文摘
A Project Based Learning (PBL) methodology was used in the practical laboratories of the Advanced Physical Chemistry department. The project type proposed simulates 鈥渞eal research鈥?focusing on sol鈥揼el synthesis and the application of the obtained sol as a stone consolidant. Students were divided into small groups (2 to 3 students) to simulate a real-world research team. This procedure allowed students to explore the sol鈥揼el transition from synthesis until dry gel (xerogel), and analyze the properties of the sol, gel, and xerogels (especially pore volume and pore size). Moreover, the students learned an example of an application of sol鈥揼el materials (as a 鈥渟tone consolidant鈥? and were introduced to the use of several instrumental techniques such as nitrogen adsorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), and rheology measurement.
Keywords:
Upper-Division Undergraduate; Interdisciplinary/Multidisciplinary; Physical Chemistry; Laboratory Equipment/Apparatus; Hands-On Learning/Manipulative; Problem Solving/Decision Making; Applications of Chemistry; Materials Science; Student-Centered Learning