Course Topics
Elements of materials science: classification and basic properties. Selection of materials based on their use and cost – Ashby diagrams and approach to materials selection based on specific applications. Production of energy. High-temperature materials (heat engines, e.g. turbines). Materials for direct generation (e.g. solar cells, fuel cells, wind power, thermoelectricity). Storage (batteries, supercapacitors, hydrogen carrier) and transport of energy (conductors, superconductors, insulators). Energy saving: influence of the choice of materials (thermal insulation). Aging, damage and failure of materials in exercise (e.g. creep, mechanical fatigue, cavitation, wear and corrosion). Expertise in renewable and sustainable materials for energy engineering. Materials selection for high temperature applications; for electrochemical devices; all topics of the European Green Deal, solar, hydrogen, waste heat recovery.

Propaedeutic courses
Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion – course 45534 – extends some of the topics of the present course with emphasis on the Devices; it is therefore an ideal continuation, recommended to students attending Advanced Materials for Energy Engineering

Teaching format
Frontal lectures, exercises and related laboratory practice

Educational objectives
1) Knowledge and understanding • Learning materials by properties and application-based selection, with special attentions to applications in energy engineering 2) Applying knowledge and understanding • Using concepts discussed and learned in the classroom lectures for the laboratory practice • Solving simple exercises and computations dealing with materials performance in selected energy-related applications 3) Making judgements • Being able to select materials for specific applications • Using Ashby diagrams for materials selection 4) Communication skills • Bing able to produce a report on laboratory activity • Making and presenting a PowerPoint presentation on a specific topic of the course and/or a laboratory activity 5) Learning skills • Being able to autonomously extend the knowledge acquired during the study course by reading and understanding scientific and technical documentation. • Carrying out assigned jobs in the laboratory practice, independently and as part of a small team.

Assessment
The assessment of the course consists of two parts: • Formative Assessment (assessed ILOs: 2,3,5): preparation of a report on the laboratory activity. This can be done individually or as part of a team (groups of no more than 4 students) (50%): assessed with the correction and evaluation of the report; • Summative Assessment (assessed ILOs: 1,2,3,4): presentation of the laboratory activity and an assigned topic among the main ones presented in the study course (50%): assessed through a PowerPoint presentation, followed by questions. Discussion and evaluation of the reports and experience in the laboratory activity Both parts must be positive to pass the exam. The final grade is the weighted average between the two parts. A positive evaluation of the report is a pre-requisite to access the oral exam (PowerPoint presentation). Assessment language: English

Evaluation criteria
A positive evaluation of the report on the laboratory activity is a pre-requisite to sit for the oral exam, which is given as a PowerPoint presentation followed by discussion (questions/answers to specific topics regarding the presentation and main themes of the lectures given during the study course). The final grade is the weighted average of the report (50%) and the oral exam (50%). Both parts must be positive. • Criteria for the evaluation of the report: appropriate execution of the laboratory activity and correct description of results; methods and technologies used in the laboratory experience. • Criteria for the evaluation of the oral exam: quality of and correctness of the presentation. Ability to answer questions.

Required readings

There is no single textbook that covers the entire course. The course material is collected from various textbooks and research paper; lecture notes will be made available in advance (before each corresponding lecture). The course resources will be made available via UniTn's Moodle platform or shared folders on GDrive.

 

Useful textbooks include the following ones.

For general reference:

·      M. F. Ashby, Materials Selection in Mechanical Design, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2010.

·      W. D. Callister, D. G. Rethwisch, Fundamentals of Materials Science and Engineering: An Integrated Approach, Wiley, 2012.

Additional sources will be announced during the course.

Supplementary readings

Further sources – deeper insight:

·      D. W. Bruce, D. O’Hare, R. I. Walton, Energy Materials, Wiley, 2011.

Additional sources will be announced during the course.

Further information
Connections with other courses: Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion – course 45534 – extends some of the topics of the present course with emphasis on the Devices; it is therefore an ideal continuation, recommended to students attending Advanced Materials for Energy Engineering. Professional applications of the covered topics: Expertise in renewable and sustainable materials for energy engineering. Materials selection for high temperature applications; for electrochemical devices; all topics of the European Green Deal, solar, hydrogen, waste heat recovery.