CHE 697M
Nanomaterials Chemistry and Engineering
Fall 2003
Instructor: Hugh W. Hillhouse, Email: hugh@ecn.purdue.edu, Office: FRNY 304B, Phone 496-6056
Purdue University, School of Chemical Engineering
Lectures: TTh 9:00 - 10:15 AM in FRNY 110, Office hours: T 4-6 pm in FRNY 304B
All nanotechnology relies on nanomaterials, and developing an understanding of the structure and chemistry of these materials is the key to engineering new technologies. Developments of novel nanomaterials have already led to improved cracking catalysts, stronger fibers, energy efficient light emitting diodes (used in new traffic lights), low dielectric constant films (that allow for faster, smaller integrated circuits), and magnetic data storage devices with higher storage densities. However, the potential for future advances is limited only by our creativity. Nanomaterials may be created either from the top-down by conventional lithographic techniques or from the bottom-up by utilizing chemical interactions and self-assembly. The development of material for this course will focus exclusively on the bottom-up approach and the resulting materials. The current course is designed to give students a rigorous introduction to selected topics in bottom-up nanomaterials and will be divided into three parts: (1) the physics of nanomaterials, (2) the chemistry of nanomaterials, and (3) engineering applications of nanomaterials.
In the first part we will develop an understanding of the unique electronic, chemical, magnetic, optical, thermal, and mechanical properties that materials display as the critical dimension of the material is reduced. We will discuss the length scales at which these effects occur to answer the question: how small is small enough? To frame this discussion we will focus on the electronic structure of materials. The second part will constitute the bulk of the course and will focus on the materials chemistry of nanomaterials. Topics to be included are: the structure of condensed matter, basic scattering theory, diffraction, intermolecular forces, self-assembly, colloidal phenomena, and the solution chemistry of metal oxides. The final part of the course will focus on understanding (chemical) engineering processes, phenomena, and devices that employ nanomaterials. In particular we will discuss adsorption in nanoporous materials, nanostructured catalysts, and if time allows novel nanostructured photovoltaics and fuel cells.
Course Syllabus Lecture Notes Guest Lectures Assignments
Student Web Publications (Fall 2003)
Each student designed and deployed a website based on a research topic in nanomaterials. The intent of each website is to educate two different categories of web surfers, the layperson and the general scientist. Each website was peer-reviewed by the students. Out of 23 websites, the follow sites were selected for web publication.
“Carbon Nanotube Separation and Purification” by Jennifer Bugayong
“Dealumination of Nanoporous Catalysts” by Bradley Taylor
“Nanoscale Self-Assembly of Block Copolymers“ by Rahul Sharma
“Nanostructured Thermoelectrics” by Michael Tate
“Nanotechnology and Hydrogen Storage in Complex Metal Hydrides” by Eric Ritchson
“Photoelectrochemical Generation of Hydrogen” by Vikrant Urade