Curriculum

YEAR 1 - Fundamentals

Year 1 is more dedicated to the science fundamentals (electrochemistry, materials science, physical chemistry, etc.) associated with Energy Storage and Conversion. The first semester (S1) will be spent in Poland (Warsaw) by the whole class, which then will continue for S2 in France (Toulouse).

Semester 1 - Warsaw

TU# TU title ECTS Main topics covered
TU1 Electrochemistry 4

Fundamental electrochemistry concepts; Redox couples

Thermodynamics and kinetics

Redox reactions

Electrochemical double layer

Basics of electro-analytical methods

TU2 Solid State Chemistry 6

Mechanisms and kinetics of solid-state reactions

Sintering

Non-stoichiometric materials

Diffusion in solid state

TU3 Physics for Materials Engineering 4

Crystallography

Chemical bonding in solids

Defects in solids

Energy bands and semiconductors

Electric and optical properties of solids

Rheology of liquids

Polymers and particles suspensions

TU4 Ionics in Electrochemistry 4

Physical and chemical properties of electrolytes

Conductivity mechanisms in liquid, solid and polymer electrolytes

Composite electrolytes

Electrochemical stability

TU5 Calculations in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering 4

Chemical equations

Calculus in materials synthesis

Determination of equilibrium constants of reactions

Redox balance

Kinetics and electro-kinetics calculations

TU6 English and scientific publication writing 2

Grammar and phrase structure at CF level

Fluency in spoken and written English

Scientific texts – features, rules and tips

Preparation of reports and scientific articles

TU7 Laboratory Practice 6

General chemistry practices (e.g. inorganic equilibria)

General electrochemistry practices (e.g. electrolytes, conductivity, redox reactions, Galvanic cells)

Structural studies (e.g. DSC, X-ray, FTiR)

Rheological studies (e.g. electrode slurries)

Semester 2 - Toulouse

TU# TU title ECTS FIVE main topics covered
TU8 Advanced Electrochemistry 6

Electrochemistry in macro vs. micro electrodes

Electro-analytical methods (e.g. chrono-amperometry, rotating electrodes, transient state voltammetry)

Advanced electrochemical techniques (e.g. EQCM, CME, EIS, PITT, GITT)

Corrosion

Protection against corrosion

TU9 Advanced Solid State Chemistry 6

Soft chemistry (chimie douce)

Crystal chemistry; Nanostructured materials

Polymer molecules and macromolecules (synthesis, characterization and properties)

TU10 Advanced Physical Chemistry of Solids 4

Electronic structure of solids

Crystal defects and their influence on physical and electrochemical properties

Characterization tools of electrical and optical properties of solids

TU11 English and Scientific Conference Presentation 4

Fluency in spoken English; Scientific presentations – features, rules and tips

Preparation of conference presentations

Lab practice: writing a scientific article and presenting orally the results

TU12 Application of Surface Treatments to Energy Materials 4

Chemical conversion treatments

Electrochemical conversion treatments

Anodization

Electrochemical deposit of metals and alloys

TU13 Energy Storage and Conversion Devices I 6

Energy landscape and the role of electrochemistry

History of electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices

Capacitors and electrolytic capacitors

Supercapacitors

Primary cells

Introduction to batteries (lead acid, lithium-ion, sodium-ion)

Introduction to fuel cells.


YEAR 2 – Practical & technological aspects

Year 2 is more focused on practical and technological aspects covering all the levels of the value chain (synthesis of materials, assembly of energy storage systems, prototyping, large-scale facilities).

Indeed, the third Semester, more applied and focusing on technology, will be spent by students either in Spain (Bilbao), Slovenia (Ljubljana) or France (Amiens) that have recently massively invested on technology transfer and prototyping of material synthesis and battery manufacturing.

Semester 4 will be dedicated to a 6-month Master’s Thesis research project within one of the thirty participating organizations in Europe, USA or Australia (Universities and Research Centers of ALISTORE-ERI, companies including BOSCH, UMICORE, RENAULT, TOTAL, E4V, SAFT, SOLVAY).

