This course covers principles, operation and data analysis skills of most useful advanced materials characterization techniques in modern research, with X-ray, electron, and ion beam as probing sources. The content includes surface spectroscopy, diffraction, electron microscopy, mass spectroscopy and etc.

This course introduces the fabrication methods of traditional materials (including metals, alloys, ceramics and polymers) and advanced materials (including nanomaterials, semiconductors, smart materials, biomaterials, and so on). Students will learn basic scientific principles involved in the synthesis, processing, scaling up, and quality control. Frontier synthetic methodologies, such as those involving theoretical predictions or cutting-edge fabrication techniques, will also be introduced.

This course offers a comprehensive exploration of various types of advanced materials across diverse fields, such as energy materials, biomaterials, photonic materials, quantum materials, chiral materials, optoelectronic materials, etc. Through lectures, case studies, and discussions, students will gain insights into the role of these materials in driving technological innovation and addressing global challenges.

The course is a basic introduction to artificial intelligence approaches in applications of materials design and simulations. The course covers machine learning (ML) techniques, materials design and search in large materials database by ML, ML-assisted force field development, ML-assisted accelerations in simulations of material systems, data-driven modeling, and molecular simulation tools. Students will gain hands-on experience using AI and simulations to predict material properties, design novel materials, and address real-world design challenges in materials science.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of the key properties of advanced materials. The course will cover mechanical properties, essential quantum physics, dielectric and optical properties, transport properties and superconductivity.

Organic (opto) electronic devices, such as organic-field effect transistors, organic solar cells, organic light-emitting diodes and organic photodetectors, have been widely utilized in our daily life. The objectives of this course are to introduce a wide range of organic optoelectronic devices, including the design of functional molecules, device structures, and diverse physical properties regarding light absorption, luminescence, electrical conductivity and magnetic properties.

This course will cover the fundamentals of biomaterials, including the chemistry of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, and the advanced applications of biomaterials in tissue engineering and regeneration. Examples of healthcare products, including collagen-based biomaterials, will be described.

This course introduces surface science, the fabrication, characterization, and physical properties of thin films. The topics include vacuum science and technology, basic concepts of surface science, thin film deposition techniques, kinetics and thermodynamics of surface reactions, film growth processes and modes, characterization, epitaxy, and physical properties of thin films. State-of-the-art research advancements on thin film preparation and properties are also selectively introduced.

This interdisciplinary course explores the design, synthesis, and application of advanced functional materials critical to address global energy and environmental challenges. Students will learn how cutting-edge materials science drives innovations in renewable energy technologies, energy storage, carbon capture and green chemistry. The course integrates the principles of chemistry, physics, and materials science to prepare students for careers in research, industry, or policy-making in clean energy and sustainability.

This course is devoted to the fundamental concepts, structures, and working principles of common electronic and photonic devices. It includes the fundamental concepts of semiconductors, field-effect transistors, Schottky junctions, p-n junctions, light-emitting diodes, lasers, photodetectors, solar cells, waveguides, and control of light polarization. Closely related materials and state-of-the-art research advancements on electronics and photonics are also selectively introduced.

This course provides an overview of fundamental concepts and essential applications of supramolecular chemistry.  This course covers two parts.  The first part focuses on the fundamental concepts, including a brief history of supramolecular chemistry, characterization of supramolecular systems, noncovalent interactions and ion binding, templated synthesis and self-assembly as well as inclusion complexes. The second part focuses on the application of supramolecular chemistry, discussing selected supramolecular systems and introducing important examples of applying supramolecular chemistry in materials sciences and biology.

This course introduces solar cell and other technologies for low-carbon energy systems. It starts with a review of semiconductors, with a focus on the fundamentals for solar cell development. The content covers such as electron and hole, Fermi energy, generation and recombination, p-n junction, and the optical and optoelectronic properties. The course then elaborates the solar cell technology in-depth – covering (i) the basic principles of photovoltaic devices, including absorption, photo-electric conversion, conversion efficiency, loss mechanism, carrier collection and device characterization; (ii) the four generations of solar cell technology, e.g., monocrystalline solar cells, thin-film solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells, organic solar cells; and (iii) other related engineering topics such as concentrated solar power, management techniques, manufacturing systems, reliability, life-cycle analysis, markets and policies. Beyond the solar cell technology, the course continues with discussions on other low-carbon energy technologies, for instance, thin-film transistors, ultralow-power flexible electronics, light-emitting diodes, and nanoenergy harvesting technologies. In the end, the course concludes with fabrication towards large-scale, low-cost and green manufacturing, including the key considerations in developing large-scale, flexible devices and the emerging printing techniques.

Driven by the AI boom, technologies such as robotics, virtual reality, and self-driving have begun to emerge, leading to an ever-increasing demand for high-efficiency, data intensive computing. Inspired by the brain, post-von-Neumann neuromorphic computing was proposed. Mapping the biological neural networks to implement neuromorphic computing requires both algorithm and hardware designs. Although the algorithm approach is being widely exploited, neuromorphic hardware is still in its early stages of development, requiring continual advancements in the underlying materials, devices, and circuits. This course covers the most up-to-date research in the field of neuromorphic hardware. The course will begin with an introduction to neuromorphic computing, followed by discussions on neuromorphic hardware development, in which the students will study the materials, devices, and circuits exploited to enable neuromorphic hardware. In addition to lectures, the course includes lab case study sessions where students can have experience with neuromorphic hardware fabrication.

This core course aims at providing students with the essential concepts of solid state physics and an understanding of the properties of matter.  The properties of solids are discussed using skills and concepts acquired in the fundamental subjects in physics. The course thus also serves to illustrate how physical concepts can be applied to explain the various properties of solids. Topics include: crystal lattices and structures, wave diffraction and reciprocal lattice, lattice vibrations, thermal properties of insulators, metallic behavior and free electron gas, energy bands, semiconductor physics and devices, magnetic properties, dielectric properties, and superconductivity. This is a capstone core course (subject matter) normally taken in final year of study. Students are also recommended to take PHYS3022 before taking this course.