- University of Waterloo credit: 0.5
- European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credit: 6.0
- Course requires CHEM 356 or Introductory Quantum Physics
The objective of this course is to introduce students to the electronic structure origins of the functional properties of various technologically relevant materials, including semiconductors, metals, and dielectrics. The electronic structures will be examined from both molecular and solid-state aspects, and the course will attempt to bridge the “gap” between chemical (molecular) and physical (condensed matter) approaches. The course will cover fundamentals of the band structure formation in crystalline materials, relationship between reciprocal and real space, and light-matter interactions. The optical, electrical, magnetic, and mechanical properties of materials resulting from their electronic structure will be also discussed. We will use a combination of classical and quantum electronic theories to describe the materials' properties. The course will also introduce selected nanoscale materials, and contrast them to the corresponding bulk materials.
Suggested readings
- Rolf E. Hummel: Electronic Properties of Materials, 4rd edition, Springer
- Charles Kittel: Introduction to Solid State Physics, Wiley & Sons
- Anthony Mark Fox: Optical Properties of Solids, Oxford University Press
- Nicola Spaldin: Magnetic Materials: Fundamentals and Device Applications, Cambridge University Press
Please remember that the Undergraduate Calendar is always the official source for all course descriptions.