Industrial Chemistry

The course is part of the training path related to industrial and application processes specific of the Master Degree. The course aims to expand the knowledge of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, with particular regard to energy issues and aspects of resource management. The conceptual and methodological contents are supported by references to the economic and applicative aspects. The concepts of smart grid and production of electricity from renewable sources, sustained by appropriate storage and conversion systems, are presented. The constituent materials and operating principles of the energy conversion and storage devices are described, providing the students with the opportunity to deepen their understanding through guided exercises in the laboratory. Particular emphasis is given to the most modern methodologies for the study of advanced electrochemical energy storage systems. 1) ELECTROCHEMISTRY: Description of an electrochemical cell: electrodes and electrolytes. Empirical laws of electrolyte conductivity. Galvanic cells and reference electrodes. Thermodynamics of the electrochemical cell. Kinetics: ohmic and electrodic overpotentials (due to diffusion, charge transfer and crystallization). The method of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. 2) SYSTEMS FOR THE ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY STORAGE: Batteries: nomenclature. Primary and Secondary systems: functional parameters and properties. Lead-acid batteries; Ni-MH batteries. Lithium-metal and lithium-ion rechargeable batteries: overview, cell configuration, electrode and electrolyte materials. R&D of the field. 3) THE HYDROGEN VECTOR AND RELATED TECHNOLOGIES: Hydrogen production processes. Hydrogen storage materials: pressurized systems, metal hydrides, carbon nano-structures, new concepts. Hydrogen-based tachnologies. Fuel cells: i) overview and thermodynamic parameters; ii) different types of fuel cells and their applications (stationary, mobile and electric vehicles). 4) RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AND RELATED CONVERSION DEVICES: World energy demand. Solar energy. Semiconductors: p-n junctions and photovoltaic effects. Photovoltaic cells. Photo-electrochemical cells. Dye sensitized solar cells. Photo-electrochemical cells for water splitting. LAB EXCERCISES: a) Measurement of the ionic conductivity of an aprotic electrolyte solution. b) Lithium rechargeable cell: charge/discharge processes (capacity and working voltage), cyclability and coulombic efficiency evaluation. c) Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell: polarization curve evaluation.

a) Chemical and technological skills with an adequate knowledge of reactions and processes in all productive sectors and services that require comprehension on the properties of materials and their applications. b) Solid scientific training in basic disciplines, such as Inorganic Chemistry, Physics and Physical Chemistry. c) Knowledge of experimental and instrumental methodologies in the field of materials science. d) Ability to find, elaborate and discuss, also through computer methodologies, the results of experimental and bibliographic researches written in English.

- M.A. Navarra Fundamentals of electrochemistry and physical chemistry of materials (booklet of the teacher). - Slides and notes of the teacher on electrochemical methods, energy conversion/storage devices and hydrogen. - C.H. Hamann, A. Hamnett, W. Vielstich Electrochemistry. 2nd Edition, Wiley-VCH.

It is recommended to attend the lesson in the classroom, being the teacher used to interact with students in order to stimulate a fast, easier and dynamic comprehension. Books and lectures notes are anyhow exhaustive of the course contents. Lab exercises are scheduled in agreement with the students and, if not attended, their repetition is not guaranteed.

Three optional, written partial-examinations will be planned at the end of Module 1), 3), 4) in agreement with the students schedule. The written partial-examination consists of three parts: a numerical exercise, 10 multiple choice questions, 1 short open question. Students who achieve a score equal to or greater than 25/30 from these examinations can be exempted from the oral exam, even partially. The oral final examination will be carried out after the end of the course, during official scheduled sessions. To pass the exam the student must obtain a grade of not less than 18/30. The student must demonstrate that he/she has acquired a sufficient knowledge of the properties of functional materials, of the electrochemical methods adopted for their investigation and of principles of conversion/storage devices functioning. To achieve a score of 30/30 cum laude, the student must instead demonstrate that he/she has acquired excellent knowledge of all the topics covered during the course, being able to link them in a logical and coherent way. For the assignment of the score, the teacher uses an evaluation grid presented, discussed and shared with the students at the beginning of the course.

- W.F. Smith, J. Hashemi Scienza e tecnologia dei materiali. IV Edizione 2012, McGraw-Hill - Rolando Roque-Malherbe The Physical Chemistry of Materials: Energy and Environmental Applications. 1st Edition 2017, CRC Press - Ming-Fa Lin, Wen-Dung Hsu Green Energy Materials Handbook. 1st Edition 2019, CRC Press

Teaching lessons related to the four modules in the class-room (8 CFU = 64 hours) will be delivered by using the black-board, slides projection and the other informatic tools available. The slides and the booklet with the teacher's notes will be provided to the students (through Moodle E-learning platform). At the end of each module, a review lesson will be held, also through additional numerical exercises carried out by the teacher and an auto-evaluation test that students will perform anonymously in Google Form. The laboratory exercises (1 CFU = 12 hours) will be carried out in the premises of responsibility of the teacher, through the tools that the teacher makes available; at the end of each experience, the teacher will share the recorded data for the preparation of a written report by the students so that they can critically evaluate the properties of the materials and the performance of the quoted devices. On-line lectures will be delivered according to guidelines/recommendations of the University.