ADVANCED TOPICS IN PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY - 2019/0

Module Overview

This module is a research-informed FHEQ level 7 course that builds on levels 4-6 to inform, analyse and stimulate enquiry into current Advanced Physical Chemistry research in problems of relevance to industry and the environment. It features green chemistry, catalysis, surface science, nanomaterials and photochemistry.

Module provider

Chemistry

Module Leader

CARTA Daniela (Chemistry)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

A knowledge of Physical Chemistry to FHEQ Level 5 and 6.

Module content

Indicative content includes:

 

Green, Atmospheric and Catalyst Chemistry

The twelve principles of green chemistry; photochemistry and kinetics of green chemistry; photoelectrolysis and photocatalysis.

Atmospheric reactions and pollution; air pollution control kinetics; kinetics of consecutive reactions, greenhouse gases.

 

Surface Science

Solids (metallic, ionic and molecular). Surfaces. Surface crystallography: X-ray based spectroscopic techniques.

Physical adsorption, capillary condensation and catastrophes. Chemisorption and sticking probabilities. Thermodynamic parameters. Langmuir isotherm. Lindemann-Hinshelwood, Langmuir-Hinshelwood and Eley-Rideal mechanisms. Heterogeneous catalysis in process, food, environmental of forensic chemistry. Homogeneous catalysis. Enzymic catalysis

 

Nanomaterials

Synthesis: bottom-up and top-down approaches. Zero-dimensional nanostructures: nanoparticles. One-dimensional nanostructures: nanowires and nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes synthesis, characterisation and applications. Two-dimensional nanostructures: thin films. Physical and chemical vapour deposition, atomic layer deposition. Porous nanomaterials. Sol-gel synthesis of mesoporous silica. Surface area determination and pore analysis using gas adsorption

 

Fundamentals of Computational Chemistry for Chemists

Molecular Dynamics, Hartree-Fock Theory, Thomas-Fermi Theory, Kohn-Sham DFT, dispersion-corrected DFT, QM/MM

 

Photochemistry

Beer-Lambert Law and adsorption strengths; Frank-Condon principle; fates of photochemically excited molecules; fluorescence; phosphorescence; internal conversion’ intersystem crossing; Jabblonski Diagrams; Quantum yields, fluorescence lifetimes and ‘natural lifetimes’, quenching; Stern-Volmer equation; delayed fluorescence; Fermi’s golden rule and intermolecular processes.Photochemistry and Kinetics.

 

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

• Coursework: research, analysis and quantitative skills of all aspects of advanced physical chemistry topics taught in the module [LOs 1-4]

• Examination: understanding, analysis and recall [LOs 1-4]

 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Coursework 1: Problem solving questions based on the material from the first half of the course (Deadline Week 6) [LOs assessed 1, 2, 3]

• Coursework 2: Problem solving questions based on the material from the second half of the course (Deadline Week 11) [LOs assessed 3, 4]

• Written unseen exam (2 hours) 70% [LOs assessed: aspects of LOs not already assessed in the coursework]

 

Formative assessment and feedback

Formative assessment and feedback are provided throughout the module in the form of in-class exercises, examples and worked problems. Feedback is instant as model answers (full worked solutions) are given in class. Formative assessment is also evident through the provision of ‘checklists’ at the end of each section of the module that detail the areas covered in that part of the course. Detailed and individualised feedback is given on the marked assignments within the time allowed for marking coursework.

 

Module aims

• To apply chemical kinetics in environmental and catalytic chemistry, including relevant parts of surface science
• To apply advanced spectroscopic techniques to chemically relevant problems.
• To apply photochemical excitation and decay processes to molecules.
• To understand structure, properties and applications of nanomaterials.
• To understand some fundamental applications of computational chemistry.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Build on the foundation of Physical Chemistry from levels 4-6 to be able to apply Physical Chemistry knowledge and reasoning to areas of topical, industrial and societal importance, including current research.

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

• 
  30 Formal lectures of 1hr, normally 3 per week, and coursework based on workshops
  


• 
  Four whole class workshops
  
   
  

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: CHEM027

Other information

None

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2019/0 academic year.