MENA5030 – Advanced Topics in Modern Materials- and Nanochemistry

Modern technological and societal challenges related to energy, sustainability, and advanced technology increasingly rely on the development of materials with precisely tailored properties.

MENA5030 - Advanced Topics in Materials- and Nanochemistry explores advanced concepts in modern materials and nanochemistry with a focus on inorganic and functional materials. The course highlights how dimensionality, structure, defects, interfaces, metastability, and collective phenomena shape material properties and functionality at the nanoscale. The teaching is research-oriented and discussion-based, and the course prepares students for independent work in materials- and nanochemistry.

After finishing this course, you are able to:

• analyse and relate how dimensionality, structure, defects, interfaces, and collective phenomena govern the properties and functionality of complex inorganic materials at the nano- and mesoscale.
• explain metastability and non-equilibrium phenomena as fundamental principles underlying the synthesis, existence, and performance of modern functional materials.
• critically read, interpret, and discuss advanced scientific literature in materials and nanochemistry, including identifying assumptions, simplifications, and limitations of established models.
• integrate knowledge across different subfields, including structure, chemical composition, dynamics, charge transport, and collective effects, to explain structure-property-function relationships in real material systems.
• articulate advanced scientific reasoning orally, using precise terminology and coherent argumentation appropriate for master-level scientific discussion.
• evaluate how fundamental chemical insights can be translated into functional materials, including considerations related to stability, degradation, scalability, and sustainability.

Master students admitted at UiO must apply for courses in Studentweb. Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.

Nordic citizens and applicants residing in the Nordic countries may apply to take this course as a single course student.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.

PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through Studentweb.

If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.

PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must apply for a position as a visiting student within a given deadline.

The teaching extends over a full semester and consists of lectures, student-driven colloquia, and paper discussion seminars. The teaching formats are designed to support advanced conceptual understanding, critical discussion of the scientific literature, and oral scientific reasoning.

• Lectures (28 hours; 14 × 2 hours):The lectures provide conceptual framing of advanced topics in materials- and nanochemistry. Emphasis is placed on physical and chemical intuition, integration of concepts across topics, and discussion of structure-property-function relationships. Formal derivations and technical details are kept to a minimum.
• Student-driven colloquia (28 hours; 14 × 2 hours):The colloquia are based on student presentations and guided discussions of key concepts related to the course topics. Students actively articulate scientific reasoning, explain selected concepts or figures, and engage in structured peer discussion. The colloquia provide systematic training in oral scientific communication at master level.
• Paper discussion seminars (28 hours; 14 × 2 hours):The paper discussion seminars focus on critical reading and discussion of selected review articles and research papers from the current scientific literature. Students participate actively in leading and moderating discussions, with emphasis on identifying assumptions, limitations, and conceptual insights.

There are mandatory student contributions in the form of oral presentations and/or moderated discussions. In addition, students are required to participate in at least two thirds (2/3) of the colloquia and paper discussion seminars. Mandatory activities and attendance requirements must be completed and approved in order to be eligible to take the final exam.

Attendance at the first teaching activity is mandatory. Students who do not attend and have not reported valid absence to the department prior to the start of the course may lose their place.

Completed and approved mandatory activities are valid for four semesters beyond the semester in which they were approved. After this period, you must get them approved again to be able to sit for the final examination.

• Final oral exam which counts 100 % towards the final grade.

Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.

Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass the original examination.