The students will be involved in case studies to be presented to companies of the energy sector, hands-on laboratory activities and training aimed at improving their problem-solving skills, also in synergistic activities with other master level courses. Additionally, the course will organize visits to selected energy companies and research centres (also to facilitate ideas for collaborative projects and internships) in Italy and abroad, with particular interest for activities focused on renewable energies. A part of the course will be dedicated to international research programs suitable to promote and/or fund students’ placements in research institutes operating in the energy sector.

In particular, the course will provide specific knowledge on a broad range of novel materials used in different energy applications for production and energy saving, already available on the market or under development. These include aerogels as insulating systems for energy saving, new materials for retro-fitting of energy-efficient buildings, innovative ceramics for the production and conversion of energy by using solid fuel oxide cells; materials obtained from municipal solid waste incinerator ash and other combustion ash or industrial waste,... just to name a few.

The course has two main objectives: first, to provide additional knowledge to what acquired in the course "Materials Science and Technology" (Bachelor); second, to help the future engineer in selecting the most suitable material/technique for efficient use of energy resources (renewable and not), with particular attention to materials’ recycling and to the reduction of environmental impact.

Furthermore, there will be a focus on composite materials used in energy applications, on their joining and integration with traditional materials.

The student is expected to enter the labor market with a thorough preparation, innovative and comprehensive approach and updated knowledge of new materials (either already available on the market or under development) for energy production and saving.

In particular, the student will be able to exploit his/her skills by projects/case-studies, industrial problem-solving examples to funding institution, stakeholders and companies involved in the energy field.

The knowledge will focus on several advanced materials not studied in other courses, which are mandatory for the professional career of a future engineer.

Materials Science and Technology, Physics, Chemistry

1. Insulating materials for energy saving: aerogels, vacuum panels; retro-fitting of building, reflective/photo-thermo chromic glasses.
2. Materials for photovoltaic energy production: from first to fourth generation photovoltaic cells, surface texturing, surface treatments.
3. Materials for concentrated solar power plants.
4. Materials for fuel cells: Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells, Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells: ceramics, glass-ceramics, steels and protective coatings.
5. Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion: supercapacitors, thermoelectrics, piezoelectrics; materials for oil&gas.
6. Materials for power plants: super-alloys, ODS steels, ceramic matrix composites for advanced turbines and combustion chambers, Environment and Thermal Barrier Coatings for turbines, Thermal protection systems and technologies. Manufacturing and integration techniques for advanced materials for extreme applications.
7. Materials for renewable energy production: i.e. composite materials for wind mills, materials for energy production from tides.
8. Recycling of waste from the production of energy: municipal solid waste incinerators, biomass ash.
9. Case studies/problem solving: economy issues of energy production, technology readiness level related to energy production; renewable energy start-ups’ international scenario;; industrial training: if available, to be organized upon request on national and international sites on dedicated funds.
10. Hands-on laboratory activity: Design, processing and characterization of advanced materials for energy production and storage; manufacturing and characterization of advanced coatings for ceramic matrix composites; Coating depositions: physical vapor deposition (RF sputtering), electrochemical deposition (EPD) ; non-destructive evaluation of mock-ups for energy application through micro-Ct and microstructural assessment of defects by microscopical analysis (SEM, etc); materials selection data bases .

40 hours lectures and 20 hours hands-on laboratories.
Case studies and problem-solving on relevant topics for energy applications; visits at industrial premises.

Pdf files of slides .

Individual oral test. The test regards the evaluation of the know-how and skills developed during classes and during individual activities (case studies, problem solving, individual projects).