CHE 378: Materials Chemistry; open to graduate students as CHE 518: Spring 2009

Stony Brook University, Department of Chemistry

Course Instructor: Professor Clare P. Grey; cgrey@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
Office Hours: Mon 2-3.30 or by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Our high-technology world is driven forward by advances in materials chemistry. This class will discuss some of the
materials that underpin these technologies as well as novel classes of materials being developed for future
technology applications. The course will cover the structures, and properties of advanced materials, focusing on a
range of topics with current societal importance, with a particular focus this semester on energy. Specific topics may
include batteries, fuel cells, catalysts, metals and semiconductors, superconductors, magnetism, and polymers.

Week 1-2: Review of basic solid state chemistry and crystallography – packing in ionic solids, lattices and unit cells,
symmetry (local and translational)
Week 3: Basics of structure solution (diffraction)
Week 4-14: Properties and Applications. The following order is subject to change.
Week 4-5: Basics of Band Theory. Insulators, metals, semiconductors, conductors and superconductors
Week 6-8: Defects and non-stoichiometry: Ionic conductivity: Solid electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells,
separations and catalytic converters. Electronic effects of doping.
March 16: Exam
Week 9: Polymers – structures and properties
Week 10: Effects of unpaired electrons: Magnetic properties. Ferromagnets, antiferromagnets and ferrimagnets.
Week 11-12. Intercalation chemistry: Batteries, supercapacitors
Week 12: Porous structures and surfaces: separations and catalysis
Week 13: Optical properties: How materials interact with light. Solar cells, photocopiers, solid state lighting.
Week 14: Nanoparticles: Quantum confinement effects, optical properties etc.

Course Books:
Solid State Chemistry, Lesley Smart and Elaine Moore, 2​nd​ edn.
Reaction and Characterization of Solids, Sandra E. Dann

Suggested reading from review articles. More will be assigned as the semester progresses.
E.g., Energy issues: See the MRS Bulletin Special Issue, April 2008 “Harnessing Materials for Energy”
“​Building better batteries, M. Armand, J. –M. Tarascon,” Nature, p652 (2008).
Photovoltaics: “Advanced Inorganic Materials for Photovoltaics”, MRS Bulletin, 2007

Exams
1 midterm and 1 final
1 term paper on a specific materials application. Term paper due the last lecture of the semester.
Written homework

GRADING:
1 Midterm = 25%; 1 Final = 45%; 1 term paper on a specific materials application = 20%
Written homework = 10%

DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES (DSS) STATEMENT

If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may impact your course work, please
contact Disability Support Services (631) 632-6748 or http://studentaffairs.stonybrook.edu/dss/. They will determine
with you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.
Students who require assistance during emergency evacuation are encouraged to discuss their needs with their
professors and Disability Support Services. For procedures and information go to the following website:
http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/fire/disabilities

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT (must be the following language as approved by the undergrad
council):
Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all submitted work.
Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong. Faculty are required to report any suspected
instance of academic dishonesty to the Academic Judiciary. For more comprehensive information on academic
integrity, including categories of academic dishonesty, please refer to the academic judiciary website at
http://www.stonybrook.edu/uaa/academicjudiciary/

CRITICAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT:

Stony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other people. Faculty are
required to report to the Office of Judicial Affairs any disruptive behavior that interrupts their ability to teach,
compromises the safety of the learning environment, and/or inhibits students' ability to learn.