Course abstract

This course will go over the basics of solid state materials, primarily crystalline solids and describe features and properties of certain specific materials. Some of the basic topics included will be thermodynamics of solids, unit cells, lattice, crystals, symmetry, symmetry groups, defects, x-ray diffraction, microscopy. Following this, the discussion will move to specific materials like binary alloys, oxides, nitrides and sulphides, perovskites, spinels. The course will conclude with a discussion of band theory, band structure, electronic and optical properties.