2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Undergraduate major in Materials Science and Engineering
Electronic Structure and Physical Properties of Metals
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Materials Science and Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Ji Shi / Kan Nakatsuji
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- MAT.M206
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
In view of lattice vibration to understand the thermal properties of solid.
In view of the bonds among atoms to understand the electronic structures of the solids.
In view of energy distribution of electrons to understand the electrical properties of metals and semiconductors.
In view of atomic magnetic moment to understand the magnetic properties of transition metals (Fe, Co, Ni), and their magnetisation process.
Course description and aims
Understand the thermal, electrical and magnetic properties of metals in view of their electronic structures.
Keywords
metal crystal, metallic bond, lattice vibration, specific heat, thermal conductivity, free electrons, electrical conductivity, band structure, semiconductor, carriers, magnetic metals, magnetisation
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
At the beginning of each lecture, the main points of the previous lecture will be summarised. Then the main points of the day's lecture will be explained and discussed in detail. At the end, students are asked to solve problems using the knowledge they have learnt at the day's class.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | crystal structure, primitive unit cell, periodic structure and reciprocal space | Understand typical crystal structure, and reciprocal space |
| Class 2 | Bonds in solids | Understand the bonding and electronic structure in solids |
| Class 3 | Lattice vibration, elastic wave, vibration mode, density of states | Understand the basic concepts relating the lattice vibration |
| Class 4 | Einstein and Debye Models of specific heat | Understand the thermal property of solids in view of lattice vibration: specific heat |
| Class 5 | Lattice wave, thermal conductivity | Understand the thermal property of solids in view of lattice vibration: thermal conductivity |
| Class 6 | Free electron, Fermi energy, distribution function, density of states | Understand the free electron model |
| Class 7 | Ohm's law, conductivity | Understand the conduction of metals in view of free electron model |
| Class 8 | Practice(1) | Mid-term exam to check the level of understanding |
| Class 9 | Energy band, Classification of solids | Understand the electrical characteristics of solids in view of their band structures |
| Class 10 | Conduction of semiconductors, carriers, effective mass | Understand the conduction of semiconductors, introduction of effective mass |
| Class 11 | Impurity state, mobility of carriers | Calculation of carrier concentration, temperature dependance of carrier concentration |
| Class 12 | Magnetic metals, atomic magnetic moment | Understand the origin of magnetism |
| Class 13 | Ferromagnetism, Spontaneous magnetization, Magnetic domain, Magnetization | Understand the characteristics of ferromagnetic metals, and the mechanism of spontaneous magnetization, Magnetization |
| Class 14 | Practice(2) | Exercises for deepening understanding |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Not specified.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Makoto Okazaki Solid state physics for engineering students, Shokabo
M. Ali Omar Elementary Solid State Physics Addison-Wesley
Charles Kittel Introduction to Solid State Physics Wiley
Evaluation methods and criteria
Quizzes and exercises (20%), Midterm exam (40%), Final exam (40%)
Related courses
- none
Prerequisites
None