Materials Characterization

Catalog description

Elements of crystallography and the characterization of crystalline and non- crystalline materials using x-ray diffraction, electron microscopic, and other instrumental techniques. MATSE 430 Materials Characterization (3) This course will introduce students to characterization techniques for quantifying microstructure, chemistry and atomic structure of solid state materials. Elastic and inelastic interactions of radiation (e.g. electromagnetic and electrons) with solid state materials are the basis for most characterization techniques. Utilizing these interactions it is possible to obtain structural and chemical information from materials, often at small length scales. In this course, students will be introduced to the most common imaging, diffraction and spectroscopy techniques used for materials characterization. They will develop an understanding of the underlying physics behind the techniques to enable interpretation of the data. The course will be beneficial for any student interested in solid-state materials, as it provides a key component of the processing-structure-properties process.