Key facts

Overview

The Fundamental Characterisation for Nanotechnology course provides a justification for materials characterisation, and a framework for considering strategic and tactical issues. It also gives an overview of the most common techniques and methodologies available to determine the nature and composition of nanoparticles (both organic and inorganic), thin films and nano-structures.

The course presents generic descriptions of techniques and methodologies, together with representative case studies. In addition to the course material and online tutorials, the course incorporates interactive team-projects, whereby iterative 'proposals' are presented to experts, who then provide feedback and guidance for further development. The course includes a residential weekend in Oxford where students have an opportunity to see the latest characterisation methods at the University of Oxford's Begbroke Science Park.

The Fundamental Characterisation for Nanotechnology online course can be taken alone, with or without credit, or as part of the Postgraduate Certificate in Nanotechnology.

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Description

Materials characterisation is the use of external techniques to probe into the internal structure and properties of a material or object. This course will be of interest to you if you are faced with questions such as:

• What are the attributes of a given material?
• Are the attributes of the material those intended, were promised, or were led to expect?
• Is our chosen materials processing route, or device fabrication route, working as intended, or as it did yesterday?

In answering these questions, the course takes a trouble-shooting approach to nanoparticle characterisation, beginning with the material or object:

1. identifying the information that is required;
2. formulating an approach to obtaining that information;
3. making a rational choice of technique(s) and methodology(ies);
4. giving due regard to efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

The course also introduces the key methods and approaches used in materials characterisation for nanotechnology and offers guidance as to when and how each technique is best used. Overall the course has been designed so that students can study it in the way that works for them. However you want to study, we are aware that this is easiest to do if you are given some idea of the assumptions that have been made about how to get the most out of the module; these are:

• You should study between 10 and 15 hours each week, including all your reading, writing and thinking about the course.
• Each unit should take approximately a week to study. The units will make the most sense if studied in the order in which they are presented but can be studied in any order.
• There are a series of review questions designed to let you know whether you have understood a unit, whilst other activities make you draw your learning together.
• You should work on the module level activities in parallel with studying the main materials.

A small sample of the Fundamental Characterisation for Nanotechnology course is available through our virtual learning environment.

Programme details

The Fundamental Characterisation for Nanotechnology course begins in April and runs for 10 weeks. The course is divided into 10 units, each of which is designed to take approximately 1 week to study:

• An introduction to what is meant by materials characterisation
• The essential elements of the physical basis for X-ray and electron diffraction
• Imaging, optical and electron-optical microscopies - imaging at the macro-scale to the nano-scale
• Micro and nano-analytical techniques
• Scanning probe techniques - physical principles and generic methodologies
• Spectroscopies - techniques, with the emphasis on surface and film analysis
• Physical chemical techniques
• Tactical and practical aspects of materials characterisation
• A review of problems and further reading
• An overview of strategic issues – synthesis and summary

Characterisation Weekend

At the end of the taught part of the course, students attend a weekend in Oxford at the University of Oxford's Begbroke Science Park in association with BegbrokeNano, a well-established focus of characterisation expertise, and one of the United Kingdom's DTI Micro Nano Technology (MNT) Centres of Excellence.

During the weekend students are given information on the latest techniques for nanoparticle characterisation and demonstrated some of the latest pieces of equipment from manufacturers. Explanations of the principles behind the techniques and demonstrations of the equipment allow students to gain an understanding of how best to characterise nano-materials.

Over the two days, the presentations, discussions and demonstrations focus on characterisation and problem-solving in surface and interface science and technology as well as characterisation of nano-particles and nano-structures. In particular, the following groups of techniques are considered:

• Surface specific electron spectroscopic (XPS) and spectrometric (SIMS) techniques
• Electron-optical analytical and imaging (EPMA/WDS, SEM/EDS, TEM/EDS, HRTEM) techniques
• Photon spectroscopic (IR and Raman probes) and thin-film profilometry techniques
• Scanning probe (AFM in various operational modes) and stylus (Dektak) techniques
• Light scattering for particle characterization (particle analysis, dynamic light scattering, centrifugal sedimentation, laser diffraction)

Staff

Dr Christiane Norenberg

Role: Director

Christiane is the Nanotechnology HEIF Manager at the University of Oxford's Begbroke Science Park. She received her DPhil in Materials Science...more from the University of Oxford in 1998 and continued with postdoctoral research. In 2001, Christiane was awarded the Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship for her work on the growth and characterisation of nanostructures on semiconductor surfaces. After a period as a lecturer at the Multidisciplinary Nanotechnology Centre at Swansea University, Christiane returned to Oxford in 2007 to take up her present post.

Her interests and expertise are in the areas of surface science, growth and characterisation of nanostructures on surfaces, and nanotechnology in general. Christiane also teaches nanoscience and materials science at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

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Course aims

The principal objectives of the course are to:

• Provide an overview of methods and techniques available for characterising materials relevant to nano-scale technologies.
• Develop a framework for effective and reliable use of resources that are available for characterisation of objects whose properties depend on meso- and nano-scale structure.
• Provide the basic tools for formulating a plan of attack for obtaining relevant, reliable and cost-effective information.
• Acquire the background to survey the literature and to hold informed discussions with relevant experts.

Certification

Short course participants who do not wish to undertake the assessed work required for academic credit but who do satisfy the course participation requirements will receive a certificate of completion. The pdf sample above is an illustration only, and the wording will reflect the course and dates of study.

Those successfully completing the couse for credit can apply to receive a CATS point transcript.

Accommodation

Accommodation for the residential weekend is available at the Rewley House Residential Centre, within the Department for Continuing Education, in central Oxford. The comfortable, en-suite, study-bedrooms are rated 4-star, and come with free high-speed internet access and TV. Guests can take advantage of the excellent dining facilities and common room bar, where they may relax and network with others on the programme.

Payment

The course fee includes online tuition and course materials. For the Characterisation Weekend, refreshments and lunch will be provided on both days of the weekend, as well as transportation from Oxford city centre to the course venue.

Scholarships

Details of funding opportunities, including grants, bursaries, loans, scholarships and benefit information are available on our financial assistance page.

Fee options

Programme Fee

Short course fee: £2365.00

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Programmes including this module

This module can be studied as part of these programmes:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Nanotechnology
• Short courses in Nanotechnology