Teaching code

4S008287

Credits

6

Coordinator

Adolfo Speghini

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

CHIM/03 - GENERAL AND INORGANIC CHEMISTRY

Courses Single

Authorized with reserve

Moodle Seminars 0

The teaching is organized as follows:

Learning objectives

The course aims to provide students with the theoretical and experimental tools for the preparation, study, development and application of nanomaterials in the fields of Biotechnology and Green Chemistry, for industrial, agro-food and biomedical applications. Properly activated and functionalized inorganic based nanomaterials with specific properties, such as diagnostics and sensorial, energy conversion and storage, transport of materials or substances, catalytic activity for production processes and transformation of resources, will be considered, in a perspective of sustainability development. The course also includes some laboratory experiences to provide practical manual skills as well as complementary competences to further refine the critical and analytical abilities for an optimal design, preparation, chemico-physical characterization and application of functional inorganic based nanomaterials in the fields of Biotechnology and Green Chemistry

Prerequisites and basic notions

Notions of Mathematics, Physics, General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry.

Program

THEORY
Nanomaterials: definition and peculiarities. Types of nanomaterials (organic, inorganic, organic-inorganic hybrids). 1D and 2D nanomaterials. Hierarchical nanostructures. Importance of the surface in nanomaterials. Phenomena influenced by the surface. Thermodynamic aspects of nanometric phases. Notes on the theory of bands. Semiconductor nanomaterials and Quantum Dots: electronic and spectroscopic properties. Fluoride-based nanomaterials activated with luminescent lanthanide ions. Luminescent Carbon Dots. Noble metal nanoparticles and their plasmonic properties. Oxide-based nanomaterials for photocatalysis. Magnetic nanoparticles. Organic-inorganic nanocomposites. Multifunctional nanostructures that external stimuli for diagnostics, drug delivery, and curative treatments in nanomedicine can activate. Synthesis of nanoparticles in solution with "green chemistry" methods (co-precipitation, sol-gel, solvothermal, inverse micelles, and ionic liquids). Microwave-assisted synthesis. Strategies to obtain different porosities, sizes, and morphologies (nanorods, core @ shell) of nanoparticles. Surface functionalization of inorganic nanoparticles. Chemical-physical analysis of nanostructures (structural, morphological, colloidal). Spectroscopic investigation in the optical field (UV, visible and infrared) on luminescent nanoparticles. Investigation of the vibrational properties of nanoparticles with infrared spectroscopy.
LABORATORY EXPERIENCES
1) Synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (Au, Ag) in solution and their spectroscopic characterization in the optical field (UV and visible). Investigation of colloidal properties.
2) magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticle preparation in solution with a microwave-assisted reaction. Study of colloidal properties.
3) Preparation of alkaline-earth fluorides (CaF2 and SrF2) nanoparticles functionalized with luminescent lanthanide ions in an aqueous environment and their covering with a silica shell by sol-gel technique. Colloidal characterization of nanoparticles. Study of their visible emission properties following laser excitation in the near-infrared.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

The course will consist of a theoretical part and enriched by laboratory experiences to illustrate the application of theoretical concepts to real situations. Attendance is strongly recommended. The teacher is available for clarifications, both on the theoretical part and on the laboratory experiences, at office no. 34 of the Department of Biotechnology, 2nd floor, Ca' Vignal 1 or by sending an e-mail to adolfo.speghini@univr.it.

Learning assessment procedures

The exam will be oral, including:
- an exposition of a bibliographic work on a topic of the Course;
- some questions on the various topics of the Course, both on the theoretical part and on the laboratory experiences. Particular attention will be paid to the knowledge of the concepts, the methods, and experimental techniques used in the laboratory experiences. For both attending and non-attending students, the exam will focus on all the topics of the theoretical part and the laboratory part. For the laboratory part, a written paper regarding the methods and results obtained during the experiences is required. This paper will be uploaded to the Moodle platform at the end of the laboratory experience. The oral exam can also be taken outside of the exam session by appointment with the Course Teacher. The final grade will take into account both the oral exam and the reports on the laboratory experiences.

Evaluation criteria

The evaluation criteria will be based on the ability to discursively organize knowledge, critical reasoning on the study, quality of exposure, competence in using specialized vocabulary, effectiveness, and linearity of exposure.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The final grade will result from assessing the learning of the theoretical part and of the laboratory experiences.

Exam language

Italiano.

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