The course aims at providing the concepts required for the description of molecular materials at the quantum level. This is essential since most applications of molecular materials in nanotechnology are based upon the specific features that emerge “at the bottom”, i.e., when the atomistic structure of the material and wave functions are explicitly taken into account. The course moves from the basic molecular physics issues to their application for the interpretation of selected experimental methods available for the characterization of molecular materials. The final part of the course applies these concepts to the description of some molecular materials proposed for applications in nanotechnology.

The student is expected to learn the theoretical description at the basis of the physical behavior of molecular materials. The student should become acquainted with the fundamentals of the optical spectroscopies most widely used in the characterization of such class of materials. Through a series of practical tutorials, the student will be introduced to molecular modeling tools, through which it will be possible to directly test some of the basic theoretical concepts discussed along the course.

The course will move from the basic physical issues (2 credits) to their application for the interpretation of the experimental methods available for the characterization of molecular materials (1.5 credits). The last part of the course (1.5 credits) will apply these concepts to the description of selected molecular materials already employed in nanotechnology.

Molecular physics (approx. 2 credits)

- electronic and vibrational quantum states

- interatomic interactions and conformations

- molecular symmetry

- tutorials on molecular modeling

- optical properties: light absorption in molecular aggregates and crystals (excitons)

- electrical properties: charge carriers in synthetic metals (solitons, polarons, bipolarons)

Quantum transitions (approx. 1.5 credits)

- vibrational (IR, Raman) and electronic spectroscopy as a probe of quantum transitions

Molecular materials (approx. 1.5 credits)

- molecules as building blocks of complex functional materials: selected examples in nanotechnology

Introductory quantum physics and material science.

The examination will be an oral discussion about the course topics, chosen by the examiner (typically two major topics, which are discussed in details by following the structure of the presentation given during the lectures).

The student is expected to clearly describe and discuss the proposed subjects, highlighting the motivation, the physical meaning, the approximations, the critical points, and the mathematical description of the most important concepts.

Lecture notes and slides will be distributed during the course.