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Using Sol-Gel Chemistry to Synthesize a Material with Properties Suited for Chemical Sensing. Development and Implementation of a Materials Science Experiment for the Undergraduate Curriculum
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Abstract
Materials chemistry has become a field of high priority internationally, in terms of both fundamental and applied science. Although a growing field in industrial and scientific research, materials chemistry continues to be a minor segment of the academic curriculum. We propose using sol-gel chemistry to introduce undergraduate chemistry majors to the field of materials chemistry. In this experiment, students vary the synthetic processes necessary for xerogel production. They investigate how different parameters (e.g., temperature and pH) affect the internal porous network during xerogel synthesis. Techniques such as inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis are used to investigate the porous nature of xerogels. Conclusions are drawn on the basis of measurements that reflect the pore diameters. By varying the synthetic processes and comparing their experimental results, students are introduced to the concept of cooperative learning to enhance teamwork in the laboratory. Students are introduced to data handling, to writing formal reports in the style common in chemistry journals, and to use of scientific literature. However, the primary objective is to introduce them to the synthesis and characterization of a material.
Keywords (Audience):
Upper-Division UndergraduateKeywords (Domain):
Inorganic ChemistryKeywords (Pedagogy):
Hands-On Learning / ManipulativesKeywords (Subject):
Materials ScienceCiting Articles
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This article has been cited by 7 ACS Journal articles (5 most recent appear below).
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- Received: August 03, 2009
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