Examination arrangement

Course content

Functional materials are materials that have one or more properties that can be significantly changed in a controlled fashion by external stimuli (temperature, electric/magnetic field, etc.) and are therefore applied in a broad range of technological devices as for example in memories, displays and telecommunication.


Subjects: Relation between properties, structure and crystal symmetry – Size and interface effects on properties - Electronic bands structures - Charge transport – Semiconductor devices – Optical active materials: theory, examples of materials and applications – Dielectrics, piezo- and ferroelectrics: theory, examples of materials and applications – Magnetism: theory, examples of materials and applications.

Learning outcome

Overall learning objectives: After completing the course the student should:
- Have insight in a broad range of current and future important types of functional material.
Specific learning objectives: After completing the course the student should be able to:
- Relate the properties of functional materials to their structure.
- Apply crystal symmetry analysis to explain, classify, and together with tensor formulation, calculate directional dependent properties of functional materials (for example, conductivity, resistance, piezoelectricity).
- Explain with the help of band structure model the characteristics and the applicability of functional materials, especially regarding semiconductors.
- Explain the principles of magnetic, optical and electric properties of materials, and can give specific examples of materials and applicability.
- Show insight in some examples, which are discussed during the course, on developments of new materials with special properties and potential applicability of these in the future.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and student reports, project work, presentations.

Further on evaluation

The final grade is based on portfolio assessment. The portfolio includes written exam and report. The evaluation of the different parts is given in %-points, while the entire portfolio is given a letter grade. For a re-take of an examination, all assessments in the portfolio must be re-taken.

The re-sit examination (in August) may be changed from written to oral.

Recommended previous knowledge

TFY4220 Solid State Physics. The principles introduced in a basic course in solid state physics are extended and applied.

Course materials

To be announced at the beginning of the course

Credit reductions