Program Overview

Program Overview

The Materials Characterization Laboratory II Module is a course offered by the University of Genoa, aimed at providing students with an overview of physico-chemical investigation techniques for material characterization.

Aims and Learning Outcomes

The class aims to provide students with a solid understanding of instrumental physico-chemical analysis methods, including the theoretical principles underlying the different techniques and their strengths and limitations with respect to various types of materials. By the end of the course, students will have developed practical skills in data processing and interpretation, as well as the ability to critically analyze the limitations and potential of the investigative techniques in relation to the materials studied.

Teaching Methods

The class consists of in-person lessons (16 hours) and laboratory sessions (26 hours), divided among the teachers.

Syllabus/Content

The course covers various investigative techniques, including:

• Crystalline materials: Fundamentals of crystallography, analysis by powder X-ray diffraction (XRPD), data analysis, and interpretation.
• Magnetic materials: Magnetic measurements and M飉sbauer spectroscopy.
• Elemental analysis through X-ray fluorescence (XRF).
• Luminescent materials: UV-Vis analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy, and color analysis.

Recommended Reading/Bibliography

The reference text for the course is "Engineering Materials Science. Properties, Uses, Degradation, Remediation" by H. McArthur and D. Spalding, published by Woodhead Publishing in 2004. Lecture notes will be available through Aulaweb.

Teachers and Exam Board

The course is taught by:

• Marcella Pani
• Federico Locardi
• Pierfrancesco Maltoni

The exam board consists of:

• Maria Caterina Giordano (President)
• Federico Locardi (President)
• Pierfrancesco Maltoni (President)
• Marcella Pani (President)
• Luca Vattuone (President)

Lessons

The course starts on a date to be announced, and the class schedule is available through the Portale EasyAcademy.

Exams

The examination consists of the submission of a personal laboratory notebook and group reports, plus an oral examination lasting at least 30 minutes in the presence of at least two faculty members from the relevant scientific-disciplinary field.

Exam Description

The personal laboratory notebook must include a detailed account of all experimental and computational activities carried out in the laboratory. Group reports should summarize the experiences carried out by the group and contain a general introduction, a description of the procedure used, and comments on the results.

Assessment Methods

The assessment consists of a discussion of the laboratory notebook and reports, and an oral examination, during which questions will be asked on topics covered in the lectures. The evaluation of the achievement of the learning objectives will aim to verify the students' acquisition of theoretical knowledge, their ability to navigate the subject matter logically, and their ability to critically analyze the limitations and potential of the investigative techniques.

Exam Schedule

The exam schedule is as follows:

• 30/01/2026, 10:00, Genoa
• 13/02/2026, 10:00, Genoa
• 18/06/2026, 10:00, Genoa
• 06/07/2026, 10:00, Genoa
• 21/07/2026, 10:00, Genoa
• 03/09/2026, 10:00, Genoa
• 18/09/2026, 10:00, Genoa

Further Information

Students with a valid certification of physical or learning disabilities who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances related to lectures, coursework, or exams should follow the instructions available at the university's disability support services.