The properties of crystalline materials are crucially dependent on their crystal structure. This course aims to give students an appreciation of the crystallography and crystal chemistry needed to describe structures and understand their relationships and defects, the diffraction (electron, tube and synchrotron  X-ray, neutron) and high-resolution TEM imaging techniques that are used to acquire structural data, and the software tools that are used to analyse the data.

Note: Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but are assessed separately.

Students will have:

(1)    Developed an appreciation of  the crystallographic and crystal chemical concepts that underpin the collection of data by electron microscopy and X-ray and neutron diffraction, the subsequent interpretation of the data, and its significance in terms of materials processing;

(2)    An understanding of the principles that govern the assembly and modification of technologically important oxide crystal systems at the atomic scale;

(3)    Ability to design practical experiments, especially with respect to preparing samples and collecting data appropriately; and

(4)    Appreciation of the importance of these methods as nanometric tools in materials science and engineering.

(5)    Developed skills in critical reading and writing of materials science, solid state chemistry and condensed matter physics papers

Assessment will be based on:

• Final exam 35% (LO1,2, 3 and 4)
• Critical Reading & Writing Assessment 20% (LO5)
• Semester paper 45% (LO1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)

The average workload in each of the first two weeks of this intensive course will be 40 hours, which will include:

(1)    10 hours of practicals and demonstrations; and

(2)    30 hours of lectures;

The third week of the course will include 37 hours of study and work on eight practical assessments, as well as a three hour exam.

Equivalent to first year chemistry and knowledge in foundational physics and material science.