Solid and Surface Chemistry 0600-S2-EN-SSC

Lectures: Solids – phase transitions, types of phase, properties. Crystals – definitions, spatial and crystal lattices. Miller indices, unit cells and systems for classifying crystals. Aspects of symmetry and parameters characterise the spatial lattice of crystals. Mechanical properties of solids: hardness, elasticity, elongation. Hardness scales. Allotropy and anisomerism. Disruptions and defects in the crystal lattice. Metals – types of crystal structure, band theory of conductivity. Band model of solids – division into conductors, semiconductors and insulators. The chemical “systematics” of semiconductors. Intrinsic and doped semiconductors. Application of semiconductors. Superconductors, liquid crystals, glasses. Colloids and nanomaterials. Chemical structure of carbon materials – chemical carbon-carbon bonds for various form of atoms orbital hybridization. Fundamental problems associated with the structure of carbon - polymorphic (amorphic) phases and allotropy. Structural models of various form of carbon materials: graphite, active carbon, carbon blacks, carbon fibers, glassy carbon. Methods of their preparation, activation and modification. Correlation between the structure and texture of carbon material and its physicochemical and electrochemical properties. Low-dimension (1D and 2-D) carbon materials. Surface physicochemical properties: absorption, adsorption, catalysis. Applicable properties of carbon materials: sorption ability toward gas and water impurities, filters in water conditioning, industrial and communal sewage purification, atmospheric air protection. Chemical structure of the carbon materials surface and methods of its modification – creation and characterization of the surface functionalities, heteroatoms and active centers.
Laboratory: The measurement of wettability using the goniometric methods. The student learns the importance of the phenomenon of wettability and physicochemistry of surfaces in scientific and industrial applications. Learns the correct understanding of the concepts associated with it. The student gets acquainted with the protocol for the correct measurement of the static contact angle, the slip and sliding angle, the contact angle hysteresis and the surface energy of various surfaces. The classes include the preparation of samples, methods of proper cleaning of samples before the measurement of wettability, and their proper conditioning. The student becomes familiar with the factors influencing the measurement and methods of their control. He learns to correctly analyze and interpret the results, make a reliable analysis of measurement errors. Learns basic mathematical representations, an understanding of mathematical terms and concepts related to wettability issues. Moreover, he learns about alternative measurement methods, such as: immersion heat measurement, Wilhelmy plate method, tilting plate method and tilted plate method, Du Noüy ring method, etc. During the laboratories, basic practical informations on carbon nanomaterials, like their preparation, methods of characterization (such as the measurement of the zeta-potential of suspensions in various solvents) are signaled.
Synthesis of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in the form of layers deposited on a silicon, aluminum and copper substrate, according to the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Ferrocene in solid form will be used as catalyst precursor. The sublimating ferrocene will form a thin layer of carbon and iron on the surface of the substrates. The carbon source for the growth of nanotubes will be acetylene. The generated MWCNTs layers will be characterization by instrumental methods: SEM, SEM-EDX, AFM, Raman, IR.