2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Department of Materials Science and Engineering Graduate major in Materials Science and Engineering
Soft Materials
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Materials Science and Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Meguya Ryu / Ken Nakajima
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- MAT.P483
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2026
- Offered quarter
- 3-4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 9, 2026
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course is for students in Science Tokyo -Tsinghua University joint graduate program. The course is held at Tsinghua University in Beijing (or possibly via Zoom) and mainly deals with the fundamental concepts of soft materials. Since the instructors and the topics change every year, the course contents will be revised every year. This year, the course will be divided into two: the former half will deal with the nanomechanical properties of soft materials investigated by atomic force microscopy and the latter half will deal with thermal properties of soft materials and the measurement techniques for them.
Course description and aims
At the end of the course, students will acquire the following abilities:
1) Students will understand and explain the nanomechanical properties of soft materials investigated by atomic force microscopy.
2) Students will understand and explain thermal properties of soft materials and the measurement techniques.
Keywords
Atomic force microscopy, Soft materials, Polymer, Viscoelasticity, Nanomaterials, Surface, Interface, Thermal Property Measurement, Phase Transitions, MEMS Sensors, Materials Informatics
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
This course will proceed in the following order: (1) nanomechanical properties of soft materials investigated by atomic force microscopy, (2) thermal properties of soft materials and the measurement techniques.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Basics of atomic force microscopy |
Explain basics of atomic force microscopy |
| Class 2 | Basics of mechanical properties of polymeric materials |
Explain basics of mechanical properties of polymeric materials |
| Class 3 | Applications to single polymer chains |
Explain applications to single polymer chains |
| Class 4 | Applications to rubbery materials |
Explain applications to rubbery materials |
| Class 5 | Applications to polymer alloys |
Explain applications to polymer alloys |
| Class 6 | Applications to plastic materials |
Explain applications to plastic materials |
| Class 7 | Application to viscoelasticity measurement |
Explain application to viscoelasticity measurement |
| Class 8 | Introduction to thermophysical properties of soft materials |
Students will be able to explain the meanings of representative thermophysical properties and why structure, orientation, and interfaces affect heat transport in soft and functional materials. |
| Class 9 | Overview of thermophysical property measurement methods |
Students will be able to explain the basic concepts of representative thermophysical property measurement methods and how to select suitable methods depending on material and sample conditions. |
| Class 10 | Thermophysical property measurements using periodic heating |
Students will be able to explain the basic principles of evaluating thermophysical properties from periodic temperature responses and the physical meanings of amplitude, phase, and frequency dependence. |
| Class 11 | Thermophysical property measurements in dynamics and phase transitions |
Students will be able to explain changes in thermophysical properties during temperature variation and phase transitions, and why thermophysical measurements are useful for analyzing material dynamics. |
| Class 12 | Microscale thermophysical property measurements |
Students will be able to explain why microscale thermophysical property measurements are necessary and describe the basic concepts of local heating and local temperature sensing. |
| Class 13 | Thermophysical measurements using sensing devices and MEMS |
Students will be able to explain the basic principles of thermophysical measurements using MEMS sensors and microheaters, and the role of silicon nitride membrane devices. |
| Class 14 | Probe-based measurements, elastic waves, and future perspectives |
Students will be able to explain the concept of local thermophysical property evaluation using probe-based measurements, the relationship among thermal properties, mechanical properties, and elastic waves, and future directions in materials research. |
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)
Non required.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Materials used in class can be found on LMS.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Practice problems and interpretation for confirming the level of understanding (90%), level of class participation (10%) (The level of class participation will be evaluated by discussion, brief examination in the lecture.)
Related courses
- CAP.P494 ： Advanced Nano Science
- MAT.M421 ： Advanced Course of Quantum Chemistry
- CAP.I427 ： Introduction to Polymer Chemistry
- MAT.C412：Polymeric Biomaterials
- CAP.I426：Introduction to Polymer Science
- CAP.I437：Introduction to Polymer Physical Properties
Prerequisites
No prerequisites are necessary, but enrollment in the related courses is desirable.