In addition to scientific and technological modules, during the S1-S4, several modules for soft/transferable skills are provided to students, essential for future careers.

Semester 3 - Common TU

TU# TU title ECTS Main topics covered
TU14 Structural Characterization of Energy Materials 4

Crystal structures, symmetry, diffraction

Phase identification and quantification

Use of structural databases

Crystal structure resolution

Rietveld refinement

Density Functional Theory for structure properties prediction

TU15 Morphological and Thermal Analysis of Energy Materials

3

Methods for particle size measurement

Electron, IR and Raman Spectroscopy

Microscopy (optical, electron, scanning probe)

Computer tomography

Thermo-analytical techniques.   

TU16 Modern techniques for the synthesis of Energy Materials 3

Sol gel technique and precipitation

Hydrothermal and templating synthesis

Hybrid materials

Nanomaterials

TU17 Energy Storage and Conversion Devices II 4

Lithium ion batteries

Sodium ion batteries

Lithium sulfur batteries

Lithium metal batteries

Metal air batteries

Solid state batteries

Redox flow batteries

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

Solid oxide fuel cells

Comparison between technologies and selection rules

Hydrogen production, transport and storage

Photo-electrochemical devices, Materials recycling

Environmental costs of the technologies

TU18 Tools for Bibliography search, Fund Hunting, Intellectual Property - Soft skills and Professional Development 4

Classical and advanced (e.g. text mining) tools for bibliographic search and bibliographic organization

EU funding; Project proposal structuring

Project monitoring and reporting

Patent structuration

Invention reports

Professional development

Entrepreneurship

Presentation rhetoric in entrepreneurship

Semester 3 - Ljubljana

TU# TU title ECTS Main topics covered
TU19 Hydrogen Technologies znd their Engineering 6

Hydrogen fuel cells (low, intermediate and high temperature)

Manufacturing process of fuel cell electrodes and cells

Electrode formulation

Electrochemical characterization

Electrochemical water splitting devices

TU20 Analytical (Electro-)Chemistry and Electrocatalysis

6

Analytical chemistry and electrochemistry

Atomic and molecular spectroscopy

Separation methods (GC, HPLC, IC)

Electrocatalysis (nano-catalysts activity, stability and selectivity)

Electro-kinetics 

Semester 3 - Bilbao

TU# TU title ECTS Main topics covered
TU21 Thermal Energy Storage and 
Renewable Fuel Production 
6

Thermal energy storage fundamentals 

Synthesis and characterization of advanced thermal energy storage materials

Separation methods (GC, HPLC, IC)

Electrocatalysis (nano-catalysts activity, stability and selectivity)

Electro-kinetics 

TU22 Large Scale Facilities for In Operando
Studies for Energy Materials 

6

Large scale facilities in EU and worldwide 

Electrochemical in situ / operando measurements 

Structural studies - in situ operando X-ray and neutron diffraction 

Spectroscopic studies - in situ operando X-ray

Ion and electron spectroscopies 

Large scale facility proposal preparation 

Semester 3 - Amiens

TU# TU title ECTS Main topics covered
TU23 Battery technologies and their Engineering

6

Manufacturing wet process of lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery electrodes and (coin, pouch, cylindrical) cells

Electrode formulation

Electrochemical characterization

Dry manufacturing processes (e.g. extrusion) of lithium-ion and solid-state battery electrodes

Battery safety and aging

TU24 Numerical Simulation, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Twins 6

Computational modeling-based engineering of batteries and fuel cells (manufacturing processes and operation)

Big data and AI

Supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniques and applications to batteries and fuel cells

Digital twins for the optimization of electrodes and cells

Semester 4 - Master Thesis

TU# TU title ECTS FIVE main topics covered
TU25 Master Thesis within a Research or Company Laboratory 30 Master thesis internship

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