Solid-State Chemistry

MIT 3.091 — Introduction to Solid-State Chemistry

A comprehensive introduction to the principles of chemistry that underpin materials science and engineering. From quantum mechanics and atomic structure through chemical bonding, crystallography, and electronic properties to polymers, diffusion, and reaction kinetics — this course builds the chemical foundation for understanding all classes of materials: metals, semiconductors, ceramics, polymers, and biological materials.

36 Lectures8 PartsMIT LevelInteractive Simulations

What You'll Learn

●Atomic structure, quantum numbers, and electron configuration

●Chemical bonding: Lewis structures, VSEPR, molecular orbitals

●Semiconductors, doping, and electronic materials

●Crystallography, unit cells, Miller indices, and Bravais lattices

●X-ray diffraction techniques: Bragg's law, Laue, powder methods

●Defects in solids: vacancies, dislocations, grain boundaries

●Amorphous solids, glass science, and reaction kinetics

●Polymers, organic chemistry, and battery chemistry

●Diffusion in solids: Fick's laws and Arrhenius behavior

Atomic Structure & Quantum MechanicsLectures 1-8

Chemical BondingLectures 9-14

Electronic MaterialsLectures 15-17

CrystallographyLectures 18-22

Defects & Amorphous SolidsLectures 23-26

Reaction Kinetics & SolutionsLectures 27-31

Polymers & Organic ChemistryLectures 32-34

Diffusion & TransportLectures 35-36

Course Parts

Part 1: Atomic Structure & Quantum Mechanics

Lectures 1-8

Bohr model, atomic spectra, de Broglie wavelength, quantum numbers, electron configuration, photoelectron spectroscopy, and ionization energies.

Bohr Model & Hydrogen SpectrumQuantum Numbers & OrbitalsElectron ConfigurationPhotoelectron Spectroscopy

Part 2: Chemical Bonding

Lectures 9-14

Lewis structures, VSEPR theory, molecular orbital theory, hybridization, intermolecular forces, and phase transitions.

Lewis Structures & Formal ChargeVSEPR GeometryMolecular Orbital TheoryIntermolecular Forces

Part 3: Electronic Materials

Lectures 15-17

Band theory of solids, semiconductors, doping, p-n junctions, and metallic bonding.

Band TheorySemiconductors & DopingMetallic Bonding

Part 4: Crystallography

Lectures 18-22

Crystal systems, Bravais lattices, Miller indices, X-ray emission/absorption, and diffraction techniques.

Crystal Systems & Unit CellsMiller IndicesX-ray DiffractionBragg's Law

Part 5: Defects & Amorphous Solids

Lectures 23-26

Point defects, line defects, planar defects, glass science, and engineering of amorphous materials.

Point DefectsDislocationsGlass TransitionAmorphous Solids

Part 6: Reaction Kinetics & Solutions

Lectures 27-31

Reaction rates, rate laws, aqueous solutions, acid-base chemistry, and equilibrium.

Reaction RatesAqueous SolutionsAcids & BasesChemical Equilibrium

Part 7: Polymers & Organic Chemistry

Lectures 32-34

Polymer classification, polymerization mechanisms, molecular weight distributions, and organic chemistry fundamentals.

Polymer StructurePolymerizationOrganic ChemistryBattery Chemistry

Part 8: Diffusion & Transport

Lectures 35-36

Fick's first and second laws, steady-state and transient diffusion, activation energy, and Arrhenius behavior.

Fick's LawsDiffusion MechanismsArrhenius Equation

Key Equations Preview

Bohr Energy Levels

$$E_n = -\frac{13.6 \text{ eV}}{n^2}$$

de Broglie Wavelength

$$\lambda = \frac{h}{p} = \frac{h}{mv}$$

Rydberg Formula

$$\frac{1}{\lambda} = R_H \left(\frac{1}{n_1^2} - \frac{1}{n_2^2}\right)$$

Bragg's Law

$$n\lambda = 2d\sin\theta$$

Fick's First Law

$$J = -D\frac{dC}{dx}$$

Arrhenius Equation

$$D = D_0 \exp\left(-\frac{E_a}{k_B T}\right)$$

Prerequisites

This course is designed as an introductory college-level chemistry course. Recommended background includes:

●High school chemistry (atomic structure, periodic table, basic bonding)
●Calculus (derivatives, integrals, differential equations for later parts)
●Basic physics (energy, waves, electromagnetic radiation)