a non-digital game around "Sustainability of Nanomaterial X" 
    • Write a report "Game Description and Scientific Basis"
    • Attend one Gaming Session with your group (bring your game to the session as you play each others' games in this session)

    Online Group Exam (compulsory)

    • to pass: min. 6 points
    • performed in the group of 1-3 students

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Exercises, group work and exam all affect the grade. Compulsory participation in group work and online exam.

     

  • applies in this implementation

    The exercises (includes calculations, multi-choice questions and essays), group work and exam all provide points towards the final grade:

    • Exercises: max. 18 p
    • Group Work: max. 18 p
    • Exam: max. 20 point
    • TOTAL: 56 points


    TO PASS THE COURSE, you must 

    • receive min. 22 total points, of which min. 6 points are from the exam
    • participate to group work (active working and submissions)
    NOTE! Participation to Group Work and Exam are both compulsory

Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Lectures, exercises, group work, online exam (group or individual). Compulsory participation in group work and online exam.

     

  • applies in this implementation

    TOTAL WORKLOAD: 127 h

    CONTACT TEACHING TOTAL: 49.5

    • Lectures: 22 h
    • Exercise sessions: 15 h
    • Guided group work sessions: 12.5 h


    INDEPENDENT STUDY TOTAL: 61 h

    • Preparing/reviewing of lectures: 22 h
    • Preparing/reviewing of exercises: 15 h
    • Group work (game creation + writing): 24 h


    EXAM AND PREAPRING FOR EXAM TOTAL: 16.5 h

    • Preparing for the exam: 12 h
    • Exam: 4.5 h 

DETAILS

Study Material
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    1. M.F. Ashby, P.J. Ferreira, D.L. Schodek: Nanomaterials, Nanotechnology and Design - An Introduction for Engineers and Architects, Elsevier 2009.  
    2. G. Cao, Y. Wang: Nanostructures and Nanomaterials - Synthesis, Properties and Applications, World Scientific 2004.  
    3. Selected scientific publications
    4. Course material provided by teacher

  • applies in this implementation

    1. M.F. Ashby, P.J. Ferreira, D.L. Schodek: Nanomaterials, Nanotechnology and Design - An Introduction for Engineers and Architects, Elsevier 2009. 
    2. G. Cao, Y. Wang: Nanostructures and Nanomaterials - Synthesis, Properties and Applications, World Scientific 2004.  
    3. A. K. Geim, K. S. Novoselov, The rise of graphene,  Nature Materials 6 (2007) 183-191. 
    4. H. Hu, D. Li, Y. Gao, L. Mu, Q. Zhou, Knowledge gaps between nanotoxicological research and nanomaterial safety, Environment International 94 (2016) 8–23. 
    5. Short video lectures, available in MyCourses
    6. Other course material such as lecture slides and exercises

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    2 Zero Hunger

    3 Good Health and Well-being

    6 Clean Water and Sanitation

    7 Affordable and Clean Energy

    9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

    12 Responsible Production and Consumption

    13 Climate Action

    14 Life Below Water

    15 Life on Land

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Teaching Language: English

    Teaching Period: 2024-2025 Autumn I - II
    2025-2026 Autumn I - II

  • applies in this implementation

    Course contains a compulsory group work and online group exam

Details on the schedule
  • applies in this implementation

    Theory part of the course (lectures and exercises) in Period I

    • Lectures: Mon 10-12 and Tue 08-10 (no lecture on Tue 8.10.) 
    • Exercises: Thu 09-12 (no exercise session on Thu 10.10.)

    Group work in Period II

    • Kick-off: Tue 8.10, 12-15
    • 1st group meeting: Thu 10.10., 09-12
    • Participating into one of the following Gaming Sessions is compulsory
      • TUE 26th Nov, 12-15
      • WED 27th Nov, 09-12
      • THU 28th Nov, 13-16
    • Additionally voluntary sessions from where you can ask advice from the teacher (23.10. and 4.11.) or graft the game (11.11)

    Three online group exam options (you need to pass only one)

    • 18.10.2024, 09:00-13:30
    • 11.12.2024, 09:00-13:30
    • 20.2.2025, 09:00-13:30