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Characterization of Materials

Code: 102513
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Chemistry OP 4

Contact lecturer

Name :
Jordi Garcia Anton Aviño
Email :
jordi.garciaanton@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Raphael Enoque Ferraz De Paiva
Anna Crespi Revuelta

Group languages

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

Prerequisites

It is recommended to have completed and passed Spectroscopy and Materials Science. It is necessary to have knowledge of symmetry.

Objectives

Characterization of all types of materials at any stage of their production and transformation. In addition, be able to use conventional and some advanced techniques, as well as interpret the information obtained from sophisticated and novel techniques.

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. Describe the physical principles that govern interactions between X-ray radiation and matter, as well as X-ray diffraction techniques in single crystal and powder form.
  17. Identify the basic principles of spectroscopic electron-spin resonance and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques of solids.
  18. Interpret the results obtained by thermal techniques for the characterisation of materials.
  19. Distinguish the different microscopic and spectroscopic surface analysis techniques.
  20. Compare the microscopic techniques for the characterisation of nanomaterial.
  21. Analyse and extract information on the composition and structure of material from results obtained using spectroscopic, microscopic and thermal techniques.
  22. Justify the spectroscopic response of materials using their structural characteristics.
  23. Use spectroscopic, crystalline structure, powder diffraction and other databases related bibliographic data.
  24. Identify the health risks associated to the use of radiation and electromagnetic fields in the different techniques for characterising materials.
  25. Recognise basic English terms in the crystallographic and structural fields, as well as those associated to spectroscopic and microscopic techniques and to the databases used in the characterisation of materials.
  26. Read, analyse and extract information from texts in the English language on the different areas of the field of material chemistry.

Contents

1. Simetría Infinita


2. Difracción de Rayos X


3. Técnicas de Difracción de Rayos X


4. Microscopía Óptica, Electrónica y de Proximidad


5. Técnicas de Análisis Térmica


6. Espectroscopías de Dispersión y de Absorción

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Search of bibliography 7 0.28 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18
Lectures 42 1.68 3, 4, 5, 8, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
Study 60.75 2.43 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
Tutorials 5 0.2 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
Problem resolution 16 0.64 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Writing of works 10.25 0.41 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

Methodology:

The student will perform three types of activities: directed, autonomous and supervised.

1.- Directed activities:

Theoretical classes.

Probleme classes: The knowledge acquired in the lectures and autonomous student activities, mainly through study, are applied to the resolution of problems and exercises related to the contents of the subject.

2.- Autonomous activities: With these activities, the student alone, or in a group, must achieve the competences of the subject. These activities include studying, solving problems, writing work, reading texts and searching for bibliography.

3.- Supervised activities: The student can request the tutor of the subject tutorials of support to be able to assimilate the exposed matter in the classes of theory and / or problems, and for the resolution of works of pursuit.

The teachers will dedicate approximately 15 minutes of a class to allow the students to answer the questions of evaluation of the teaching performance and evaluation of the subject or module.

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
Evidences 30 1 0.04 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26
Final test 70 4 0.16 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
First partial 35 2 0.08 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
Second Partial 35 2 0.08 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

Assessment of the course:

The subject will be assessed on a continuous basis and will consist of the following assessment activities:

Theoretical part

It represents 70% of the final grade. The student can choose between two ways of assessing this part:

1) Continuous assessment which will be carried out by means of two partial tests, and.

2) The final assessment which will consist of a final test.

Continuous assessment:

First partial: The contents covered in the first part of the course will be assessed (35% of the final mark).

Second partial exam: The contents covered in the second part of the course will be assessed (35% of the final mark).

If these tests are passed with an average mark equal to or higher than 5 (provided that the mark of one of the mid-term exams is not lower than 4), it will not be necessary to take the final assessment test.


If the average is lower than 5 or any of the marks of the mid-term exams is lower than 4, the student will have to take the final exam to pass the course.

Final exam:

Students who have not passed the subject in the continuous assessment will take a final exam which will cover the theoretical contents of the subject and will have a weight of 70% of the overall grade. The final exam will consist of two parts and students may sit one or both, depending on the marks obtained in the partial exams.

In order to take part in the final exam, students must have been previously assessed in a set of activities whose weight is equivalent to at least two thirds of the total mark for the subject.

In order to pass the course, the final mark must be higher than 5 (and the marks of none of the mid-term exams must be lower than 4). Final mark = mark for the mid-term exams (70%) + mark for evidence (30%).

Students who wish to improve the mark obtained in the continuous assessment may opt for the final exam but will not qualify for the matriculation mark.The final assessment will be carried out using the best mark.

Evidence / Seminars:

Will account for 30% of the final mark. Students will have to solve and/or present individually or in groups problems related to the contents of the subject that will be delivered in class.

If the student has been evaluated in a maximum of 33% of the assessments and gives up the subject, the final grade will be NOT EVALUABLE.

Single Assessment

Students who have opted for the single assessment mode must take a final exam consisting of an examination of the entire subject syllabus to be taken on the day on which the students of the continuos assessment take the exam of the second partial + the delivery of the evidences (exercises/works and video of the assigned presentation).

The grade will be = Exam mark (70%) + Evidence mark (30%).

If the final grade does not reach 5, the student has another opportunity to pass the subject by means of the recovery exam to be held on the date set by the coordination of the degree. This student's exam mark will replace the old one to obtain the grade.


A student is graded as “non-assessable” following the same criterion as for the continuous evaluation.


For this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively for support tasks such as bibliographic or information search, text correction, or translation. The student must clearly identify which parts of the assessed tasks have been generated using this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and final outcome of the activity. This provision does not apply to exams or in-class assessments, where the use of AI is strictly prohibited. Lack of transparency in the use of AI in assessed activities will be considered academic dishonesty and may result in a partial or full grade penalty for the activities, or more severe sanctions in serious cases.

The commission of any irregularity in an assessment activity (academic fraud, plagiarism, or improper use of AI, unless such use is expressly authorized in the course syllabus), which may lead to a significant change in the grade, will result in that activity being graded as 0. If the course syllabus specifies that obtaining a minimum grade in that assessment activity is a mandatory requirement to pass the course, or if multiple irregularities occur in the assessment activities of the same course, the final grade for that course will be 0. In addition, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who commits any of these irregularities.

Bibliography

Ferraris, G., Gilli, G., Zanotti, G., Catti, M., Artioli, G., Viterbo, D.,Giacovazzo, C. and Monaco, H.L. Fundamentals of Crystallography. IUCR Texts on Crystallography. Oxford Science Publications, 2002

Leng, Yang. MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION: Introduction to Microscopic and Spectroscopic Methods WILEY, 2008

Software

In case the teaching is not on-site: Teams

Required software: Office or similar.

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