- Docente: Massimo Marcaccio
- Credits: 6
- SSD: CHIM/02
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Chemistry and Materials Chemistry (cod. 8006)
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student knows the physical-chemical
principles at the basis of the functioning of important devices
used for the removal of atmospheric pollutants and to obtain energy
from renewable sources, such as car catalytic exhausts, fuel cells,
photovoltaics panels. The student knows which specific
characteristics materials used in such devices must have in order
to improve their performance.
Course contents
Principles of thermodynamics and kinetics.
Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts. Sabatier's principle and
volcano plots. Adsorption: physi and chemisorption. Associative and
dissociative adsorption. Newns-Anderson model. Desorption kinetics.
Mechanisms of heterogeneous catalysis: Langmuir-Hinshelwood model.
Mechanism of carbon monoxide oxidation. Oscillations and
Lotka-Volterra model. The catalytic car exhaust.
Principles of electrode kinetics; electrocatalytic surfaces.
Butler-Volmer kinetic model and electrocatalytic reduction of
water.
Schemes of solar energy conversion: photovoltaic systems,
photoelectrochemical cells (Gratzel), photo/electrochemical water
splitting.
Catalysts for the water splitting process.
Readings/Bibliography
Lecture slides will be distributed by the teacher.
I. Chorkendorff, Concepts of Modern Catalysis and Kinetics 2003
Wiley-VCH Weinheim
P. Atkins Chimica Fisica 2012 Zanichelli Bologna
Teaching methods
The course is taught in class where the theoretical and
experimental aspects of the various subjects are presented and
discussed. The students will have the chance to verify some of the
concepts discussed in class through simple experiments. The visit
to research labs and seminars from experts is planned.
Assessment methods
Oral examination, with 3 questions. The candidate presents a subject of his/her own choice and at the end of his/her presentation (normally at the blackboard) another 2 questions are asked about other subjects in the program that are somehow related with the chosen one.
The final grade is the results of the evaluation of the overall performance of the candidate.Teaching tools
Blackboard, PC, .ppt slides
Office hours
See the website of Massimo Marcaccio