Semester.ly

Johns Hopkins University | EN.510.415

The Chemistry of Materials Synthesis

3.0

credits

Average Course Rating

(4.06)

Many of the latest breakthroughs in materials science and engineering have been driven by new approaches to their synthesis, which has allowed the preparation of materials with fanciful structures and fascinating properties. This advanced course will explore synthetic approaches to multifunctional and nanostructured materials, ranging from opals to complex polymers to nanowires and quantum dots . Applications include electronics, energetics, and drug delivery. Participants will gain sufficient familiarity with synthesis options to be able to design research programs that rely on them. Emphasis will be placed on broad strategies that lead to material functionality, rather than detailed step-by-step sequences. Some topics will be selected “on the fly” from the most exciting current literature.

Fall 2012

(4.12)

Fall 2014

(4.0)

Fall 2012

Professor: Howard Katz

(4.12)

The best aspect of this course was the informal lectures on current research in materials science. The worst aspect of the course was the lack of cohesiveness between the lectures and exams. The course felt repetitive at times and some students were unaware of their academic standing in the class. The course would improve if students had more information about material synthesis along with supporting practice problems. Prospective students should have a background in chemistry for this informative and

Fall 2014

Professor: Howard Katz

(4.0)

Students praised this course for having an enthusiastic and engaging instructor who covered interesting and unique subject matter. Students disliked that the course seemed to focus too much on mastering derivations. Students broadly thought the course could be improved if students spent less time working on derivations and instead spent more time going over examples, case studies and discussions of real stealth applications. Prospective students should know that students found it helpful to have a background in differential equations, electromagnetic theory and linear algebra in order to be successful in the course.