Skip to main content

Advanced and Applied Analytical Techniques

Overview

  • Credit value: 30 credits at Level 7
  • Convenor: Dr Marianne Odlyha
  • Assessment: an oral presentation (15%), poster presentation with Q&A (15%) and six reports (two worth 15% each and four worth 10% each)

Module description

In this module we introduce various specialised situations and techniques (e.g. clinical, environmental and materials science) in which you will have to provide analytical solutions and illustrate the solution of complex analytical problems using an integrated approach.

The module encompasses analysis of materials from bulk to nanoscale, including surface analysis methods. Materials analysis will focus on nanomaterials and analysis of environmental samples and will cover both the underlying chemical principles and techniques for monitoring the indoor and outdoor environment.

Indicative syllabus

  • Nanoparticle synthesis and characterisation, including laboratory exercises and transmission electron microscope (TEM) demonstration
  • Principles of atomic force microscopy and processing of AFM images
  • Principles of nanomechanical measurements, and analysis of data
  • Thermal analysis techniques including DSC, TGA, DMA, DETA - supported by laboratory demonstrations and use of thermal analysis software; includes thermal analysis applications in lifetime prediction of materials
  • Introduction to atmospheric chemistry and measurement methods used to analyse outdoor air samples
  • Introduction to indoor air chemistry and prediction of indoor to outdoor ratios of inorganic pollutant gases
  • Monitoring VOCs in indoor air including laboratory exercise setting up passive diffusive samplers and analysis
  • Natural water chemistry and analysis methods, including laboratory exercise
  • FTIR and Raman spectroscopic analysis of environmentally relevant samples, including data processing
  • SEM/EDX imaging, surface analysis (XPS) in particular with relation to monitoring effect of environmental damage to materials

Learning objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • explain the underlying principles, describe the advantages, disadvantages and limitations, and identify measurement scenarios where their use is appropriate, for a range of current advanced analytical techniques used for measurements from macro to nanoscale
  • outline the different methods employed for the analysis of nanomaterials, identify their utility and evaluate limitations
  • synthesise and characterise nanoparticles using a variety of different methods
  • explain the principles of nanomechanical analysis and interpret nanomechanical data
  • evaluate key thermal analysis methods explaining their utility in measurement scenarios
  • suggest and use suitable analysis methods for the analysis of a range of different, complex, sample types, including environmental samples, and correctly analyse and interpret the data obtained.