The overall aim of this MSc module is to give the students a few in-depth examples of the applications of materials and solid-state chemical/physics crystallography in academic research, industrial research, and its general use in the outside world. The general aim is to be take examples mainly from materials and solid-state chemistry/physics so as to provide a complimentary view to the application of crystallography in structural molecular biology which is covered by the protein crystallography module.

The objectives of each lecture are given below:

• Lecture 1
  To illustrate the different types of crystal structures formed by inorganic oxides;
  To show how structures may be classified according to structural type;
  To introduce the concept of relating structure to physical properties;
  To discuss the application of diffraction methods to the structure determination of high-temperature superconductors;
  To demonstrate the similarity in structure of the various high-temperature superconductors.
• Lecture 2
  To discuss the importance of the SiO4 tetrahedron in the formation of different silicate mineral structures;
  To expand the concept of the relationship between structure and physical properties with reference to the rock-forming silicate minerals;
  To give the students a hands-on demonstration of the different optical properties of various minerals using two different sources of granite.
• Lecture 3
  To continue the concept of the relationship between structure and physical properties with reference to cements;
  To discuss the different complimentary methods used to investigate cements.
• Lecture 4 (Invited Lecturer)
  To discuss the Cambridge Crystallographic Structural Database; what it contains; and how to use it;
  To discuss how databases may be used to deduce information about the molecular interactions between different chemical groups;
  To give the students hands-on experience of the use of the Cambridge CSD.
• Lectures 5 and 6 (Invited Lecturer)
  To introduce the students to the concept of perfect crystals and crystal defects;
  To show how they may be studied by X-ray topography;
  To discuss the instrumentation required for X-ray topography;
  To outline the principles involved in X-ray topography;
  To illustrate X-ray topography using diamond and silicon crystals as examples;
  To demonstrate the difference between the kinematic and dynamic approach to diffraction theory;
  To introduce the students to the concepts involved in the dynamical theory.
• Lecture 7 (Invited Lecturer)
  To discuss the structure and properties of zeolites;
  To outline their importance in industrial processes;
  To explain the limitations of diffraction in studying the behaviour of molecules within zeolites;
  To briefly explain the concepts involved in the computer simulation of crystal structures;
  To demonstrate how computer simulation and molecular graphics leads to a greater understanding of how zeolites function.
• Lecture 8 (Invited Lecturer)
  To explain the concept of a patent;
  To discuss the importance of patents to the pharmaceutical industry;
  To outline the crystallographic contents of patents;
  To illustrate by example polymorphism in crystals;
  To explain why patents are contested and how pattern diffraction is used to both defend and attack patents in a court of law.
• Lecture 9
  To provide the students with a variety of practical examples of the use of electron microscopy for the study and characterization of materials;
  To briefly discuss the use of nano- and micro-technologies.
• Lectures 10 and 11
  To provide the students with a background to the scientific methods used in the study of archeological samples;
  To briefly discuss the merits and disadvantages of the scientific methods available;
  To show by illustration how forgeries are distinguished from the genuine objects;
  To demonstrate how optical and electron microscopy can be used to examine metal samples;
  To give the students hands-on experience in distinguishing between genuine and artificial metal corrosion;