The core courses equip students with specialist expertise in the following areas: i. the design and preparation/fabrication of new materials with predetermined properties, following low-environmental-impact approaches; ii. the modelling and simulation of the physicochemical properties of both functional and structural materials; iii. the characterisation of the physicochemical and mechanical properties of materials using state-of-the-art techniques such as X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, spectroelectrochemistry and scanning probe microscopy; iv. energy storage, with investigation of the mechanisms governing it and the associated analytical techniques; v. an introduction to the engineering applications of energy storage systems. In addition to the objectives specific to the degree class, the programme is enriched by content from subject area IIND-08/A (Electrical converters, machines and drives) relating to the modelling, design, management and application of systems for energy efficiency and energy conversion. The elective courses allow students to tailor their programme by acquiring competences in the design and preparation/fabrication of materials with specific applications in a range of fields, including: a) energy; b) electrochemical; c) recycling and disposal of energy storage materials; d) the creation and exploitation of intellectual property, also in an industrial context; e) good practice for materials used in industry. Practical laboratory work, including computer-based simulation, forms an integral part of the courses. On completing the taught component of the programme, students are required to carry out experimental work in preparation for the final examination; this may take place within the same department as the master's degree, or in other organisational entities, whether internal or external to the University (in the latter case this constitutes an internship), or abroad. During the curricular internship, the preparation for the final examination or the internship for the final examination, students acquire the skills to critically analyse research findings and to undertake the experimental study of a subject in materials science which will form the subject of discussion in the final examination. In particular, students are able to: (i) carry out bibliographic research, including research on intellectual property; (ii) operate instrumental hardware and software; (iii) situate topics within broader contexts, including recycling and disposal, intellectual property and industrial impact; (iv) make practical proposals and intervene both experimentally and computationally to advance knowledge of the subject under study. Upon completion of the required course credits, students will, in addition to having acquired the above competences, be able to work in a research laboratory with a sound degree of independence and critical judgement, and to produce, under the guidance of a supervisor, an original dissertation on a topic consistent with the objectives of the degree programme.
With reference to the Dublin Descriptors:
Knowledge and understanding. Materials Science graduates: have a solid grounding in mathematics, chemistry and physics; a sound knowledge of the fundamentals of quantum mechanics, electrochemistry, spectroscopy, the molecular properties of materials, and the properties of solids and surfaces; have knowledge in specialist fields of chemistry such as electrochemistry, molecular nanotechnology, and functional/structural and polymeric molecular materials, from the microscopic to the macroscopic, with some grounding in engineering principles; - have knowledge of established and innovative experimental techniques; - have knowledge of computational techniques, including those developed in the field of AI, for defining the structure-property relationships of molecules and materials, for studying matter in the presence of electrochemical fields and potentials, for the operation of energy storage devices, and for the characterisation of solid-state materials with a view to specific applications; - have knowledge applicable in the fields of recycling and the environment, energy, and safety. Knowledge is acquired through attendance at lectures, exercise classes and laboratory courses, supported by the individual study required by the master's degree programme. Learning outcomes are assessed primarily through written and/or oral examinations. The fields covered are those of the core chemistry, physics and materials science subjects, as well as similar learning activities.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding. Materials Science graduates are able to: -design, synthesise, characterise and model materials with predetermined chemical and physical properties; -design, synthesise, characterise and model chemical and physical systems for applications involving the interaction of matter with electrochemical potentials and fields; -investigate the static properties and dynamic processes of materials; -apply theoretical and computational methodologies to the study of materials; -process information relating to electrochemical problems and to molecular and functional materials, and apply it in the fields of energy storage, including issues of recycling, disposal, intellectual property and engineering and industrial applications; -operate equipment for experiments, including complex and innovative ones, for the characterisation, development and use of materials; -apply advanced data processing methods; -apply knowledge in practice; -plan and manage time effectively; -adapt to new situations; -analyse and synthesise complex problems; -work in a team. Beyond lectures and individual study, an intensive programme of laboratory work is central to developing these skills. The attainment of these competences is assessed through written and oral examinations, individual and group laboratory work, and — where required — written reports on laboratory activities. The fields covered are those of the core disciplines (inorganic and physical chemistry, organic chemistry and industrial chemistry), as well as similar learning activities.
Autonomy in making judgements Materials Science graduates: -are able to collect and interpret relevant scientific data derived from laboratory observation and measurement; -are able to make judgements that include reflection on important scientific and ethical issues; -are able to solve theoretical and experimental problems independently; -have the adaptability required for graduate-level employment, including in the chemical industry; -are able to investigate new professional challenges, drawing on their own knowledge, authoritative sources and new findings in the scientific literature; -are able to plan an experiment and/or a series of measurements designed to obtain specific information on molecular materials of potential applied interest; -are able to interpret independently scientific results derived from experiments and instrumental measurements carried out in the laboratory; -are able to identify independently the empirical and/or theoretical models useful for predicting the properties of molecular materials; -are able to assess the quality of their own work and to appreciate the significance of new findings reported in the scientific literature; -are able to defend their proposals in both specialist and non-specialist contexts. The acquisition of the above competences relating to autonomy in making judgements is ensured through specific learning activities that emphasise the role of the field of study in society and its evolution in response to cultural, technological and methodological changes. Some courses and the preparation for the final examination include project and seminar work, where students are expected to provide constructive feedback on each other’s work. Assessment takes the form of written essays, oral presentations and evaluation of the ability to contribute constructively in seminar settings.
Communication skills Materials Science graduates: -have interpersonal skills and the ability to engage constructively with others and to conduct scientific work collaboratively, also at international level; -have the ability to effectively communicate in English. Written and oral communication skills in English are developed above all through seminars, exercise classes and other learning activities involving the preparation of written reports and documents and their presentation, including with the aid of multimedia tools or computer presentations. These skills are acquired and assessed through examinations, the writing of the dissertation and its defence. Throughout classroom and laboratory sessions, students are encouraged to speak up publicly, so as to improve their ability to articulate questions and requests for clarification clearly and intelligibly.
Learning skills Materials Science graduates: -develop a standard of learning that allows full independence for further study, including a PhD programme; -acquire a study method with the ability to work towards objectives both in a team and independently; -are able to work autonomously and to continue their own professional development. Learning skills are developed throughout the programme as a whole, with particular regard to individual study, the preparation of individual projects and the work carried out in preparation for the final examination. Learning skills are assessed through continuous evaluation, with specific weight assigned to meeting deadlines, by requiring the presentation of independently gathered data, through tutoring in the course of project work and through assessment of the capacity for self-directed learning developed during the activity related to the final examination. Problem-solving is an integral and defining feature of the programme
