Università Roma Tre

Theory (3 CFU = 24h)

Nanomaterials: definition and peculiarities. Types of nanomaterials (organic, inorganic, organic-inorganic hybrids). Importance of the surface in nanomaterials. Phenomena influenced by the surface. Thermodynamic aspects of nanometric phases. Hierarchical nanostructures. 1D and 2D nanomaterials. Notes on the theory of bands. Semiconductor Nanomaterials and Quantum Dots. Magnetic, electronic and spectroscopic properties. Luminescent Carbon Dots. Noble metal nanoparticles and their plasmonic properties. Oxide-based nanomaterials for photocatalysis. Magnetic nanoparticles. Organic-inorganic nanocomposites. Multifunctional nanostructures that can be activated by external stimuli for diagnostics, drug-delivery and curative treatments in nanomedicine. Synthesis of nanoparticles in solution with "green chemistry" methods (co-precipitation, sol-gel, solvothermal). Microwave-assisted synthesis. Strategies to obtain different porosities, sizes and morphologies (nanorods, core @ shell) of nanoparticles. Surface functionalization of inorganic nanoparticles. Physico-chemical analysis of nanostructures (structural, morphological, colloidal). Spectroscopic investigations in the optical field (UV-vis, visible and infrared). Dynamic light scattering.

Laboratory (32-36 h)

1) Bottom up approach: synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (Au, Ag) in aqueous solution.
2) Top down approach: preparation of polymer nanoparticles
3) Functionalization
4) Spectroscopic characterization of the nanoparticles prepared in the optical field: UV-vis and and FTIR.
5) Investigation of colloidal properties.

S. M. Lindsay; Introduction to Nanoscience; Oxford
D. Vollath; Nanoparticles-nanocomposites-nanomaterials. An Introduction fo Beginners
Material will also be provided by the teacher