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Nanochemistry and Nanomaterials

Code: 102509
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Chemistry OP 4

Contact lecturer

Name :
Jordi Hernando Campos
Email :
jordi.hernando@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Gonzalo Guirado Lopez

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

  • It is recommended to have taken and passed most of the 3rd year courses.
  • Although lectures are in Catalan, most of the material used and literature sources are in English. Therefore, a good level in English is recommended.

Objectives

This course aims at providing the student with basic knowledge in Nanochemistry and Nanomaterials, which should allow him/her to understand supramolecular processes and recognize the most important nanometer-sized materials as well as their properties and applications.

The specific objectives of this course are:

  • To introduce the concepts of Nanomaterial and bottom-up and top-down nanofabrication methods.
  • To recognize the main types of Nanomaterials, their preparation methods, their properties and their applications.
  • To introduce the concept of Supramolecular Chemistry, to learn the types of non-covalent interactions that it is built on, and to understand the main methods of characterization and manipulation of supramolecular complexes.

Learning outcomes

  1. Communicate orally and in writing in one's own language.
  2. Manage the organisation and planning of tasks.
  3. Resolve problems and make decisions.
  4. Obtain information, including by digital means.
  5. Manage, analyse and synthesise information.
  6. Use IT to treat and present information.
  7. Work in a team and show concern for interpersonal relations at work.
  8. Reason in a critical manner
  9. Be ethically committed.
  10. Learn autonomously.
  11. Adapt to new situations.
  12. Propose creative ideas and solutions.
  13. Show initiative and an enterprising spirit.
  14. Show motivation for quality.
  15. Show sensitivity for environmental issues.
  16. Identify the different types of supramolecular interactions and predict their relative magnitude in the most characteristic molecular and supramolecular systems applied to nanochemistry.
  17. Describe the main methods for preparing primary layers and nanostructuring surfaces.
  18. Relate the properties, synthesis methods and applications of nanoparticles.
  19. Identify the main types of carbon nanostructures and their properties and applications.
  20. Differentiate between the main types of micro- and mesoporous materials, and between their methods of preparation, properties and applications.
  21. Identify the nature and magnitude of the interactions produced in supramolecular systems.
  22. Synthesise and characterise solid materials with electrical, magnetic or optical properties, and measure said properties.
  23. Synthesise a zeolite, characterise it and study its most characteristic properties.
  24. Properly use the required material and instruments to prepare and characterise solid, soft and nano materials.
  25. Justify the results obtained in the laboratory from processes of synthesising and characterising solid, soft and nano materials on the basis of knowledge of their structure and properties.
  26. Properly handle the chemical products required to prepare solid, soft and nano materials.
  27. Recognise the English names used in the field of preparing and characterising solid and soft materials, as well as in nanochemistry and nanomaterials.
  28. Read, analyse and extract information from texts in the English language on the different areas of the field of material chemistry.

Contents

1. Introduction to nanochemistry and nanomaterials


The \"nano\" scale: general aspects and physico-chemical principles. Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Bottom-up and top-down fabrication methods. Techniques for the characterization and manipulation of nanomaterials.


2. Supramolecular chemistry


Introduction to supramolecular chemistry: supramolecular non-covalent interactions; host-guest complexes and self-assembly. Basic concepts: thermodynamic and kinetic selectivity; preorganization and complementaity; cooperativity and chelate effect; solvent effects; acyclic vs. cyclic hosts. Molecular recongnition of cations, anions, neutral molecules and multiple guests. Artificial and biological self-assembled systems. Molecular and supramolecular devices.


3. Nanoparticles


General aspects: nucleation and growth. Stability. Metal nanoparticles: structure, synthesis, properties and applications. Semiconductor nanoparticles: structure, synthesis, properties and applications. Other types of nanoparticles.


4. Carbon nanostructures


New carbon forms. Fullerenes: structure, synthesis, properties and applications. Carbon nanotubes: nomenclature, synthesis, properties and applications. Graphene: synthesis, properties and applications.


5. Nanostructured surfaces


Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). Self-assembled multilayers: techniques for layer by layer deposition. Other fabrication techniques of thin films. Surface nanostructuration by lithography techniques.


6. Nanoporous materials


Introduction: micro- and mesoporous materials. Zeolites: structure, synthesis, properties and applications.


Practical sessions


1) Synthesis of metal nanoparticles (Ag, Au and Au/Ag core-shell).


2) Determination of host-guest complex association constants by spectrophotometry.


3) Synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles (ferrofluid).


