Lab on Multifunctional Materials (LMM)

ABSTRACT

The course provides fundamental and applied skills for selecting and understanding multifunctional materials through technologically relevant examples. Starting from case studies that highlight the need for materials combining properties that may be mutually conflicting, participants will learn how to select materials based on specific design criteria, also using dedicated software tools. The experimental activities focus on thermal and electrical transport properties, emphasizing multifunctionality through the case of thermoelectric materials, which require simultaneously high electrical conductivity, low thermal conductivity, and an adequate Seebeck coefficient, Hall effect, and current–voltage (I–V) characteristics (polarization curves) of thermoelectric generators. Laboratory sessions will illustrate experimental techniques and provide data for analysis and interpretation by the students. Hand‐outs, software tools and experimental datasets will be made available to the participants.

 

COURSE FORMAT

The Course is taught in ENGLISH and offered

• On-site
• On-line (synchronous and asynchronous)

with video recordings, hand-outs, etc. of the lectures available off-line (*).

 

COURSE CONTENT

• Introduction to multifunctionality through application‐driven examples
• Materials selection based on design requirements
• Thermal and electrical transport properties; fundamentals of thermoelectricity
• Laboratory analysis of
  • thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity
  • electrical conductivity
  • Seebeck coefficient
  • Hall effect measurements (carrier type, carrier concentration, Hall mobility)
  • I–V characteristics / polarization curves of thermoelectric generators
• Data analysis, interpretation and reporting

 

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

• Two theoretical lectures (2 + 2 hours) introducing multifunctional materials, transport properties, and thermoelectric materials
• Three laboratory sessions (3 + 3 + 3 hours) dedicated to the experimental techniques for measuring thermal and electrical transport properties, including Seebeck coefficient, Hall effect, and I–V characterization of thermoelectric generators, as well as guidance on processing and interpreting the acquired data
• A final class (1 hour) for the discussion of short laboratory reports prepared by the students, which will also be used for assessing learning outcomes in place of a traditional written exam

 

FURTHER READINGS

Suggested introductory readings include standard textbooks in Foundations of Materials Science. Additional references and scientific articles will be provided during the course.