Prerequisites: Electromagnetism, Quantum Physics (particle in a box, quantum confinement), Solid State Physics (phononic and electronic structures of solids, thermal and optical properties).

Target skills and knowledge:
Learning objectives:

• Understanding the basic concepts describing the chemical and physical properties of nanostructured materials and their applications in nanotechnology
• Description of some techniques for the synthesis and characterization of confined nanostructures (nanoclusters) with nanotech application in photonics, plasmonics and magnetism.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods: Standard lectures and some practical lab activities on some of the proposed topics (synthesis of Au nanoparticles, optical and simulation of their linear optical properties, structural and morphological characterization by X-ray diffraction and scannin electron microscopy).

Textbooks: Slides and videos in the moodle page.

Optional Supplementary Readings:

• S. Maier, Plasmonics, fundamentals and applications, Springer (2007)
• P. Prasad, Nanophotonics, Wiley-Interscience (2004)
• C. Bohren and D. Huffmann, Absorption and scattering of light by small particles, Wiley-Interscience (2004)
• S. Gaponenko, Introductio to Nanophotonics, Cambridge Univ. Press (2010)
• D. Griffiths, Introduction to Electrodynamics (5th Ed.), Cambridge Univ. Press (2023)

Lessons: start date Feb. 27, 2024

Reception hours: upon request (by email or by phone)

• Classification, characteristics, and general properties of nanostructured materials: quantum confinement and electronic properties
• Thermodynamics of nanostructured Systems: Thermodynamic Size Effect
• References to key Physical Synthesis Methods
• The ion implantation for nanocluster-based nanocomposite synthesis
• Nucleation and growth of nanoclusters
• Properties and Applications of Nanostructured Materials:
• linear and nonlinear optical properties
• quantum confinement
• magnetic properties
• Nanostructures Characterization Techniques:
• Transmission (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
• Fundamental equations for describing electron and photon dynamics
• Confinement of electrons and photons in nanostructured systems:
• Photon confinement in photon crystals
• Electron confinement in metal nanoparticles
• Electron confinement in quantum dots
• Metamaterials
• Negative Refractive Index Materials

• Synthesis of Au spherical nanoparticles
• Measurement of their extinction cross-section
• Simulation of the extinction cross-secton
• Structural characterization by X-ray Diffraction (XRD)
• Morphological and compositional characterization by scanning electron microscopy

Detailed instructions will be given in the Moodle page of the course

Examination methods: The exam is written (duration 2 hrs) with an open question and an exercise with numerical applications of the learned topics.

Assessment criteria:Students achievements will be evaluated by assessing the student's understanding of the proposed topics and the student's ability to establish links between different topics.
The written report on the practical laboratories activities will be also evaluated.

Please use UNIWEB for book your exam

Results: the exams results will be published in UNIWEB.