Main points of study in Materials ChemistryMaterials Chemistry and

related IT learning materials

Dr Patrio Chiu

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Topics in Materials ChemistryTopics in Materials Chemistry

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Topics in Materials ChemistryTopics in Materials Chemistry

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Chapter Section in Discovering Chemistry

HKCEE HKALE

Chapter 56Naturally occurring polymers

56.1 Introduction56.2 Cellulose56.3 Chitin56.4 Silicates

Not included 9.2 Silicon and silicates

New contents compared to HKALE (adapted from NSS Chemistry Curriculum):

1. Explain the properties of cellulose and chitin in terms of their structures (Discovering Chemistry 56.2&3)2. Compare structural features of cellulose and chitin (Discovering Chemistry 56.2&3)

Curriculum Comparison between NSS, NSS, CE and ALCE and AL for Materials Chemistry

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Chapter Section in Discovering Chemistry

HKCEE HKALE

Chapter 57Synthetic polymers and plastics

57.1 Plastics in use57.2 What are polymers?57.3 Two basic polymerization

processes57.4 Polymeric biomaterials57.5 Effect of structure on properties57.6 Plastics fabrication processes57.7 Importance and problems of

recycling plastics

8.1Plastics

13.1 Synthetic polymers

New contents compared to HKALE (adapted from NSS Chemistry Curriculum):1. Formation and uses of cyanoacrylate (superglue) (Discovering Chemistry 57.3)2. Polymeric biomaterials such as polylactide (PLA) (Discovering Chemistry 57.4)

Curriculum Comparison between NSS, NSS, CE and ALCE and AL for Materials Chemistry

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Chapter Section in Discovering Chemistry

HKCEE HKALE

Chapter 58Metals and alloys

58.1 Metallic crystal structure

58.2 Alloys

Not included 4.2 Metallic crystalsAlloys

New contents compared to HKALE (adopted from NSS Chemistry Curriculum):1. Explain the differences in properties (e.g. hardness and conductivity) between metals and alloys (Discovering Chemistry 58.2)2. Relate the uses of alloys (e.g. steel and brass) to their properties as compared with the pure metals from given information (Discovering Chemistry 58.2)

Curriculum Comparison between NSS, NSS, CE and ALCE and AL for Materials Chemistry

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Chapter Section in Discovering Chemistry

HKCEE HKALE

Chapter 59Synthetic materials in modern life

59.1 New materials in the modern society

59.2 General features of liquid crystals

59.3 What are ceramics?59.4 What are nanomaterials?

Not included Not included

Curriculum Comparison between NSS, NSS, CE and ALCE and AL for Materials Chemistry

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Chapter Section in Discovering Chemistry

HKCEE HKALE

Chapter 60Green chemistry

60.1 Principles of green chemistry

60.2 Green chemistry processes

60.3 Evaluation of production of synthetic material using principles of green chemistry

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13.3 Principles of green chemistry for promoting sustainable development, green chemistry practices as exemplified by decaffeination using supercritical carbon dioxide

New contents compared to HKALE (adapted from NSS Chemistry Curriculum):1. Understand the green chemistry practices in the production of synthetic materials including the use of less hazardous chemical synthesis and safer solvents and auxiliaries (Discovering Chemistry 60.2)2. Evaluate processes for the production of synthetic materials using the principles of green chemistry (Discovering Chemistry 60.3)

Curriculum Comparison between NSS, NSS, CE and ALCE and AL for Materials Chemistry

Materials ChemistryMaterials Chemistry

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• To broaden students’ knowledge and understanding of materials chemistry.

• Cover many new topics to secondary students.– Some of the topics are taught in university

previously.– Secondary school topics are application-

oriented.

Synthetic materials in modern life:Synthetic materials in modern life:What kind of material is used to

fabricate a LED?

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Aluminium nitride ceramics

Synthetic materials in modern life:Synthetic materials in modern life:What is the “diamond” like material that

is commonly found in store?

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Crystalline Zirconia (ZrO2)

Synthetic materials in modern life:Synthetic materials in modern life: Characteristics of different materials

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Silicon carbide, SiC

Source: Department of Defence, USA

Synthetic materials in modern life:Synthetic materials in modern life: Liquid crystals

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What is liquid crystal?

How it works?

Synthetic materials in modern lifeSynthetic materials in modern life: What is liquid crystal?

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A liquid crystal molecule

Dipole in a liquid crystal molecule

Synthetic materials in modern life:Synthetic materials in modern life: Phases of liquid crystals

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Nematicphase

Smecticphase

Cholestericphase

Synthetic materials in modern life:Synthetic materials in modern life: Liquid Crystal Display

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• Light is unpolarized, we can polarize light vertically using a vertical filter.

Synthetic materials in modern life:Synthetic materials in modern life: Liquid Crystal Display

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• A cholesteric liquid crystal can rotate light

Cholestericphase

Synthetic materials in modern life:Synthetic materials in modern life: Liquid Crystal Display

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• When electric field (voltage) is applied, the liquid crystals are aligned.

Cholestericphase

Nematic phase

Synthetic materials in modern life:Synthetic materials in modern life: Liquid Crystal Display CAL Program

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Synthetic materials in modern life:Synthetic materials in modern life: Liquid Crystal Thermometer

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Cholesteric phase

Synthetic materials in modern life:Synthetic materials in modern life: Liquid Crystal Thermometer CAL Program

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Synthetic materials in modern life:Synthetic materials in modern life: Nanomaterials

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C60-buckyball CNT-carbon nanotube

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Related material programs inRelated material programs in University educationUniversity education in Hong Kong

• Material programs can be found in:– Chemistry department

• Material Chemistry

– Engineering department• Material Engineering

– Physics department• Applied Physics

Thank you!