Admission Requirements
none
Description
This class will provide an introduction to the physics of soft condensed matter from an experimental perspective. We will discuss the physics of a wide range of soft matter systems with a particular focus on nanometer to micrometer sized droplets and particles, so called colloids. We will discover how weak interactions on the microscopic scale influence the self-assembly behavior and macroscopic properties of soft materials. Various experimental techniques for probing, characterizing and analyzing soft matter systems will be reviewed.
Topics:
1. Characteristics of soft matter systems
- Colloidal interactions and stability
Interactions between nano- and micrometer sized objects
DLVO theory
Depletion interactions: entropy visualized
External fields
- Self-assembly and phase behavior
Thermodynamic principles of self-assembly
Hard spheres as designer atoms
Nucleation and growth
Effect of site-specific interactions and geometry: patchy particles and colloidal molecules
Templated self-assembly: (artificial) viruses
Surfactants
- Surface phenomena
Surface tension
Adsorption
Adhesion and wetting phenomena
Emulsions
Course objectives
After the course, the student should be able to apply his/her knowledge of the physical principles and experimental techniques to various soft matter systems. Supplementing the lectures with homework assignements will ensure this. The students will possess sufficient knowledge to be able to independently read modern research literature. The latter will be achieved by combining lectures with short essays and seminars on current research papers by the students. .
Timetable
Mode of instruction
Lectures, homework, short essay and oral presentation on a current research topic.
Assessment method
Solution of the homework assignments (>60% solved) is required to be admitted to give an oral presentation and essay; the final grade is based on the oral presentation and short essay.
Blackboard
Course materials are available on blackboard.
To have access to Blackboard you need a ULCN-account.Blackboard UL
Reading list
Syllabus and reading material from the current literature will be provided on Blackboard. The book “Soft Matter Physics: An Introduction” by Kleman and Lavrentovich (Springer) and “Intermolecular and Surface Forces” by Israelachvili (Academic Press) are recommended for additional reading.
While the books are likely to help in understanding and applying the material offered in the course, they also contain much additional material that goes beyond the course and will not be examinated.
Contact information:
Lecturers
Dr.Daniela Kraft