• To provide an introduction to diffraction methods for the characterisation of solid state materials.
• To introduce the students to the concepts and applications of symmetry in the solid state.
• To provide an introduction to the structures of solid state materials and their description and phase transitions.
• To provide a perspective on the ranges of properties displayed by solids, particularly cooperative magnetism, ferroelectricity, and multiferroicity and their relationships to structure and symmetry.
• To introduce the rich chemistry of insertion materials and highlight their relevance in energy applications.
• To demonstrate the importance of defect chemistry with particular relevance to energy materials.
• To provide a basic understanding of superconductivity and the chemistry of superconducting materials.
This will provide the student with a deep and high level understanding of the properties of solids, and currently active areas of research, to enable the student to pursue their interests to a deeper level independently (for example to PhD level).

(LO1) Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the application of diffraction methods to the characterisation of key material types in the solid state.

(LO2) Students will become familiar with a range of properties displayed by solids, particularly cooperative magnetism, ferroelectricity and multiferroicity, and how these relate to structure and symmetry.

(LO3) Student will be able to demonstrate a grasp of the importance of intercalation/insertion chemistry in energy storage applications (batteries).

(LO4) Students will develop the ability to relate fundamental concepts of diffraction, characterisation etc. in solid state chemistry to practical applications in energy storage and related materials.

(S1) Critical thinking (e.g. compare and contrast different energy storage devices and their advantageous and disadvantageous properties, scientific challenges etc.)

(S2) Self-study via reading and understanding suggested review articles

15 online lecture equivalents, supported by 2 3-hour workshops, 1 1-hour tutorial, and a 1 hour-Peerwise exercise.

Battery and Electrode Materials (LJH, 7 lectures + 1 Tutorial)
• Introduction to insertion chemistry – chemical and electrochemical methods of synthesis
• Intercalation/Insertion chemistry in batteries (Li-ion, Na-ion, ternary intercalation compounds)
• The proton as the guest species – NiMH hydride batteries, H2 storage
• Alloy chemistry in battery electrochemistry and phase diagrams (applied thermodynamics)
• Ternary electrodes under equilibrium or near-equilibrium conditions
• Superconductivity
• Defect chemistry – ion conduction (solid state electrolytes)

Solid State Chemistry (JBC, 8 Lectures + 2 Workshops)
Part I: Fundamentals of solids, symmetry and reciprocal space.
• Point Symmetry Operations, Crystal Systems and Bravis Lattices
• Crystallographic Point Groups and Development of Space Groups
• Space Group Applications (and N ow Atoms)
• Reciprocal Space and the fundamentals of diffraction
• Practical diffraction (How does one find out what one has made?)
Part II: Understanding cooperative properties and phase transitions: the application of symmetry.
• Ferroelectrics and phase transitions
• Cooperative magnetism and multiferroicics (a symmetry based approach)
Workshops:
• Introduction and walkthrough of some crytallographically useful software and web resources
• My first structure solution