This module consists of a specialisation in Materials Physics, a quite demanded topic nowadays for employments to which graduates from different fields like Physics, Engineering, Chemistry and Biotechnology might apply. This module provides basis for understanding fundamental aspects and properties of matter, as well as for establishing the essentials of the advanced knowledge required for being part of projects aimed at the design of technological devices in different contexts. A broad spectrum of materials and systems of interest is treated, from the smallest (nanometric) to the largest (macroscopic) ones: nanomaterials, optoelectronic materials, magnetic materials, selective cellular and porous materials, polymers, and biomaterials. This is, therefore, an interdisciplinary module to which different fields contribute in a balanced way: Quantum Physics, Electromagnetism, Solid State Physics, Crystallography, Electronics, Chemistry and Biophysics. The syllabus include areas such as fabrication, experimental characterisation at both the structural and electronic level, as well as computational simulation. This specialisation will provide students with the following specific skills:
- Knowledge of advanced materials used in technology.
- Understanding of the physical properties leading to the characterisation of materials.
- Learning and handling of specific experimental and simulation techniques for the characterisation and modelling of structures and properties of different types of materials.
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The Materials Physics module is supported by research groups, all of them of international reputation, as can be seen from the CVs of each group and of the lecturers involved. Together, these groups have a significant number of funded projects, research articles published in the best journals in their respective fields, patents, prizes and collaborations with companies in the sector and with leading research groups from other centres, both national and international. Each group is responsible for several subjects in the module syllabus, which have been designed by the research group itself and coordinated in such a way that each one teaches its specialisation and that all of them complement each other adequately to lead to what should be an advanced training in Physics of Materials. The student will be able to join one of these groups to carry out the Master's Thesis, and will have access to its facilities in all the areas mentioned, so that he/she can orientate him/herself for the future if he/she wishes to continue in the corresponding field of research and development.
Research groups
The research groups that support the Physics of Materials module are:
- CELLMAT (Cellular Materials)
- BIOFORGE (Biomaterials)
- SMAP (Selective Porous Materials)
- GdS-OPTRONLAB (Semiconductor materials for optoelectronics)
- MMMG (Simulation of semiconductor and technological processes)
- PNM (Nanometric Properties of Matter)
- NPG (Physics of nanostructures)
- MM (Magnetic materials)
- ERICA (Group specialising in Raman and Infrared Spectroscopy)
- AHMAT (Group specialising in Archaeological and Historical Materials)
- GCME (Group for the Characterisation of Electronic Materials and Devices)
- GETEF (Group specialising in the Thermodynamics of Phase Equilibria)
- GrECo (Computational Electromagnetism Group)
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Cellular scaffolds: moulding hydrogels from ELRs for Tissue Engineering
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Hydrogen adsorption on graphene-supported palladium nanoparticles
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