Subsections
[Cr:4, Lc:3, Tt:0, Lb:0]
Knowledge of the content of CHM403 is essential to follow this course.
- Definition of soft matter; self-assembly and the key interaction mechanisms.
- Principles of Colloids and Interface Science: Viscosity, Diffusion, Brownian motion, Forces between colloidal particles, Sedimentation, Surface tension, Contact angle, Adsorption, Association
colloids, Particle interactions, Electro-kinetics, Electrostatics and colloidal stability, Glass formation, Jamming & gelation, Percolation.
- Complex fluids: Liquid Crystals, Structures and
physical properties, Order parameter, Defects, Effect of confinement, Textures of phases
with orientation & partial translational order, Dynamics of phase transitions. Self-assembly
of polymeric soft matter, Gels, Liquid crystal gels, Surface patterning of gels, Functional
polyelectrolytes, Reactive polymers, Biological soft matter, Nucleic acids & their self-
assembled structures.
- Surfactants and Amphiphiles: Self-assembly; Phase behaviour;
Lyotropic liquid crystals, Formation and properties of micelles, cylinders, bilayers, vesicles
and tubules, Langmuir films, Micro-emulsions, Foams, Microfluidics, Membranes.
- Instrumentation and characterization techniques: Polarizing light microscopy, Dynamic
light & X-ray scattering, Rheology & Probe microscopy, Optical tweezers.
- Applications in
Technology: Liquid crystals in display technology, Chemical & biological sensing, Reverse
micelles in transport catalysis and others.
- P. C. Hiemenz and R.
Rajagopalan, Principles of Colloid and Surface Chemistry, 3rd edition, Marcel-Dekker, New York (1997).
- Linda S. Hirst Fundamentals of Soft Matter Science, CRC Press (2012).
- Peter Collings and M. Hird,IIntroduction to Liquid Crystals: Chemistry and Physics,Taylor and Francis Ltd. (1997).
