Instrumental methods of chemical analysis have become the principal means of obtaining information in diverse areas of science and technology. The speed, high sensitivity, low limits of detection, simultaneous detection capabilities, and automated operation of modern instruments, when compared to classical methods of analysis, have created this predominance. In this framework, the course aims at providing the fundamental understanding of instruments and their specific applications on organic materials.

• Understand fundamental principles of NMR, UV-VIS, FT-IR, Raman, and other techniques for probing chemical structure
• Understand fundamentals of electron microscopies, including imaging, diffraction and chemical microanalysis
• Ability to elucidate a molecular structure from spectral data provided
• Study cases: solve real problems with an analytical approach and obtain appropriately precise, accurate and valid information.

• Fundamentals of organic chemistry
• Principles of instrumental measurements
• NMR spectroscopy
• IR and Raman spectroscopies
• UV-vis spectroscopy
• Principles of electron microscopies: SEM, TEM
• EDX spectroscopy

A basic knoledge in i) general and organic chemistry ii) material science  and nanotechnology is strongly suggested.   

• A written examination, which consists in:

• An open question of one of the main topics of the course
• An exercise consisting in the determination of a substance, given a set of material analyses 
• Multiple choice questions 

In the open question, the student is required to clearly describe and critically discuss the proposed topic. Not only the knowledge about the topic is assessed, but also the correct use of a proper scientific language and clarity in the description. The exercise aims at assessing the ability of the student to apply the knowledge acquired during the course in specific and practical cases. The multiple choice question aims at assessing the overall knowledge of the topics of the course

• A report describing a study case where a group of students is required to apply the analytical approach to solve real problem in materials characterization.