The student is expected to have prior knowledge of:

1. Elements, atoms and periodicity

2. Chemical bonds, molecular structure

3. Molecular orbitals and bond theory

4. Chemical formulas and stoichiometry

5. Chemical reactions and reaction stoichiometry

6. Reactions in aqueous solutions: acid-base behavior, precipitation reactions, complex formation reactions, redox reactions

7. Phases: gases, liquids and solids

8. Chemical thermodynamics and chemical equilibrium

9. Chemical kinetics

10. Organic compounds and reactions

The course gives an overview of synthesis methods for inorganic (nano)materials in the solid state, including hybrid materials with an inorganic component. Such materials include oxides, sulfides, phosphates, metals etc. The course focuses on "wet chemical" synthesis methods, meaning that the solid state material is obtained from a liquid phase at the start, such as a sol or solution. The synthesis routes that are covered include sol-gel synthesis, citrate based routes, co-precipitation synthesis including hydro/solvo/ionothermal synthesis. The mechanisms of these reactions are discussed in physicochemical detail. Moving on from the mechanisms, the focus shifts towards more advanced synthesis methods for more complex nanoparticle architectures, and the application of sol(ution) based precursors in thin film deposition methods also known as chemical solution deposition (CSD). In order to obtain insights into the experimental methods that are applicable to achieve understanding of the reaction mechanisms of novel wet chemical synthesis methods, a chapter is devoted to the characterization of synthesis mechanisms. Finally, in line with the most recent developments in the field of inorganic synthesis, a chapter dealing with predictive synthesis based on machine learning and physical models is included. In view of the importance of sustainability and circularity, several principles of green chemistry such as energy efficiency, atom economy and solvent selection will be touched upon throughout the cases that are covered among the chapters.