Course

UNIT 1: Solid state (8 Hrs)

Crystalline and amorphous solids – Molecular Solids, Ionic Solids, Atomic Solids. crystal structure – unit cells – identification of crystal planes- the seven crystal systems and their Bravais lattices, X-ray diffraction – Bragg’s equation and experimental methods (powder method and rotating crystal technique), metallic and ionic crystals – close packing of spheres – hexagonal, cubic and body centred cubic packing. Molecular crystals.  Band theory.

UNIT 2: Electrochemistry (9 Hrs)

Faradays laws, origin of potential, electrochemical series, reference electrodes, Nernst equation, Balancing oxidation–reduction Equations – Voltaic (or Galvanic) Cells – Electrochemical Cell Notation – Standard Electrode Potentials – Predicting the Spontaneity – Cell Potential, Free Energy, and the Equilibrium Constant – Concentration Cells, Batteries -Dry-Cell Batteries, Li-MnO₂ cell, lead acid batteries. Ni-Cd battery, Lithium ion batteries. Fuel cell – construction and working of PEMFC. Electrolysis – Stoichiometry of Electrolysis – Corrosion.

UNIT 3: Thermochemistry and Thermodynamics (10 Hrs)

First law of Thermodynamics – Quantifying Heat and Work – Measuring 𝚫E for Chemical reactions: Enthalpy:  Exothermic and Endothermic Processes – Stoichiometry – Thermochemical Equations – Constant-Pressure Calorimetry: Hess’s law and other relationships – Enthalpies of reaction – Standard Heats of Formation.

Spontaneous and Nonspontaneous Processes – Entropy and the Second law of – Thermodynamics – Heat Transfer and Changes in the Entropy of the Surroundings – Gibbs Free Energy – Entropy Changes in Chemical reactions – Free Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions – Free Energy Changes for Nonstandard States: Free Energy and Equilibrium.

 Unit 4: Polymers for robotics

Mechanically responsive materials for robotics – cyclodextrin based artificial muscles – introduction – artificial muscle regulated by cross-linking density.

Mechanochromic polymers as stress sensing soft materials – Introduction, classification, Mechanochromism based on radical type mechanochromophores.

Self-healing polymers – introduction, types of self-healing polymers, types of chemistry involved in self-healing polymeric systems.

Course objectives

This course is designed to impart strong foundation in physical, inorganic and polymer chemistry, with a specific focus on applications relevant to robotics and smart materials. The course enables interdisciplinary integration of chemistry concepts with mechanical and electronic systems in robotics by connecting fundamental chemical principles to real-world technological applications.

Course Outcomes

After the completion of this course, student will be able to

CO1: Understand the structure and classification of solids and interpret the X-ray diffraction of known solids.

CO2: Apply the electrochemical principles in the design and functioning of batteries, fuel cells, and corrosion prevention in robotics

CO3: Apply thermodynamic laws to predict feasibility and energy changes in chemical systems.

CO4: Understand the role of polymers in robotics with emphasis on mechanical responsiveness, self-healing and artificial muscle systems

CO5: Understand the fundamental concepts of chemistry in designing and developing chemical systems for robotic application.

CO/PO Mapping

Text Books

Principles of Chemistry: A molecular approach, 3^rd Edition. Nivaldo J Tro, Pearson Education, Inc.2016.

Elements of Physical Chemistry, (7^th Edition), Peter Atkins and Julio de Paula, Oxford University Press, 2017.

Reference Books

Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change With Advanced Topics, (8 ^nd Edition), Martin S. Silberberg and Dr., Patricia Amateis, McGrawHill, 2017.

Chemistry, (8^th Edition), Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Brooks/Cole Cengage learning, 2010.

Electrochemical Methods second edition, A.J. Bard and L.R. Faulkner, John Wiley and Son, 2001.

Hideko Koshima, Mechanically Responsive Materials for Soft Robotics, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, 2020.

Wolfgang H. Binder, Self-Healing Polymers, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, 2013

Sabu Thomas and Anu Surendran, Self-healing polymer based systems, Elsevier, 2020.