MECH5311: Semester 1, 2022

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Units MECH5311 Semester 1 2022 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

MECH5311: Microscopy and Microanalysis of Materials

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

This UoS offers the fundamental knowledge that is essential for the microscopy and microanalysis of materials. The UoS will cover the basic fundamental concepts of materials structures and modern materials characterisation techniques that are available in Sydney Microscopy and Microanalysis in the University, including X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atom probe tomography.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	AMME1362 or AMME2302 or AMME9302 or CIVL2110
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Xiaozhou Liao, xiaozhou.liao@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Assignment 3 Students will works on questions based on the lectures in weeks 10 -- 13.	20%	STUVAC Due date: 03 Jun 2021 at 23:59	N/A
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 1 Students will works on questions based on the lectures in weeks 1 -- 4.	20%	Week 06 Due date: 01 Apr 2021 at 23:59	N/A
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 2 Students will works on questions based on the lectures in weeks 6 -- 9.	20%	Week 10 Due date: 06 May 2022 at 23:59	N/A
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Presentation Group presentations on materials characterisation using advanced microscopy	20%	Week 11 Due date: 13 May 2022 at 09:00	20 min presentation + 5 min Q&A
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	presentation written report Essay. A group written report based on students' oral presentation.	20%	Week 13 Due date: 27 May 2022 at 23:59	~3,000 words
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Seminar and report, and three assignments

Assessment criteria

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59 pm on the due date: • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date. • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Ongoing	Independent study	Independent study (110 hr)
Week 01	Brief review of structures and defects in crystalline materials	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 02	Reciprocal space	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 03	X-ray diffraction and electron–matter interactions	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 04	Atom probe tomography	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 06	Sample preparation for APT, SEM & TEM	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 07	Scanning electron microscopy -- the Instrument, back-scattered imaging, secondary electron imaging	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 08	Scanning electron microscopy -- Electron backscattered diffraction; Transmission electron microscopy -- the Instrument	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 09	Transmission electron microscopy -- Diffraction, imaging	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 10	Transmission electron microscopy -- imaging	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 11	Seminar presentation	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 12	Spectroscopy and in-situ microscopy	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 13	In-situ microscopy and lab tour	Lecture (3 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction, 10th edition, William D. Callister, Jr. and David G. Rethwisch, Wiley, ISBN 9781119405498
Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Microanalysis, 3rd edition, Joseph Goldstein, et al., Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, ISBN 978-1-4615-0215-9 (eBook)
Transmission Electron Microscopy, C. Barry Carter and David B. Williams, Spring, ISBN 978-3-319-26651-0 (eBook)
Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy, Stephen J. Pennycook and Peter D. Nellist, Spring, ISBN 978-1-4419-7200-2 (eBook)
Atom Probe Microscopy, Baptiste Gault, Michael P. Moody, Julie M. Cairney, and Simon P. Ringer, Spring, ISBN 978-1-4614-3436-8 (eBook)

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. communicate effectively the microstructures, crystalline structures and crystalline defects of materials in oral and/or written presentations
LO2. describe, in relatively simple terms, crystalline lattice structures in reciprocal space, describing theoretically, schematically, and mathematically
LO3. communicate effectively several common microstructural characterisation techniques in oral and/or written presentations
LO4. describe, in relatively simple terms, the interactions of fast electrons with matter, describing theoretically, schematically, and mathematically
LO5. identify crystalline phases using X-ray diffraction and determine crystalline lattice structures using electron diffraction
LO6. understand common materials preparation techniques for structural characterisation
LO7. understand the basic working mechanism of the scanning electron microscope and microstructural information that can be extracted from electron backscattered images and secondary electron images
LO8. understand the basic working mechanism of electron backscatter diffraction and its applications in structural characterisation of materials
LO9. understand the basic working mechanisms of the transmission electron microscope, including electron diffraction, imaging and spectrometry, and their applications in materials characterisation

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Additional information

Site visit guidelines

We may arrange a lab tour to the Australian Center for Microscopy and Microanalysis in Madsen Building if the COVID restrictions are lifted.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Site visit guidelines

Disclaimer

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