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Labs



Labs

Special software is required to use some of the files in this section: .rm.

This page summarizes the structure and goals of the class labs, and presents the background notes for most experiments.



Lab Structure and Goals


The class of typically 50 students is divided into six lab groups. During each lab week, six separate 4-hour experiments run simultaneously, grouped into three topical themes. Each lab group conducts 1 of the 2 experiments grouped under each theme (α, β, γ). Hence, each lab group will perform 3 experiments per lab week, totaling to 12 experimental sessions of 4-hours each over the course of the semester.

Each lab experiment is designed to give students first-hand experience with the concepts developed in the lecture subject 3.012. In addition, students gain familiarity with common tools for materials characterization, including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning probe microscopy (AFM/STM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV/Vis, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS).

To prepare for specific labs, students are provided with background notes tailored to the experiment to be conducted. The notes, linked in the table below, provide background information and suggest supplementary readings, but do not generally detail the specific experiments to be conducted, or the procedures involved.

Students are responsible for recording procedure, data, data analysis in their laboratory notebooks, and build their formal laboratory reports based on these recordings.

Grading Approach for Lab Notebooks (PDF)


THEMESTOPICSEXPERIMENTSVIDEOS AND PHOTOSINSTRUCTORS
Lab Week 1
α Amorphous Polymersα1 Polymer StructuresXRD and DSC Studies of Acrylates Polymers (PDF)Dr. Meri Treska
α2 Polymer ConformationDynamic Light Scattering Study of Polymer Chain Dimensions (PDF)Prof. Francesco Stellacci
β Glass Materialsβ1 Structure of Borate Glasses (Part 1)Tg and Raman Spectra of Borate Glasses (notes unavailable)Photos: Melting and Drawing Fibers of Borate GlassProf. Linn Hobbs & Mr. Dilan A. Seneviratne
β2 Structure of Borate Glasses (Part 2)XRD, RDF and Speed of Sound in Borate Glasses (notes unavailable)Prof. Linn Hobbs & Mr. Benjamin Hardy Wunsch
γ Quantifying Thermodynamic Properties of Materialsγ1 Thermal Energy StorageDSC Study of Lauric/Stereatic Acid Mixtures as Phase Change Materials (PDF)Video: (RM - 56K) (RM ‑ 220K)Dr. Geetha P. Berera
γ2 Magnetic WorkWork Derived from Magnetic Hysteresis Curves (PDF)Prof. Silvija Gradecak
Lab Week 2
α Quantifying Thermodynamic Propertiesα1 Liquid CrystalSwitching Energy for a Liquid Crystal Display (PDF)Prof. Silvija Gradecak
α2 Mechanical WorkAFM/DSC Study of Protein Denaturation (PDF)Mr. Benjamin Hardy Wunsch
β Crystalline Structuresβ1 Radius Ratios in Ionic CrystalsXRD Study of Piezo- and Ferroelectric Oxide Structures (PDF)Prof. Francesco Stellacci
β2 Crystal PolymorphsXRD Study of Cubictetragonal Transition in Perovskites (PDF)Dr. Geetha P. Berera
γ Diffraction Principlesγ1 Derivative Structures

XRD of Crystals with Covalent, Ionic and Metallic Bonds (PDF)

Background Notes on Diffraction of Materials (PDF)

Dr. Meri Treska
γ2 Laser Diffraction

Diffraction of Crystalline and Amorphous Arrangements of Dots (PDF)

Background Notes on Diffraction of Materials (PDF)

Video: (RM - 56K) (RM ‑ 220K)Prof. Linn Hobbs
Lab Week 3
α Materials as "Particle in a Box" Modelsα1 F-centersX-Ray Generation and Optical Studies of Alkali Halide F-centers (PDF)Mr. Benjamin Hardy Wunsch
α2 Quantum DotsSynthesis and Optical Study of CdSe Quantum Dots (PDF)Video: (RM - 56K) (RM ‑ 220K)Prof. Francesco Stellacci
β Visualizing Gibbs Free Energyβ1 BatteriesOCV of Pb-Acid Batteries (PDF)Dr. Geetha P. Berera
β2 CorrosionAnodic Corrosion and EMF Series (PDF)Prof. Linn Hobbs
γ Phase Transitionsγ1 Phase SeparationCloud Point Study of Polystyrene/Methyl Cyclohexane (PDF)Dr. Meri Treska
γ2 Ferromagnetic TransitionsVSM study of Curie Temperatures (PDF)Prof. Silvija Gradecak
Lab Week 4
α Bonds and Wavefunctionsα1 Electron WavefunctionsVisualizing Electron Wavefunctions in Au, Graphite and SAMs (PDF)Prof. Silvija Gradecak
α2 DelocalizationOptical Characterization of Band Gap in Benzene, Anthracene, Pantacene, C60 (PDF)Mr. Benjamin Hardy Wunsch
β Vibration in Materialsβ1 Phonon CurvesFTIR from Oligomers to Polymers; Ball and String Model (PDF)Prof. Francesco Stellacci
β2 Mechanical Strength and VibrationsYoung Modulus and Speed of Sound in Borate Glasses (PDF)Video: (RM - 56K) (RM ‑ 220K)Prof. Linn Hobbs
γ Phase Diagramsγ1 EutecticsEutectic Determination of an Organic Transistor Material (PDF)Dr. Geetha P. Berera
γ2 Order Disorder TransitionsX-ray Diffraction Study of Ordering in CoPt (PDF)Dr. Meri Treska

 








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