MODERN ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES - 2019/0

Module Overview

The module will introduce several of the most important analytical techniques used in the physics laboratory today and will discuss some of their applications in areas where physicists are playing an increasingly role such as cell biology, molecular electronics and semiconductor device engineering.

Module provider

Physics

Module Leader

JUREWICZ Izabela (Physics)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

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

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• the basic physical mechanisms of the interaction between solid matter and electromagnetic radiation, electrons and ions.


• the principles and usage of:
  
  
  
  • light optical microscopy,
  
  
  • UV-Vis spectrophotometry,
  
  
  • electron microscopy (scanning electron microscopy - SEM and transmission electron microscopy - TEM),
  
  
  • spectroscopy techniques (Auger electron spectroscopy - AES, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy - XPS, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy - EDX),
  
  
  • electron and x-ray diffraction,
  
  
  • atomic force microscopy (AFM),
  
  
  • scanning tunneling microscopy (STM),
  
  
  • Raman spectroscopy,
  
  
  • Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).   
  
  
  
  

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

None.

Assessment Strategy

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

• Understanding of the core principles behind each analytical technique covered.


• An ability to apply their understanding of the relevance of the techniques described to modern research described in the literature


• Good scientific communication skills

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• a coursework component involving preparing and giving a 25 minutes group presentation;
  
  
  
  • It involves the preparation and delivery of a PowerPoint presentation on a selected advanced topic related to recent breakthroughs in nanophysics, solid state physics or biophysics. Each group will carry out an extensive literature review on a given topic and subsequently prepare and present a 25 minute presentation on their findings. The presentation is expected to highlight the usefulness of advanced analytical techniques used by researchers in the given subject area. The presentations will be given during week 7 and will be assessed non-anonymously.
  
  
  
  


• a 1.5h final examination with 2 questions from 3 to be attempted.

Formative assessment and feedback

Problem sets are provided weekly on topics of modern analytical techniques, which allow the students to test their understanding of course material.

Feedback
Verbal feedback is provided at hour-long tutorial sessions throughout the semester. Model solutions are provided for the questions on the problem sets to provide students with feedback on their problem-solving ability.

Students will receive written and verbal feedback relating to the coursework element in a one-to-one meeting during week 08.

 

Module aims

• introduce the student to a range of modern analytical techniques used in research laboratories to analyse matter.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Develop student awareness of a broad range of experimental techniques available to the modern experimental physicist.


• Using the coursework component, develop a range of skills such as teamwork and communication

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures (2 hours per week x 10)


• Tutorials (1 hour per week x 10)


• Workshop (3 hours in week 11)

 

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: PHY3039

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.