4) Synthesis and characterization of calix[4]pyrrole for the recognition of molecular anions.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Theory lectures 34 1.36 1, 6, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28
Autonomous study 50 2 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28
Tutorial 2 0.08 1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 28
Preparation of practical sessions 3.75 0.15 2, 4, 5, 10, 16, 18, 21, 27, 28
Presentation on a scientific article 20 0.8 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28
Practical sessions 16 0.64 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

The students will develop different learning activities along the course:

a) Directed activities: Theory lectures on the contents of the course. In addition, practical sessions will be conducted in the lab, where the synthesis and/or characterization of nanomaterials will be performed.

b) Supervised activities: To assist the students on the preparation of a presentation on a scientific article, tutorials will be carried out.

c) Autonomous activities: On their own, students will learn the contents of the course, solve problems, prepare the practical sessions, and perform a presentation on a scientific article.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Practical sessions 15% 18 0.72 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
Oral presentation on a scientific article 15% 0.25 0.01 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28
Written exams 70% 6 0.24 1, 3, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 27

Student could select between continuous and one-step evaluation.


Continuous evaluation: Students will be graded on the basis of the following items:

  • Written theoretical exams: Two midterm exams will be conducted, each of which will account for 35% of the final grade. If the average of these two exams is lower than 5, a final exam will be scheduled by the end of the semester in which all the contents of the course will be evaluated. The mark of the final exam will account for 70% of the final grade (and will replace the mark from the midterm exams). Access to the final exam will only be granted to those students who had previously developed evaluation activities during the course that account for 2/3 of the final note. Those students that do not meet this condition will obtain a "No evaluable" grade.
  • Practical sessions: Practical sessions will be graded by: i) presentation of lab reports (30%), and ii) a written exam (70%). The weighted average of these two marks will account for 15% of the final grade.
  • Oral presentation on a scientific article: A scientific article related to the contents of the course will be assigned to each student (or group of students). An oral presentation will then be conducted on the contents of the article. Each student will then get a mark depending on the quality of the presentation. This mark will account for 15% of the final grade.


One-step evaluation: The following activities will be evaluated on the same day a the end of the course:

  • Written theoretical exam: One final exam will be conducted at the end of the course, which will account for 70% of the final grade. If the mark of this exam is lower than 5, a resit exam will be scheduled by the end of the semester. Access to the resit exam will only be granted to those students who had previously attended the one-step evaluation activities. Those students that do not meet this condition will obtain a \"No evaluable\" grade.
  • Practical sessions: Practical sessions will be graded by: i) presentation of lab reports (30%), and ii) a written exam (70%). The weighted average of these two marks will account for 15% of the final grade.
  • Oral presentation on a scientific article: An oral presentation will then be conducted on the contents of an assigned scientific article. Depending on the quality of the presentation, a mark will be given that will account for 15% of the final grade.


Regardless of the evaluation mode chosen, to pass the course students must:

1) Obtain a mark for theoretical exams higher than 5.

2) Obtain an average mark for the course higher than 5.

3) Attend the 4 practical sessions in the lab. Warning about lab safety: students involved in accidents resulting from not following lab safety rules might be banned and fail the course.


If after the resit exam, a student does not meet condition 1), the maximum grade that he/she can have in the transcript once the weighted average is made with the marks of the practical sessions and the oral presentation will be 4.8

Both for the continuous and one-step evaluation modalities, the procedure for reviewing the final grade will be equivalent.


Use of artificial intelligence: Restricted use – In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively for support tasks, such as bibliographic or information searches, or translations. The student must clearly identify which parts have been generated using this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final outcome of the activity. Lack of transparency in the use of AI in this assessable activity will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in a partial or total penalty in the activity grade, or more severe sanctions in serious cases.


Academic fraud: Any irregularity committed in an evaluation activity (academic fraud, plagiarism, or improper use of AI, unless such use is explicitly authorized in the course syllabus) that may lead to a significant alteration of the grade will result in that activity being graded with a 0. If the course syllabus stipulates that obtaining a minimum mark in this assessment activity is an essential requirement to pass the course, or if multiple irregularities occur in the assessment activities of the same course, the final grade for the course will be 0. In addition, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who incurs in any of these irregularities.

Bibliography

J.W. Steed, D.R. Turner, K. Wallace, Core Concepts in Supramolecular Chemistry and Nanochemistry, Wiley, Chichester, 2007. Link to the electronic version of the book.

G. Cao, Nanostructures and Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Properties and Applications, Imperial College Press, London, 2004. Link to the electronic version of the book.

J.W. Steed, J.L. Atwood, Supramolecular Chemistry: from Molecules to Nanomaterials, Wiley, Chichester, 2013. Link to the electronic version of the book.

Software

No specific software is required.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 1 Catalan first semester afternoon
(PLABs) Suport a les pràctiques de laboratori 1 Catalan first semester afternoon
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 2 Catalan first semester afternoon
(PLABs) Suport a les pràctiques de laboratori 2 Catalan first semester afternoon