Materials Synthesis II

Abstract

The course teaches the fundamentals and concepts of coordination chemistry and introduces the various preparative methods for ceramic powders. Crystal field and molecular orbital theory, the concept of hard and soft acids and bases, and inorganic structural chemistry form further focal points. Cross-topic project works completes the course.

Objective

Students learn the basics of complex chemistry, i.e. they understand how coordination compounds are structured, how the d-electron number of the metal is related to the structure of the complexes, how coordination compounds are named and what isomerism means. They can apply the HASB concept and understand the basics of crystal field and MO theory. As a further focus, students can propose synthesis methods for inorganic powders and they can explain the advantages and disadvantages of individual methods. They know the theoretical basis for nucleation and for the growth of inorganic particles and they know how to control these processes.

Content

The lecture starts with the introduction of basic models for the classification of compounds and then moves on to coordination compounds. The HSAB concept is explained, followed by a discussion of the various aspects of coordination chemistry. Fundamentals of crystal field theory and MO theory conclude this first part. In the second part, various synthesis methods for inorganic powders are presented. Wet chemical as well as gas phase and solid state methods are considered. Nucleation and growth models form the theoretical basis for the synthesis methods. A short excursion into structural chemistry accompanies this block. In the third and last part, the first two parts of the lecture will be combined in a project work.

Resources