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PHY-30057 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 06 April 2026

PHY-30057 - Materials for Green Technology
Coordinator: Nilanthy Balakrishnan Room: LJ2.10 Tel: +44 1782 7 33045
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734921

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites



Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27


Aims
To discuss the challenges facing the current renewable energy technologies, specifically high cost, scarcity and low efficiency. To explore how discovering, designing, and engineering advanced materials is crucial for developing high-performance devices for sustainable energy applications. To develop transferable, problem solving, effective reading and writing, presentation, and reviewing skills that are requires by the practising physicist or astrophysicist.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Critically evaluate and discuss the challenges facing renewable and sustainable energy systems, with particular emphasis on the limitations of the materials employed.: 1,2
Compare and contrast approaches to materials screening, design, and engineering, and explain their importance in developing efficient technologies for energy capture, storage, and conversion.: 1,2
Communicate effectively the key fundamental physical properties of the most promising materials for a range of renewable energy technologies, using appropriate scientific terminology and reasoning.: 2
Locate, evaluate, and synthesize information from the scientific literature, demonstrating the ability to extract and interpret data relevant to materials for renewable energy applications.: 2
Apply physics principles to perform calculations and solve problems, and critically interpret results related to the physical properties of materials used in renewable energy systems.: 1

Study hours

Active learning hours:
23 hours of lectures
8 hours of tutorials
5 hours of workshops on review article writing, oral presentation, and Q&A session

Independent study hours:
50 hours private study
50 hours literature reading and review paper writing
8 hours oral presentation preparation
2 hours class test
4 hours of oral presentation (variable depending on the number of students)

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Class Test weighted 50%
Class Test
Topics covered during the course will be assessed via an unseen closed-book class test of length 2 hours. The class test will consist of compulsory questions that are a mix of description and calculation.

2: Review weighted 50%
Review Article (1500 words)
Students will write a Journal style review article (worth 30 %) with a word limit of approximately 1500 words. They will then give a 10-minute oral presentation (worth 20 %) of the review article with Q&A from peers (at least 2 questions; 3 minutes).

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 06 April 2026