CH4MN2: Macromolecular Chemistry and Nanotechnology

Module code: CH4MN2

Module provider: Chemistry; School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy

Credits: 20

Level: Level 4 (Undergraduate Masters)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr James Cooper, email: james.cooper@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Adam Bromley, email: a.p.bromley@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Supramolecular interactions are essential in all living organisms and are of significant importance in the design of the next generation of materials that can adapt to their environment or display responsive properties. Synthetic macromolecules and nanotechnology will play a critical role in new technologies developed in the 21st century, acting as key components in responsive coatings, recyclable materials, batteries and future medicines.  

This module will teach you the fundamental principles of macromolecular chemistry and nanotechnology. The course will outline the design and construction of supramolecular assemblies, materials and receptors, recent advances in the synthesis of functional and degradable polymers, and the development of porous materials and nanoparticles. Armed with this knowledge, students successfully completing the course will be prepared for an entry level industrial or research position (e.g. PhD) within these fields. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Describe the properties and applications of a range of nanomaterials and supramolecular assemblies, including supramolecular polymers, metal–organic frameworks, nanoparticles, mechanically interlocked molecules and synthetic receptors. 
2. Describe, discuss, and explain the molecular design concepts and synthetic approaches involved in the development of advanced polymeric materials. 
3. Critically evaluate controlled free-radical polymerisation techniques such as NMP, ATRP, and RAFT polymerisation against each other and conventional free-radical polymerisation. 
4. Design supramolecular assemblies, molecules or materials to interact with specific targets or behave in a specific manner based on fundamental knowledge of supramolecular and noncovalent interactions. 

Module content

Dr J. A. Cooper (8 lectures): Molecular recognition, thermodynamics of host-guest interactions, self-assembly, supramolecular and non-covalent interactions, and the design, synthesis, assembly and application of supramolecular systems. 

Prof. W. Hayes (8 lectures): Advanced polymer structure design and synthesis including: branched, hyperbranched and dendritic polymers, applications for advanced polymer architectures, healable polymers, and methods for polymer degradation. 

Dr A. P. Bromley (8 lectures): Living and controlled polymerisation techniques including: living anionic polymerisation, nitroxide-mediated radical polymerisation (NMP), atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerisation (RAFT), and the applications of materials synthesised by these methods. 
 
Dr. R. Grau-Crespo (8 lectures): Introduction to nanochemistry and nanomaterials, Quantum dots and metallic nanoparticles, artificially layered materials, quantum wells, van der Waals’ heterostructures, self-assembled nanostructures, graphitic nanostructures such as: graphene, nanotubes, nanoribbons and boron nitride analogues, nanoporous materials, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and the application of these materials. 

Each lecture series will be supported by a workshop, allowing students to practice and apply the knowledge they have gained. 
 
Suggested Textbooks (all available in the University library): 

• “Supramolecular Chemistry – Fundamentals and Applications” (ISBN: 9780198832843), by P. D. Beer, T. A. Barendt and J. Y. C. Lim, is recommended for the supramolecular topic. 
• “Supramolecular Chemistry” (ISBN: 9781119582519), by J. W. Steed and J. L. Atwood, provides a comprehensive introduction to the topic of supramolecular chemistry. 
• “Polymers: Chemistry and Physics of Modern Materials” (ISBN: 9780849398131), by J.M.G. Cowie and V. Arrighi, is recommended for the polymer topic.
• “Nanochemistry: A Chemical Approach to Nanomaterials” (ISBN: 9781847558954), by G. A. Ozin, A. C. Arsenault and L. Cademartiti, is recommended for the nanochemistry and nanomaterial topic.  

Students will also be directed to appropriate literature and materials in journals. 

The staffing of this module is correct at the time of writing. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Four topics will be delivered across 38 hours of guided content. Each week, students will receive between two and five hours of taught material, which will be delivered through a mixture of lectures, workshops, digitally flipped materials and in-class problems and discussions. Through this, students will gain first-hand knowledge and experience from experts in their fields, as well as promoting scholarly activity and critical evaluation of the subject area. 

Topic specific workshops allow students to build on knowledge gained in lectures and apply that to problems relevant in the field. 

Study hours

At least 38 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Formative assessment will be provided in the form of mandatory workshops, where students will work through problems, and in-class questions delivered as part of the lectures. 

Reassessment

Additional costs