Teaching plan for the course unit
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General information

 

Course unit name: Nanoenergy

Course unit code: 571424

Academic year: 2021-2022

Coordinator: Sergi Hernández Márquez

Department: Department of Electronic and Biomedical Engineering

Credits: 2,5

Single program: S

Estimated learning time

Total number of hours 62.5

 

Face-to-face and/or online activities

30

	-  Lecture	Face-to-face and online		22
	-  Laboratory session	Face-to-face		2
	-  Special practices	Face-to-face		6

Supervised project

12.5

Independent learning

20

Competences to be gained during study

 

Basic competences — Capacity to apply the acquired knowledge to problem-solving in new or relatively unknown environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to the field of study. — Capacity to integrate knowledge and tackle the complexity of formulating judgments based on incomplete or limited information, taking due consideration of the social and ethical responsibilities involved in applying knowledge and making judgments. — Capacity to communicate conclusions, judgments and the grounds on which they have been reached to specialist and non-specialist audiences in a clear and unambiguous manner.

General competences — Capacity to identify the scientific and industrial landscape in the immediate, national and international environment in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. — Capacity to work independently, manage time and projects effectively, and acquire specific knowledge in order to gain entrance to doctoral programmes in nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Specific competences — Capacity to recognize technological advances and current problems in the domain of nanotechnology as an interdisciplinary science. — Ability to perform research and development tasks in relation to new nanostructured materials and nanodevices with innovative functionalities and potential applications in biotechnology, pharmacotherapy, information processing and storage, and improved energy use. — Abilities and skills in the field of nanotechnology to establish future areas of research, development and production in companies associated with the field.

Learning objectives

Referring to knowledge — Get to know general basic energy devices.   — Acquire an understanding of the improvements in these devices through the use of nanomaterials.   — Understand the dependence of mixed conduction properties (ionic/electronic), thermoelectric properties, optical absorption and charge transport and recombination in nanostructured systems.   — Acquire an understanding of manufacturing techniques used in the integration of nanomaterials in (micro-)devices in the field of energy.   Referring to abilities, skills — Understand nanostructuring as a tool to modify fundamental properties of materials in the field of energy.   Referring to attitudes, values and norms — Assess the feasibility of nanomaterials for applications in energy devices.

 

 

Teaching blocks

 

1. Fundamentals of nanomaterials for energy applications

*  Sustainable energy cycles
*  Transformer and energy storage devices
*  Implementation of nanomaterials in (micro) energy devices

2. Nanomaterials for electricity generation

*  Fuel cells: fundamentals; Conductive and mixed ionic/electronic conductive materials; Integration of nanomaterials in micro fuel cells
*  Thermoelectric generators: fundamentals, thermoelectric properties of nanostructured materials; Phonon scattering at the nanoscale; Integration of nanomaterials in micro generators
*  Solar cells: fundamentals; Material and nanostructured optical absorption; Thin film solar cells; Micro and nanocrystalline silicon; CIS/CIGS and advanced photovoltaic approaches

3. Nanomaterials for energy storage

*  Batteries: Li-ion batteries; Ionic liquids; Redox flow batteries; Decoupling of capacity and power; Improved catalytic nanostructured materials
*  Artificial photosynthesis: photocatalysis and photolysis of water; Photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical cells; Nanostructured materials for hydrogen production by artificial photosynthesis
*  Conversion of gas power: electrolysis of water; Low and high temperature electrolysis cells; Co-electrolysis of water and carbon dioxide; Sabatier reaction; Interconnection of the power and gas grids

 

 

Teaching methods and general organization

 

• Lectures • Discussion sessions • Experimental sessions

 

 

Official assessment of learning outcomes

 

Continuous assessment The final grade is calculated as follows: • Written exam (>60%) • Homework (<30%) • Participation in class (10%) Students must obtain 5 or higher out of 10 in the written exam to pass the course. Repeat assessment Students are entitled to repeat assessment provided that they have completed all mandatory activities in the subject.   Examination-based assessment Students who wish to opt for single assessment must inform the coordinator of the subject and officially notify the coordinator of the master’s degree within the established deadlines. Mandatory activities must also be completed to be entitled to take the final exam. Repeat assessment Students who follow this procedure are also entitled to repeat assessment provided that they have completed all mandatory activities of the course.