PCC-33309 From Molecule to Designer Materials

Course

Credits 9.00

Teaching methodContact hours
Lecture32
Group work20
Independent study0
Course coordinator(s)dr. ir. JHB Sprakel
dr. TE Kodger
Lecturer(s)dr. TE Kodger
dr. K Nikiforidis
dr. ir. JHB Sprakel
dr. ing. JW Borst
dr. ing. HB Albada
dr. RJ de Vries
Examiner(s)dr. TE Kodger
dr. ir. JHB Sprakel

Language of instruction:

English.

Assumed knowledge on:

PCC-20806 Soft Matter and/or FPH-20306 Food Physics.

Contents:

The use and availability of materials has shaped our society for centuries. From the bronze and iron ages of the past, to the silicon age of the present, material science has driven technological and societal changes. Materials of the present are increasingly formed from polymers as building block. This course will present an inspiring overview of the state-of-the-art in designer polymeric materials, ranging from the latest advances in tissue engineering and recombinant protein materials, to the bioinspired design of new adhesives, self-healing solids, and photonic materials. For all of these, we will study how materials with new and unique properties can be designed from the bottom up. To do so, this interdisciplinary course, will encompass aspects from polymer chemistry, material physics, engineering and biotechnology. In addition to the lectures by teachers working at the frontiers of this field, you will work in groups on designing your own material of the future. A special focus will be put on communicating your design to the world. Communication plays an increasingly important role in the lives of scientists. Moreover, interactions with peers, citizens and collaborators increasingly run via new media, such as Twitter, videos, podcasts and TED-Talks. One of the learning outcomes of the course is to use technology to communicate effectively in various settings and contexts.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- describe and apply basic material design concepts, including structure-function relationshops, metamaterial design, and molecular engineering;
- describe and apply molecular design strategies, including controlled polymerisations, recombinant protein technology and colloid synthesis approaches;
- identify how material science can contribute to the societal challenges of today, including sustainability issues, bio-based economy and green energy;
- evaluate the material science challenges of the future using the knowledge of bottom-up design strategies;
- create a design for new materials from the molecular level up using knowledge of design concepts and societal challenges;
- communicate scientific work effectively to the world using new media;
- evaluate the ethical challenges involved in material science (e.g. sustainability) and in science communication.

Activities:

- lectures;
- tutorials;
- material design study in groups;
- communicating work to the world using new media.

Examination:

- written exam 2x (33%);
- group report (67%).
Each component needs a minimum mark of 5.5 to pass. Marks for components will remain valid for 3 years.

Literature:

To be provided during course.

ProgrammePhaseSpecializationPeriod
Restricted Optional for: MMLMolecular Life SciencesMSc1WD