Course content

The course is aimed at giving the students insight into thermodynamics for solids and thermodynamics for nanoscale systems. Focus will be on phase-stability, surfaces, interfaces, and adsorption, as well as the size-depenence of nanoscale systems. We will discuss trends in formation enthalpies, heat capacities, and entropy for inorganic compounds. Selected thermodynamic models, experimental methods, and methods for theoretical computation of thermodynamic data will be described. The course will not be taught the year 25/26. Next time the course will be given is autumn 26.

Learning outcome

After the course the student should have the following knowledge:

• Apply chemical thermodynamics to a quantitative description of phase stability applied to both single and multicomponent phases.
• The concepts of thermodynamics of surfaces and interfaces and trends in interfacial thermodynamic data of materials
• Trends in thermodynamic data of important class of inorganic materials
• Microscopic models for the thermodynamics of solutions
• Microscopic models for the heat capacity and entropy of solids
• Theoretical methods to calculate thermodynamic date from first principles.
• Basic understanding of scaling laws, and how they apply to nano-scale system
• Use of Kirkwood-Buff theory, and how local structure influence macroscopic properties

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, seminars, one semester project and self study. Expected time usage:

• Lectures: 40 hours,
• Work on semester project and presentation: 60 hours.
• Selfstudy: 100 hours.

Compulsory assignments

• Project work

Recommended previous knowledge

Chemical thermodynamics

Required previous knowledge

Chemical thermodynamics corresponding to TMT4155

Course materials

• Svein Stølen and Tor Grande, Chemical thermodynamics of Materials, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2004
• Dick Bedeaux, Signe Kjelstrup, Sondre K. Schnell, Nanothermodynamics. General Theory, Porelab, 2020.
• Selected scientific publications