• Time: The schedule will be determined by the instructor of the course, based on the availability of the equipment.


• Location: Physics labs, including MC H203, MC H303, MC H305, and MC H307.

• What Brock calendar entry says:
  
  • An experimental course that focuses on sample preparation. Projects may include the synthesis of ceramic materials and fabrication of thin films of these materials, nano particles of ceramic materials prepared by methods such as sol-gel and solid-state reactions, alloys and amorphous materials.
  
  

• Prerequisite(s)
  • Students must have completed either PHYS 5P79 successfully or obtain the instructor's permission.
  
  

• What does student need to bring into the course?
  • This course is designed for students with a strong passion for working as experimental physicists. Those enrolled in this course should be capable of conducting independent research by searching for scientific concepts through the internet and text books and obtaining practical ideas. Furthermore, students are expected to possess the ability to plan and design their experiments effectively. In the event of unsuccessful attempts, they should be able to adapt and switch to alternative logical plans to continue their scientific investigations.
  
  

• Course Goals

  The objective of the couese PHYS 5P81 is to achieve the following:

  • Learn to synthesize various types of materials, including bulk, thin film, and alloy.
  
  
  • Gain experience in the characterization of the prepared samples and study their properties.
  
  
  • Enhance scientific writing skills and effectively present scientific achivements.
  
  
  • Finally, develop capabilities for working in the industry or research areas.
  
  

  In summary, the aim of this course is to provide students with knowledge and skills in material synthesis, characterization, scientific communication, and preparation for professional work in the industry or research sector.

  
  

• Textbook
  • Synthesizing a material depends on several factors, such as the type, size, shape, and intended application of the material. Due to this complexity, researchers may need to extensively review various references to determine the optimal conditions and methods for synthesis. In cases where the initial attempts are unsuccessful, modifications to the synthesis method might be necessary based on theoretical knowledge and previous experiences. This iterative process of refinement and adjustment is crucial to achieve succesful material synthesis. Hence, there is no specific individual references assigned for this course.
  
  

• Communication with the Instructor
  • your instructor operates with an open-door policy, allowing you to seek one-on-one assisstance and ask questions at any time, except during restricted hours.

Note: To receive a grade in this course, it is mandatory to compelete all lab assignments and attend all lab sessions and cooperate well with your laboratory fellow.

This is a provisional list, drawn from past experience. Overtime, some topics may be omitted, while others might be introduced on yearly basis.

• Synthesis and structural properties of a bulk ceramic
  
  • Synthesis of La_(1-x)(Sr/Ca)_xMnO₃ via conventional solid-state reaction method
  • Compositional analysis of the prepared sample using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)
  • Study of morphology of the prepared sample using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
  • Elemental analysis of the prepared sample using Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS)
  
  
• Fabrication and structural properties of thin films
  
  • Preparation of thin films of La_(1-x)(Sr/Ca)_xMnO₃ using Pulsed Laser deposition (PLD)
  • The investigation of the orientation properties of thin films
  
  
• Synthesis and structural properties of a superconductor
  
  • Synthesis of a binary superconductor using arc-melting fabrication method
  • Compositional analysis of the prepared sample using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)
  • Study of morphology of the prepared sample using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
  • Elemental analysis of the prepared sample using Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS)
  
  

  After completing each characterization, students are required to interpret their results accurately based on scientific evidence.

• The deadline for withdrawing from the course 5P81 (2024 Spring D01-S01) without academic penalty is June 14, 2024. For additional important dates, please refer to Dates by Academic Term.

Outlined below are the expectations and responsibilities we have for you.

• Students are required to attend all laboratory sessions and schedulled lecture according to Brock's Attendance Requirements


• All students must be familiar with and adhere to the rules outlined in Brock University's Academic Integrity Policy. Additionally, all graduate students must engage in their studies with the utmost integrity in accordance with Brock's integrity policy.


• Graduate students undertaking an experimental thesis project or other experimental Physics courses, are obligated to register for Health and Safety online Brightspace Training before attending to the 5P81 lab.

Note: Individuals who have compeleted any of PHYS 5P79, or PHYS 5P80, is expected to hold valid certificates for all necessary Health and Safety courses obtained prior to enrollment.



• All the lab reports must be written in LaTeX. Students can access to the Physics Template from here.


• Late lab report will Not be accepted.


• Students are responsible for their own learning. While the experiments are designed to guide and assist them, the real effort of mastering the course material lies with student themselves. To maximize their learning experience, it is crucial to dedicate time to update your knowledge with recent research achivements in your field. Consistent reading, studying, and working on their project, helps solidify student's learning into long-term memory. This ensures student to build upon their knowledge and skills in their future career.