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56650-01 - Lecture: Colloidal Nanocrystals and Quantum Dots (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Irregular |
| Lecturers | Jonathan De Roo (jonathan.deroo@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Colloidal nanocrystals are inorganic crystals a few nanometers across, held in solution by a shell of organic ligands. This course follows them from precursor chemistry to finished material: how a molecular precursor converts, how particles nucleate and grow, why a dispersion stays stable rather than aggregating, and how both the core and the surface are characterized once the synthesis is done. A second material class runs alongside, built from the same chemistry. Metal-oxo clusters are atomically precise oxides. Capping them with monotopic ligands gives a soluble particle, while linking them with ditopic ligands gives a porous framework. The course places nanocrystals, clusters and frameworks on two shared axes, size and connectivity, and uses the exactly known structure of a cluster as the reference against which nanocrystal surfaces and framework nodes are interpreted. Each session is split in two. The first half is concept teaching. The second is student work: calculations, workshops on real characterization data, and a semester-long critical reading project in which students use AI literature search tools and learn where those tools fail. |
| Learning objectives | Students who complete this course can trace a colloidal synthesis from precursor chemistry through nucleation and growth to a finished particle. They can select and interpret the methods that characterize a nanocrystal core and its surface, including what those methods cannot resolve. They can reason across the continuum from molecular oxo cluster to nanocrystal to porous framework. And they can read the current literature critically, using AI search tools with a working knowledge of where those tools fail. |
| Bibliography | Course text "Chemistry and Physics of Colloidal Nanocrystals" (De Roo and Hens), distributed to participants. Recent review articles and primary literature are assigned week by week. extra optional sources are: ebook: Nanocrystals synthesis, properties and applications, 2007, Rao, Kukarni and Thomas ebook: Semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots, 2008, Rogash (ed.) |
| Comments | For the timely organization of the access to the Rosental campus, students of the University of Basel must register on services.unibas.ch until 7 September 2026. Access to building BPR-1060 via gate 1047 only, the UniCard must be presented upon entry. |
| Course application | For the timely organization of the access to the Rosental campus, students of the University of Basel must register on services.unibas.ch until 7 September 2026. Access to building BPR-1060 via gate 1047 only, the UniCard must be presented upon entry. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Tuesday | 13.15-15.00 | Campus Rosental 1060, Seminarraum 7.48 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 15.09.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Campus Rosental 1060, Seminarraum 7.48 |
| Tuesday 22.09.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Campus Rosental 1060, Seminarraum 7.48 |
| Tuesday 29.09.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Campus Rosental 1060, Seminarraum 7.48 |
| Tuesday 06.10.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Campus Rosental 1060, Seminarraum 7.48 |
| Tuesday 13.10.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Campus Rosental 1060, Seminarraum 7.48 |
| Tuesday 20.10.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Campus Rosental 1060, Seminarraum 7.48 |
| Tuesday 27.10.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Campus Rosental 1060, Seminarraum 7.48 |
| Tuesday 03.11.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Campus Rosental 1060, Seminarraum 7.48 |
| Tuesday 10.11.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Campus Rosental 1060, Seminarraum 7.48 |
| Tuesday 17.11.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Campus Rosental 1060, Seminarraum 7.48 |
| Tuesday 24.11.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Campus Rosental 1060, Seminarraum 7.48 |
| Tuesday 01.12.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Campus Rosental 1060, Seminarraum 7.48 |
| Tuesday 08.12.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Campus Rosental 1060, Seminarraum 7.48 |
| Tuesday 15.12.2026 | 13.15-15.00 | Campus Rosental 1060, Seminarraum 7.48 |
| Modules |
Doctorate Chemistry: Recommendations (PhD subject: Chemistry) Module Specialisation: Chemistry (Master's Studies: Nanosciences) Module: Inorganic Chemistry (Master's Studies: Chemistry) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | written exam (2 hours), together with a graded semester project and coursework portfolio |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,5 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Science, studiendekanat-philnat@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Departement Chemie |