Nanotechnology contributes solutions to previously inaccessible challenges – in sectors including communications, energy, environment, healthcare, personalised medicine, and security. Gain industry-relevant knowledge of nanoscale engineering, including manufacturing nanoscale structures and devices; the functionality of thin film coatings; energy harvesting and storage; biosensors; and nanotechnology use in medical diagnoses and treatments. You'll learn how to characterise surfaces and nanomaterials and how to simulate the performance of nanoscale devices and processes.
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | T366 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | 3 |
| SCQF level | 10 |
| FHEQ level | 6 |
| Course work includes: | |
| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| 3 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) | |
| End-of-module assessment | |
| No residential school | |
This module looks at three application areas associated with nanoscale engineering: structured technologies; energy and electronics; and health. Interactive software supports the module materials, and Multiphysics simulations provide you with the opportunity to design systems and devices which utilise nanoscale engineering and model their performance.
Introduction
This section introduces nanoscale engineering and briefly describes the technologies under consideration throughout the module, using examples of nature-inspired engineering which utilise nanostructures. The important roles played by thermal energy and intermolecular forces are explored and the rapidly evolving nature of nanotechnologies is emphasised.
Part 1: Structured technologies
In this part, you'll learn about low adhesion surfaces, including self-cleaning glass, stain-resistant fabrics, and waterproofing. The role of surface modification in creating new functionality is described. Top-down and bottom-up methods will be explored, including vacuum systems, material deposition techniques, and surface characterisation. Devices including accelerometers, actuators, and detectors are considered.
Part 2: Energy and electronics
This part focuses on nanostructures and nanomaterials, exploring their enhanced properties conferred by scaling. The development of state-of-the-art and next-generation, low-power electronic devices is investigated. You'll study the fabrication and characterisation of these devices, as well as the range of light/matter interactions that are exploited in nanotechnologies. Application areas include energy storage, energy harvesting, supercapacitors, and logic/memory technologies.
Part 3: Health
This part explores nanotechnology as utilised in healthcare and biochemical applications for early diagnosis and prevention, as well as for the treatment and monitoring of disease. Particular emphasis is placed on diagnostics, including advanced biosensors for health, drug delivery techniques, lab-on-a-chip and nano-robots. You'll study microfluidic and nanofluidic devices and arrays of nanomaterials-based sensor technology.
Future prospects
You'll explore the future prospects for nanotechnology, including molecular machines, as well as recently awarded Nobel Prizes in Chemistry and Physics, which are expected to lead to functional engineered devices and products.
The knowledge and skills developed in this module are applicable in various engineering roles. At the end of it you'll be able to:
This module will help you to gain knowledge and skills that are essential for the practising engineer. It can help you to:
There are no formal entry requirements.
However, previous degree-level study of science or engineering is recommended.
Are you ready for T366? is a diagnostic quiz to help you decide if you're prepared to start studying T366.
If you're not sure you're ready, talk to an advisor.
You should aim to be confident and fluent with the concepts covered in the Are you ready for T366? quiz and follow the advice in the quiz.
You must be familiar with the following:
We recommend you have one of the following:
For registered students, revision and preparation material will be available on the T366 'Discover Your Module' page on the engineering subject advisory website.
You'll have access to a module website, which includes:
We'll give you three printed module books, each covering one part of study.
Throughout your module studies, you'll get help and support from your assigned module tutor. They'll help you by:
Module tutors also run online tutorials throughout the module. Where possible, recordings of online tutorials will be made available to students. While these tutorials won't be compulsory for you to complete the module, you're strongly encouraged to take part.
The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box.
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone. The Accessibility Statement below outlines what studying this module involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
This module uses a mixture of printed and online materials. Printed materials explain the underpinning theory: there are also printed guides to the OpenEngineering Laboratory activities. Otherwise this module's study materials are online. Online materials are composed of pages of text with images; audio/video clips of 1–15 minutes (with transcripts/subtitles); diagrams; interactive media; animations; and multiple-choice self-assessed quizzes. Online materials also include links to external resources, online forums and online tutorial rooms.
This module has a range of learning events, including online tutorials. Although not compulsory, tutorials will help you consolidate your learning.
Online laboratory practical work is required to achieve or consolidate your learning. If you have a visual impairment or limited manual dexterity you may need an assistant to successfully complete this element. The activities are a required component of assessment.
You'll be required to use mathematical and scientific symbols and expressions throughout the module and within assessment.
The study materials contain a considerable number of diagrams/graphs/photographs in print and online materials. Reading, interpreting and producing examples of these is an important part of the study of this module and will be assessed. We provide descriptions for all essential figures.
You will be required to search for, and make use of, third-party material online, and this will be assessed.
In this module, you'll be working with specialist reading material such as mathematical notation and chemical structures in both print and online materials.
This module has tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and an end-of-module assessment (EMA) that you must submit via the online TMA/EMA service, interactive computer-marked assignments and self-assessed assessment-preparation quizzes completed online.
You'll receive feedback from your tutor on your submitted Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs). This will help you to reflect on your TMA performance. You should refer to it to help you prepare for your next assignment.
We structure all University modules to a set timetable and you'll need time-management skills to keep your studies on track. We'll support you in developing these skills.
This module requires you to use specialist symbols within software that may not be covered by standard accessibility tools. The module requires you to use computer tools to engage with OU software in the form of interactive graphics. We try to make all OU software accessible. The COMSOL software, which is used in industry, is a third-party software and may not be fully accessible as a result. Due to the nature of tasks, some students may need to work with an assistant.
Nanoscale engineering (T366) starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2025.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2028.
This course is expected to start for the last time in October 2028.