Physics of Nanomaterials

By Prof. Amreesh Chandra | IIT Kharagpur

Learners enrolled: 914 | Exam registration: 25

ABOUT THE COURSE:

With the growing need for miniaturization, it is imperative to understand how the properties of materials and devices change when size confinement is introduced. Due to the constraint motion of electrons in nanomaterials, electrical and optical properties change significantly. Particle size reduction can also introduce phase transitions in materials, leading to modulated thermal, mechanical and chemical properties. Therefore, a new range of applications can be envisaged by using novel nanomaterials. This course will be useful for UG and PG level students with interest in the field of nanotechnology and its applications in real world.

INTENDED AUDIENCE:

B Tech: Engineering Physics, Materials Science, Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Nanotechnology

BS-MS: Physics

M Tech: Physics, Nanotechnology, Materials Science Industry professionals working in the area of materials science.

PREREQUISITES: Physics – I

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: Applied Materials, Tata Chemicals, Gujrat Fluorochemicals, Loba Chemicals, Aldrich Chemicals

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Elective
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Physics Metallurgy and Material science & Mining Engineering Minor in Materials Science
Credit Points :	3
Level :	Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date :	21 Jul 2025
End Date :	10 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends :	28 Jul 2025
Exam Registration Ends :	15 Aug 2025
Exam Date :	02 Nov 2025 IST
NCrF Level	4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1:

1) Introduction to Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology
2) Classification of Nanomaterials
3) Need for Nanomaterials
4) Some Useful Applications of Nanomaterials

Week 2:

5) Concept and Quantum Mechanical Explanation of Electron Confinement
6) Energy Band Diagram in Solid State Materials
7) Crystal Structures and Phase Transitions in Nanomaterials
8) Dimensionality Effects on the Electrical behavior of nano-sized conductors, semiconductors, insulators and dielectrics

Week 3:

9) Introduction to Synthesis Methods for Nanomaterials
10) Kinetically and Thermodynamically Controlled Routes
11) Top Down and Bottom Up Synthesis Routes
12) Lithography, Ball-milling, Chemical Routes

Week 4:

13) Low Dimensional Structures – Quantum Wells, Wires and Dots
14) Conduction Electrons and Dimensionality
15) Fermi Gas and Density of States
16) Coulomb Potential and Single Electron Tunneling

Week 5:

17) Metal Nanoclusters
18) Semiconducting Nanoparticles
19) Molecular Clusters
20) Quantum Devices - Infrared Detectors and Quantum Dot Lasers

Week 6:

21) Carbon Nanostructures
22) Carbon Clusters and Nanotubes
23) Electrical, Vibrational and Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanostructures
24) Applications of Carbon Nanotubes

Week 7:

25) Magnetism at Nanoscale
26) Nanostructured Ferromagnetism
27) Dynamics of Nanomagnets
28) Nanopore Containment of Magnetic Particles

Week 8:

29) Giant Magnetoresistance
30) Colossal Magnetoresistance
31) Nanocarbon Ferromagnets
32) Ferrofluids and Superparamagnetism

Week 9:

33) Self Assembly and Catalysis
34) Process of Self Assembly and Semiconductor Islands
35) Monolayers and Porous Materials
36) Nature of Catalysis, Pillard Clays and Colloids

Week 10:

37) Nanomaterials for Energy Devices
38) Secondary Batteries
39) Supercapacitors
40) Porous Silicon, Photoluminescence and Photovoltaics

Week 11:

41) Methods to Determine Properties of Nanomaterials
42) Particle Size Determination
43) Surface Structure Determination
44) Porosity and Specific Surface Areas

Week 12:

45) TEM and SEM
46) Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy
47) Phase Transition Using X-ray Diffraction
48) Strain Estimation

Books and references

1)Nanotechnology Principles and Practice by Sulabha K Kulkarni
2)Introduction to Nanotechnology by Charles P Poole Jr. and Frank J. Owens
3)Physics of Energy Sources by G C King

Instructor bio

Prof. Amreesh Chandra

IIT Kharagpur

Dr. Amreesh Chandra is currently a Full Professor in the Department of Physics at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. He did his PhD from IIT BHU in 2004, before moving to the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (Germany) and University of Surrey, Guildford (UK) in 2005 and 2007, respectively, for his post-doctoral research. He joined IIT Kharagpur in 2009. Prof. Chandra has more than 20 years of teaching experience in the broad fields of condensed matter physics, nanomaterials, energy materials and devices. Prof. Chandra’s research group largely focuses on the development of functional nanomaterials for their application in various industries. Prof. Chandra has published more than 140 research papers and is on the Editorial Boards of many International Journals. His team is a recipient of a large number of awards, both nationally and internationally. The research team is extensively

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: November 02, 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Kharagpur .It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team

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