PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY OF SOFT MATTER

Academic Year 2023/2024 - Teacher: GRAZIA MARIA LUCIA MESSINA

Expected Learning Outcomes

The course aims to provide models and laws to understand self-assembly phenomena involving the main classes of soft matter, the physico-chemical parameters governing their structure and the main techniques for the morphological and structural characterization of soft matter.

More specifically, the course's aim is the development of the following skills:

Knowledge and understanding: the objective is the understanding of the physico-chemical laws and quantities that govern the self-organization processes of soft matter and of the main techniques aimed at the morpho-structural characterization of soft matter
Applying knowledge and understanding: the goal is the application of what has been learned to the interpretation and prediction of soft matter behavior in systems of general interest
Making judgements: the goal is to make the student able to evaluate the conditions of existence of the various soft matter structures as well as to choose the most suitable technique for the characterization of a specific soft material
Communication skills: the goal is to make the student able to accurately and rigorously communicate scientific topics with particular reference to the field of soft materials and nanomaterials
Learning skills: the goal is to make the student able to apply the concepts learned during the course to the understanding of phenomena and processes involving soft materials of specific interest

Course Structure

The course will consist of 4 credits provided through lectures and 2 credit of laboratory exercises.

Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the program planned and outlined in the syllabus.

Required Prerequisites

-Knowledge of the chemical thermodynamics, basic knowledge of radiation/matter interactions

-Basics of physical chemistry of surfaces and interfaces, with particular attention to the notions of interfacial tension and cohesion forces in condensed soft phases

-Thermodynamic energy functional: Helmholtz and Gibbs free energies, entropy, internal energy and related thermodynamic relationships.

Attendance of Lessons

Attendance required at least 70 % of lessons

Detailed Course Content

Introduction to soft matter: basic principles and concepts

Interface thermodynamics in soft-matter systems

Physical chemistry of colloidal systems:

Properties of colloids. Kinetic properties; Brownian motion, Sedimentation, osmosis, rheology of colloidal dispersions. Stability of colloidal systems: van der Waals forces and Hamaker constant, Electrostatic forces, Electrical forces, critical concentration there coagulation. Kinetics of aggregation: DLVO theory.

Physical chemistry of surfactants:

Properties of surfactants. Micellization: theory and key parameters Models for micellization. Self-organization of surfactants. Emulsions and foams.

Physical chemistry of polymers:

Properties of polymers. Polymer chain flexibility, vector and end-to-end distance. Ideal and real chain models. Polymer solutions and volume excluded. Polymeric gels and networks. Polymers responsive to stimuli. Conductive polymers: electrical properties and applications

Bioelectronics: basic principles, conductive polymers to control and monitor cells, medical applications

Soft matter surface techniques:

Scanning probe microscopy. Tunnell effect microscopy. Atomic force microscopy. Force curves.

Quartz crystal micro balance. Plasmon resonance of localized surface

Spectroscopic ellipsometry

Spectroscopy of electrochemical impedance

Textbook Information

Polymer Physics (M. Rubinstein – Oxford University Press)

Soft Condensed Matter (E. Terentjev, D. WeitzBruckner – Oxford University Press)

Soft Condensed Matter (R.A. Jones - OUP Oxford)

The Colloidal Domain (D. Fennel Evans, H. Wennerstroem - Wiley)

Fluids, Colloids and Soft Materials: An Introduction to Soft Matter Physics (A.Fernandez-Nieves, A. Puertas – Wiley)

Soft Matter Nanotechnology (X. Chen, H. Fuchs – Wiley)

Scanning Probe Microscopy of Soft Matter: Fundamentals and Practices (V. V. Tsukruk, S. Singamaneni - Wiley)

Organic electronics (Fabio Cicoira and Clara Santato - Wiley)

Electrical Properties of Polymers- (Tony Blythe, David Bloor - Cambridge University Press)

Soft Matter Physics-Masao Doi - Oxford University Press (2013).pdf

Course Planning

	Subjects	Text References
1	Introduction to soft matter: basic principles and conceptsInterface thermodynamics in soft-matter systems	Soft Matter Physics- (Masao Doi - Oxford University Press)Introduction to applied colloid and surface chemistry- Kiil-Kontogeorgis
2	Physical chemistry of colloidal systems:Interaction forces in colloids. Differences between "hard" and "soft" colloids. Interaction of depletion and behavior of colloidal phases. Hydrodynamics of colloidal systems and effects at the interface	Introduction to applied colloid and surface chemistry- Kiil-Kontogeorgis
3	Physical chemistry of surfactants:Self-organization of surfactants in "bulk". Self-organization of surfactants on surfaces and interfaces. Emulsions and foams.	Introduction to applied colloid and surface chemistry- Kiil-Kontogeorgis- Soft Condensed Matter (R.A. Jones - OUP Oxford)Introduction to soft matter (Hamley - Wiley)
4	Physical chemistry of polymers:Polymer chain flexibility, vector and end-to-end distance. Ideal and real chain models. Entropic elasticity. Polymer solutions and volume excluded. Polymeric gels and networks. Stimulus-responsive polymers. Semi-crystalline polymers. Conductive polymers: electrical properties and applications	Polymer Physics (M. Rubinstein – Oxford University Press)Electrical Properties of Polymers- (Tony Blythe, David Bloor - Cambridge University Press)
5	Bioelectronics: basic principles, conductive polymers to control and monitor cells, medical applications	Organic electronics (Fabio Cicoira and Clara Santato - Wiley)
6	Soft matter surface techniques:Scanning probe microscopy. Tunnell effect microscopy. Atomic force microscopy. Force curves.Quartz crystal micro balance. Plasmon resonance of localized surfaceSpectroscopic ellipsometrySpectroscopy of electrochemical impedance	Notes from lectures

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

The examination will consist in an oral session concerning the topics treated during the lectures. Among the basic evaluation elements about the attainments of the candidates, a specific weigth will be given to the correctness of their statements, the understanding of the conceptual basis of the discussed phenomena, the understanding of the derivation procedure of the basic equations and the correctness of scientific language. It will be considered as further expectable aspects of the validity of the candidate preparation the logic coherence when answering the examination questions and the capability to correlate theoretical notions and experimental aspects. The examinations could also be performed by telematic media, in case of specific emergencies.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

Definition and properties of "soft matter" systems.

Describe the behavior of colloidal systems at the interface.

Models to describe the conductivity mechanism of conductive polymers

Principles and characteristics of bioelectronics

Degree Course in

Chemical Sciences