Cristallography

The goal of this course is to enable students describe standard crystal structures and materials categories (metals, ionics, covalent and molecular), as well as use the VESTA software to visualize, plot and characterize atomic structures. This module also introduces the links between crystal structure (composition, bonds, defects) and materials properties.

The course contains 10 sessions, 7 of which are classes, 2 are exercise sessions with the VESTA software, and 1 final evaluation.

In this course, we use the Swartz method that encourages autonomous learning. Students have to read the class document and look at the class videos ahead of the session. They are available on Arche : http://u2l.fr/cristallofigim
The professor does not present new content during the class. The lecture is built by the students who ask questions to the professor. At the end of the lecture, before moving on to exercises, an interactive quiz is performed in order to check that students have acquired the basics for the session.

Session 1: Introduction to cristallography
Session 2: Properties of crystal structures
Session 3: Miller index
Session 4: Graded exercise / practical exercise with VESTA
Session 5: Metals
Session 6: Ionic crystals
Session 7: Covalent and molecular crystals
Session 8: Introduction to crystal defects
Session 9: Special class session: ask your questions on all the course - followed by practical exercise with VESTA
Session 10: Final evaluation

Details of evaluation are presented in the class handout or here: Cristallographie

The relationships between structure and properties, and the role of crystal defects