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FCK3114 Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for Polymer- and Forest-based materials 5.0 credits

This course is designed to provide the background, fundamental concepts, and practical knowledge of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in its relation to polymer- and forest-based materials. Doctoral students of this course will learn from experts in the field, get hands-on experience preparing samples, operating various AFM imaging modes and analyzing AFM data. Following this course doctoral students will have a firm understanding of AFM and how it can be applied to their own research in polymer- and forest-based materials.

Information per course offering

Termin

Information for Spring 2025 Start 14 Jan 2025 programme students

Course location

KTH Campus

Duration
14 Jan 2025 - 14 Mar 2025
Periods
P3 (5.0 hp)
Pace of study

33%

Application code

60838

Form of study

Normal Daytime

Language of instruction

English

Course memo
Course memo is not published
Number of places

Places are not limited

Target group
No information inserted
Planned modular schedule
[object Object]
Schedule
Schedule is not published
Part of programme
No information inserted

Contact

Examiner
No information inserted
Course coordinator
No information inserted
Teachers
No information inserted
Contact

Torbjörn Pettersson (bobo1@kth.se)

Course syllabus as PDF

Please note: all information from the Course syllabus is available on this page in an accessible format.

Course syllabus FCK3114 (Spring 2022–)
Headings with content from the Course syllabus FCK3114 (Spring 2022–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )

Content and learning outcomes

Course disposition

The course comprises of approximately 130 full-time study hours, whereof 16 hours obligatory lectures and tutorials, 20 hours laboratory project and 9 hours of seminar in addition to self-studies. The lectures include basic principles atomic force microscopy, and a survey of a number of the most important AFM techniques. In this context specific instrumental aspects, sample preparation, optimization and problem solving will also be discussed.

Course contents

This course is designed to provide the background, fundamental concepts, and practical knowledge of atomic force microscopy (AFM) in its relation to polymer- and forest-based materials. The course will consist of:

  • The working principles and the components of atomic force microscopy (AFM)
  • What information and results that can be obtained with AFM in relation to polymer- and forest-based materials
  • How AFM can be utilized in applied research and/or industrial settings
  • Be able to recognize common artifacts, analyze surface force measurements, interpret results with relation to surface interactions
  • Design AFM experiments with relevance to own research

Intended learning outcomes

After completion of the course the doctoral student should have the knowledge and ability to

  • Describe the working principles and the components of the atomic force microscopy (AFM)
  • Explain and differentiate between the various AFM operation modes
  • Interpret, process and discuss results obtained by AFM
  • Critically interpret AFM data both own and in literature with relation to polymer and forest-based materials
  • Prepare samples suitable for AFM experiments

Literature and preparations

Specific prerequisites

Eligible for studies at the third-cycle level.

Recommended prerequisites

Eligible for postgraduate studies.

Equipment

No information inserted

Literature

Hand-outs from the teachers’ presentations and selected research articles.

Examination and completion

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

Grading scale

P, F

Examination

  • LAB1 - Laboratory work, 2.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
  • PRO1 - Project, 1.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
  • SEM1 - Seminars, 2.0 credits, grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

The examination will consist of three modules:

SEM1: attending lectures and seminars throughout the course (minimum 90% attendance on the lectures and 100% attendance on the seminars)
LAB1: participation in the laboratory lessons
PRO1: completing a project which consist of a written proposal, peer review, and a short presentation of the own proposal. 

Other requirements for final grade

Passed grades on all grading modules are required to recive final grade in the course.

Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination

No information inserted

Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination

No information inserted

Examiner

Ethical approach

  • All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
  • In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
  • In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Further information

Course room in Canvas

Registered students find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas. A link to the course room can be found under the tab Studies in the Personal menu at the start of the course.

Offered by

Main field of study

This course does not belong to any Main field of study.

Education cycle

Third cycle

Add-on studies

No information inserted

Contact

Torbjörn Pettersson (bobo1@kth.se)

Postgraduate course

Postgraduate courses at CBH/Fibre and Polymer Technology