The integrated course has two modules:

- Chemistry and Materials for Energy

- Life Cycle Assessment of Materials and Products

 First Modulus: Chemistry and Materials for Energy

The course will focus on the relations between the physical-chemical properties of materials involved in alternative energy systems and their macroscopic behaviour. In particular, electrochemical devices for the storage and electricity generation with low environmental impacts will be illustrated. Materials and devices for harnessing solar energy and for clean fuels production will be also described.

Second Modulus: Life Cycle Assessment of Materials and Products

The course is focused on the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) methodology. The aim is two-fold: to introduce the students to the theoretical fundamentals of the methodology and then to apply them to evaluate the environmental sustainability of materials and processesA consistent portion of the course will be devoted to the application of the LCA methodology to representative real-life cases, mainly taken from chemical, food and materials industrial real cases. The course is structured as an information laboratory.

 First Modulus: Chemistry and Materials for Energy

When the student has successfully passed the exam, he/she has a good knowledge of and is able to discuss the following topics (DdD1):

- alternative systems of energy generation and storage (i.e. fuel cell, secondary batteries and capacitors);

- common and innovative materials for energy applications;

- fundamentals properties of the main classes of materials involved in energy systems;

- relations existing between microscopic physical-chemical features of a material and its macroscopic properties and functions;

- dielectric materials for energy harvesting;

- renewable and sustainable ways to produce energy.

A consistent part of the course will be devoted to solve numerical and practical problems related to materials properties and devices which they are assembled in; then the student will be able to solve specific problems, and to select the optimal materials for any case (DdD2,3).

Second Modulus: Life Cycle Assessment of Materials and Products

DdD1: knowledge and comprehension

When the student has successfully passed the exam:

• Knows the fundamentals of the LCA methodology;
• Knows to the fundamentals of the environmental impact indicators to be applied in the environmental sustainability assessment;
• Is able to use a specialised software (OpenLCA) to carry out the LCA

DdD 2: ability to apply knowledge and comprehension

When the student has successfully passed the exam:

• Is able to apply the LCA methodology to simplified industrial cases studies using a professional software

 First Modulus: Chemistry and Materials for Energy

The course deals with properties of materials for energy; it will concern different technologies for alternative energy production, for transportation and storage, as well as related kinetic and thermodynamic aspects. In detail, the following topics will be considered:

- materials for electrochemical devices for energy production and storage;

- hydrogen economy: production, storage and use;

- alternative electrochemical energy generators: low- and high-temperature fuel cells;

- materials for storage devices: rechargeable batteries and capacacitors;

- photovoltaic devices: inorganic and organic semiconductors, photo-electrochemistry;

- piezoelectricity and ferroelectricity: application in energy harvesting.

More information: 1st lecture, when the course presentation and more details on final evaluation will be given.

Second Modulus: Life Cycle Assessment of Materials and Products

1. Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) and Life Cycle Management (LCM): fundamentals and main tools. Sustainability assessment: introductory concepts.
2. Life Cycle Analysis: historical background, ISO standards, procedures, applications. Calculation methodology, databases and technical software. Computational structure of LCA.
3. Eco-indicators: measurement methods, environmental and damage impact category, impact quantification; carbon footprint and climate change.
4. Industrial processes for materials productions: case studies (i.e. cement, polymeric materials, metallic materials and ceramic materials).
5. Materials End-of-Life: open and closed-loop recycling, re-use, waste-to-energy process, waste management processes. 

The course deals with various Sustainable Development Goals and in particular:

7. Affordable and Clean Energy
8. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
9. Responsible Consumption and Production
10. Climate Action

For both modules it is required only a basic knowledge of chemistry and physics, in particular in terms of simple stoichiometric calculations, international system of units and physical phenomena.

For the second module, an introduction to traditional materials classes, their main properties and fields of applications will be given to those students attending the course and who have not been previously attended any introductory materials course. 

Laboratory sessions will be mainly quantitative; no specific numerical skills are required.

 First Modulus: Chemistry and Materials for Energy

Written exam with questions about theory and numerical exercises. It will consist of two parts: the first will be carried out by using MS Forms with multiple choice questions and open questions related to theoretical parts (1 h); the second one will consist in numerical exercises (1 h). In the latter, students will be allowed to consult a formulary provided by the teacher.

Second Modulus: Life Cycle Assessment of Materials and Products

The final exam will consist of a written test only, organized in two sections:

• Part A: numerical application of the LCA methodology to a simplified case study
• Part B: open questions on theory fundamentals

The test will last two hours and half; any supporting materials and electronic devices are allowed during the exam; there are no limits to the number of tests the student can attend to.

At the end of the course, there is the possibility for the student to attend an end-of-course simulation test, which is in practice an additional exam test.

The student will use his/her own electronic device during the course and the exam.

Only a portion of the book will be used in the present course

Further reading for those interested in the computational structure of LCA

Only a portion of the book will be used in the present course