Nanomaterials for Sustainability

Course goals

At the end of the course the student will:

• Have a basic understanding of how the physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials change as a function of the particle size
• Have a basic understanding of the thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of phase transitions, nucleation and growth of nanoparticles, and colloidal stability
• Have a basic understanding of the fundamentals of catalysis and electrochemical reactions on/at/in nanomaterials
• Understand the implications of the fundamental knowledge addressed in the course for (potential) sustainability-related applications of nanomaterials and be able to critically evaluate scientific literature on sustainability applications of nanomaterials

Content

The investigation of nanomaterials has become one of the most dynamic and interdisciplinary fields
in contemporary science, owing to their potential to lead to a dazzling multitude of applications,
many of which crucial for the transition to a sustainable society (e.g., catalysis, CO2 circularity,
electrocatalysis, solar energy conversion, energy storage, energy-efficient photonic and
(opto)electronic devices, biomedical imaging and sensing). World leading research in this field is
done by the research groups affiliated with the Nanomaterials Science master program.
This course will provide a basic understanding of the fundamentals behind the research carried out
by these groups and of the implications of this knowledge for sustainability-related applications. The
course is also meant to provide the students with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions
regarding their MSc research projects and electives. The course thus also plays introductory,
orientational, and community-forming roles.

Contact hours: 28 h of lectures, 28 h of tutorials.

Intake Survey
An intake survey will be given to the students prior to the start of the course. This survey is
intended to collect information about their previous education and background knowledge, and
expectations about this course. This information will be valuable to the lecturers to assess whether
adjustments in the course are needed to tailor it to the background and expectations of the
participants.
The intake survey will be carried out through a quiz on Brightspace (under “Activities/ Quizzes”).
The quiz can be answered until Friday September 5, 2025, 6 p.m.
Participation in the intake survey will entitle the student to one bonus point in the final exam,
provided their poster assignment (see below for details) is assessed positively (i.e., they get a
“pass”).

Assignment
The goal of this assignment is to dive into a chosen research topic of Nanomaterials Science, and
learn to critically reflect on its sustainability aspects. This assignment will allow you to apply the
knowledge acquired in the course, combining scientific technical knowledge on Nanomaterials with
knowledge on sustainability aspects and its assessment.