Educational objectives The course of Statistical Thermodynamics intends to provide the skills necessary for
the use of statistical thermodynamics and its applications. In particular, at the end of
the course the student will have acquired the basic knowledge of both classical and
quantum statistical mechanics, he will know the properties of the different types of
ensembles and he will be able to establish in each case study which ensemble to
apply. The student will have to demonstrate autonomy in learning, as well as critical
judgment on the assimilated concepts. The student is expected to have the ability to
frame the problem under examination in the right context, to know how to choose
the most suitable models for the study of the proposed systems, demonstrating the
ability to apply the skills acquired.
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Educational objectives General Educational Target
To complete the education and training of students in the field of physicochemical thermodynamics at a graduate level
Specific Educational Targets
A) Knowledge and understanding. This class is aimed at giving students a body of knowledge that can be summarized by four points: 1) to deepen the understanding of fundamentals of thermodynamics (that students were introduced to in the Chimica Fisica I class during the undergraduate course) with special emphasis on the second law of thermodynamics, which is presented by an approach based on the concept of entropy production as the driving force for the irreversible processes; 2) to illustrate the thermodynamic treatment of one-component or fixed-composition systems with a systematic and mathematically rigorous approach, by deriving the total differentials of all the thermodynamic functions involved in physicochemical problems; 3) to extend the thermodynamic treatment to processes and systems more complex than those addressed by students in the elementary courses: real gases, multicomponent real solutions and phase diagrams, heterogeneous chemically reactive systems, high-pressure phenomena, systems with curved interfaces, etc.; 4) to illustrate the basic aspects of the most important experimental techniques used to determine thermodynamic properties.
B) Applying knowledge and understanding. With regard to the ability in applying the above reported contents, a part of the classes is intended to enable students 1) to solve practical problems of applied thermodynamics and thermochemistry, such as to calculate heat, work, and changes of thermodynamic functions in reversible and irreversible processes, to evaluate the driving force of irreversible processes, the mixing properties in multicomponent solutions, the equilibrium phases and their compositions in reactive and non-reactive systems, to read and discuss two- and three-component phase diagrams, etc. and 2) to give students a good command of the mathematical handling of thermodynamic functions and expressions, enabling them to derive autonomously other relations useful in solving specific physicochemical problems.
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Educational objectives 1) Knowledge and understanding
The use of complex and accurate simulation models of real chemical systems, which until the fifties was only a possibility, has become a reality thanks to the impressive development of calculators and calculation systems. The course aims to introduce students to the vast field of simulation techniques starting from the ab-initio calculation.
2) Applied knowledge and understanding
The basic theoretical knowledge, starting from the principles of quantum mechanics applied to electronic systems will allow the students to:
- understand the simulation techniques used in a literature article.
- choose the most appropriate method to conduct a simulation of a chemical system.
- judge the quality and limits of a simulation.
3) Making Judgments
Approximately 12 hours of "hands on" practical exercises are foreseen in which, through the use of specific software and "templates" made available by the teacher, students can develop the skills to handle the most common calculation techniques on chemical systems real. They will also be able to appreciate the scale of practical complexity that must be addressed in order to produce reliable simulation techniques.
4) Communication skills
The exercises carried out in class together with the teacher and the related reports will allow students to develop communication skills.
5) Learning skills
This course represents an introduction to computational chemistry and in this sense provides the basic tools to access the more complex and advanced topics that typically form part of the world of frontier research in this matter.
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Educational objectives Through a broad overview of possible colloidal and nanostructured systems, the course aims to raise students’ awareness of the highly multidisciplinary nature of colloid and nanostructure science, which involves chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering, with fundamental applications in everyday life and technological development. Once this general framework is established, the course aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the fundamental principles governing the behavior of colloidal systems and nanostructures, with particular focus on the relationship between physicochemical properties, structure, and functionality of materials at the nanoscale. At the end of the course, students will be able to:
i) Understand the theoretical foundations of colloid science, including concepts of colloidal stability, intermolecular interactions (DLVO theory, van der Waals forces, electrostatic forces), and self-assembly phenomena;
ii) Describe and classify colloidal particles or nanostructures (nanoparticles, micelles, liposomes, nanorods, nanotubes, etc.) based on their morphology, chemical composition, and physical properties;
iii) Apply experimental and instrumental techniques such as those based on electromagnetic radiation scattering, rheological, spectroscopic, and microscopy methods, for the characterization of colloids and nanostructures;
iv) Analyze the stability and dynamics of colloidal systems, evaluating the influence of physicochemical parameters such as pH, ionic strength, temperature, and concentration;
v) Understand and design applications of nanostructured systems in technological fields such as pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, detergents, catalysis, and sensing;
vi) Develop a critical and interdisciplinary perspective on nanostructured systems, integrating knowledge from physical chemistry, materials science, and nanotechnology
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