- Knowledge of the physical behavior of surfaces at the nanoscale. - Knowledge of advanced techniques for the characterization of nanostructured surfaces and nano-dimensional systems. - Knowledge of advanced techniques for the modification of surfaces at nanoscale. - Knowledge of advanced techniques for the synthesis of nano-dimensional systems. - Ability to characterize surfaces and nanostructures. - Ability to modify the physical properties of surfaces at the nanoscale. - Ability to synthesize nano-dimensional systems.

- Elementary physics (mechanics, thermodynamics, wave optics, elements of the structure of matter) - Elements of quantum mechanics - Elements of statistical mechanics - Elements of solid state physics

Physical properties of surfaces and nanostructures and their interactions with the ambient at the nanoscale. Techniques for the physical characterization of surfaces and nanostructures (Auger Spectroscopy, Xray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry, Rutherford Back-Scattering, Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis, Xray Diffractometry, Low-Energy Electron Diffraction, Reflection High-Energy Electron Diffraction, Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure). Advanced techniques for the modification of surfaces at the nanoscale and the synthesis of nano-dimensional systems, with a specific focus on plasma-assisted techniques. Application of nanostructured surfaces and nanodimensional systems to the biomedical field. The laboratory lessons deal with one or more of these topics - modification of surfaces at the nanoscale - morphological analysis of nanostructured surfaces and nanosystems - compositional analysis of nanostructured surfaces and nanosystems - analysis of the surface energy of nanostructured surfaces and nanosystems

The course involves class lectures, making use of slides, which are available on the teaching portal, as well as laboratory lessons. The theoretical lectures are delivered in class or online or blended, depending on the sanitary and academic regulations. The laboratory lessons may be given in two ways, depending on the sanitary and academic regulations. a) In presence inside the labs, dividing the students in small groups. b) As a written and/or video description of an experiment, together with some experimental results. In both cases, the students may write a report, containing a description of the experimental procedure and an analysis of the esperimental results, which can provide an additional evaluation. Regardless of the type of laboratory lessons given, they are not mandatory, and students may achieve the maximum grade without attending to them.

- Teaching material distributed by the teachers. - H. Luth, "Solid Surfaces, Interfaces and Thin Films", Springer, 2010. - H. Busse and B.E. Koel, “Surface processes”, in: "Digital Encyclopedia of Applied Physics Condensed Matter F: Surfaces and Interfaces", Wiley, 2014. Other references about specific topics may be communicated by the teachers during the lectures.

Exam: Written test; Optional oral exam; Group essay;

The assessment criteria involve: - the student's knowledge of the main properties of nano-structured surfaces and nano- dimensional systems, of the main methods for nano-synthesis, surface modification and characterization; - the student's ability to describe, either in written or oral form, a method for the nano-synthesis, surface modification or characterization at the nanoscale, using the technical language correctly; - the student's ability to apply a method for the nano-synthesis, surface modification or characterization at the nanoscale in a laboratory environment. The exam involves a mandatory written part and an optional oral part. The written part consists of some questions concerning the topics discussed during the course. The total allotted time to answer the questions is 1.5 hr and a mark of 18/30 is required to pass the exam. It is not allowed to use any kind of didactic material (such as textbooks or notes) during the exam. The optional oral part consists in delivering an original student's presentation, of 15-20 min duration, which critically describes the content of a recent scientific paper related to one or more of the course topics. After the presentation, the student could be required to answer some questions related to the course topics. As a result of the of the oral exam evaluation, the written exam mark may be increased of maximum 4 points. The written exam mark may also be reduced of maximum 2 points, if the presentation contains major mistakes or the student does not answer to the teacher's questions correctly. The students who have attended at least 50% of the laboratory lessons may deliver to the teacher a report, consisting in the description of the laboratory activities and a data analysis of their result. It must be original and must be delivered (by uploading it on didactic portal) before the date of the first written exam. Its evaluation may increase the witten exam mark of 2 points at maximum. Each report may be provided by a single student or by a group of 3 students at maximum. If the written exam mark is below 18/30, it cannot be increased by the optional oral part or by the laboratory reports: the exam is not passed and it must be repeated.

In addition to the message sent by the online system, students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to directly inform the professor in charge of the course about the special arrangements for the exam that have been agreed with the Special Needs Unit. The professor has to be informed at least one week before the beginning of the examination session in order to provide students with the most suitable arrangements for each specific type of exam.