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Module

NES8810 : Recent Advances in Chemistry Research

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Andrew Pike
  • Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

To introduce a series of recent topics in Chemistry research and to appreciate contributions by chemists made to Nobel prize winning work.
Topics will include inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, reinforcing the core chemical principles that underline some recent research work from staff within Chemistry at Newcastle.

Nobel Prizes (ARP)

Introduction to the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and some historical background
1987 and 2016 – Supramolecular Chemistry

•       understand the concepts and principles of supramolecular chemistry as “chemistry beyond the molecule”
•       appreciate the development of research in the area, including Nobel prize winning work
•       understand how nature utilizes supramolecular assemblies and how they can be mimicked
•       be able to design supramolecular components for self-assembly and use in molecular devices

1996 and 2010 –Unique Carbon Materials

•       understand the structure and properties of Fullerenes and Graphene as unique carbon materials on the
nanoscale
•       appreciate the development of research in the area, including Nobel prize winning work
•      
2007 – Chemistry at Surfaces

•       understand the concepts and principles of surface chemistry
•       appreciated the recent research in the area, including Noble prize winning work

Recent Research at Newcastle University
Introduction to Chemistry research, why, how, who and the fundamental processes of obtaining funding, supervision and dissemination – presentations, posters, conferences, seminars. (ARP)

Two lectures from research topics delivered by research staff at Newcastle University, five 2 hours
sessions out of the following topics.

10 x1hour lectures on a range of research topics at Newcastle University.

Outline Of Syllabus

Semester 1 – Recent research from Newcastle University

2 lectures on the fundamentals behind doing Chemistry research (ARP)
5 x 2 hours of lectures from academic staff on their recent research at Newcastle (10 x 1hr lectures in total)

Semester 2
Noble Prize Chemistry (ARP) (16 hours of lectures)
Supramolecular Chemistry
Supramolecular Introduction: non-covalent interactions
Natural Supramolecular Systems and Biomimetics
Cation/Anion/Neutral Molecule Binders: Host Guest Chemistry
Self-assembled complexes and molecular machines

Surface Chemistry
Introduction to solid surfaces as reaction sites
Silicon based substrates – semiconductor silicon, glass
Metals – Gold-thiol assembled monolayers

Unique Carbon Materials
Fullerene
CNTs
Graphene
Revision Workshops (ARP))

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion124:0024:00Preparation for written and formative assessments.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture11:001:00Module introduction
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion12:002:00Exam completion
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture101:0010:00PiP lectures or online
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture161:0016:00PiP- Semester 2 lectures on Nobel Prize chemistry given in person and scheduled
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion126:0026:00Exam revision
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading142:0028:00Online - lecturer will give students relevant reading for module topics throughout semester 2
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading103:0030:00Online - lecturer will give students relevant reading for module topics throughout semester 1
Structured Guided LearningAcademic skills activities11:001:00Online - a short online session given by a lecturer introducing topics
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery80:304:00Online - support for reports from 8 academic staff via drop-in sessions if required
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study158:0058:00Background reading and practice past paper examination questions
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

This module builds on basic chemical principles and expands the students’ understanding of a variety of diverse topics and their importance as recognised by Nobel Prize winning work The online lectures will enable the students to acquire knowledge and understanding of selected aspects of chemistry, reinforcing material learned elsewhere in the curriculum, exposing them to research ideas and their future research project supervisors.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination1202A60Exam
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written exercise1M40Recent research from Newcastle University (~4 pages)
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Computer assessment1MCanvas quiz
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The exam will test students' knowledge and understanding of Nobel Prize in Chemistry lectures.
The assignment will test students’ knowledge of recent research from Newcastle University and their ability to communicate research ideas clearly.
A formative Canvas quiz assessment will take place in Semester 1. The quiz will be assessed and feedback provided during teaching week 9.

Reading Lists

Timetable