The course is taught in English.

The course, on the first semester of the second year of Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering and in Ingegneria Chimica e dei Processi Sostenibili, aims to provide interdisciplinar up-to-date theoretical and methodological tools on materials, technologies, chracterization and design techniques for micro/nano-structures and micro/nano-devices to be applied to environmental monitoring and energy issues.
The course is divided into three parts: first part concerns with the basics of micro/nanotechnology and M/NEMS (Micro/Nano-Electro-Mechanical-Systems) based sensors. The second part deals with the interaction between environment and sensor surface (especially when nanostructured) and introduces the environmental monitoring applications of micro-and nanotechnology. The third part deals with energy issues, with particular reference to the role of nanotechnology in the efficient production and storage of non-conventional energy.

The student will gain the following knowledge about:
- basics of materials properties at micro/nano-scale
- basics of fabrication and characterization of micro/nano-structures and M/NEMS
- design of micro/nano-systems
- environmental applications of micro/nano-materials and M/NEMS
- micro/nanotechnology for energy production, storage and sustainability
The student will gain the following skills:
- ability to understand and identify the key properties of micro/nano-scale materials and devices
- ability to exploit micro/nano-materials and M/NEMS for environmental applications
- ability to exploit micro/nanotechnology for energy production, storage and sustainability

- General physics (mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetisms, optics)
- fundamentals of chemistry
- elements of quantum mechanics and electronics
- elements of materials science

- Introduction to micro and nanotechnology. Elements of fabrication and characterization of micro/nano-materials and micro/nano-devices (1 cfu)
- introduction to sensor science (transduction methods, sensitivity, selectivity, precision, ...) and M/NEMS –based sensors (1 cfu)
- catalys and adsorption/desorption on nanomaterials for environmental chemistry (1 cfu)
- environmental applications of micro/nano-materials and M/NEMS (2 cfu)
- micro/nanotechnology for energy production, storage and sustainability (3 cfu)

A visit to nanotechnological research laboratories at Politecnico di Torino is scheduled during the course.

The slides presented during lectures will be periodically upload on the website ("portale della didattica"). Books and websites will be suggested as integration.

Final exam is composed by:
1. a written exam with three open-questions on issues discussed during the course (weight ¾)
2. an oral presentation on close examination of a device or topic discussed during the course (weight ¼).