Interfaces, Colloids and Self-Assembly

Code:

Q4097

Acronym:

Q4097

Level:

400

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Chemistry

Instance: 2023/2024 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Nanomaterials Science and Technology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:CTN	11	Official Study Plan since 2020_M:CTN	1	-	6	42	162
M:Q	3	Study plan since academic year 2023/2024	1	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

English

Objectives

This course aims at familiarizing students with the basic concepts and foundations in the area of colloidal systems, soft materials and interfaces, and their direct application in the description and understanding of products, processes and techniques used in everyday life, in industry, in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications, in nanoscience and nanotechnology, and modern technology in general.

Learning outcomes and competences

By the end of the course the student should be able to:
- understand the different types of colloidal systems, soft materials, their properties and structure-function relationships;
- characterize the main physico-chemical aspects involved in the different types of interfaces;
- understand the principles of the most important characterization methods for colloids, soft materials, and interfaces;
- develop experimental, presentation and communication skills on advanced topics of physical chemistry.

Working method

Presencial

Program

I - Theoretical classes

1. Fundamental concepts of colloids, interfaces and soft materials
- Colloidal systems, interfaces and soft materials: definition; interdependence; colloidal scale.
- Colloidal dispersions, self-assembled systems and macromolecules in solution – main properties.
- Shape, size and polydispersity of colloidal particles. Area/volume ratio; interfacial tension, work of cohesion and work of adhesion.
- Transport, electrical, optical and rheological properties of colloidal systems.
- Surfactants, lipids, self-organized systems, biological interfaces.
- Hydrophobic effect and its importance.
- DLVO theory and colloidal stability: electrostatic interactions; zeta potential; van der Waals interactions; coagulation and flocculation.

2. Interfacial phenomena: surface tension, capillarity, adsorption and wetting
- Liquid-gas and liquid-liquid interfaces: surface and interfacial tension; measurement methods; curved surfaces and capillarity; Laplace-Young equation and Kelvin equation.
- Surface excess properties; Gibbs adsorption model; Gibbs adsorption isotherm. Molecular films, monolayers and their applications.
- Solid-liquid and liquid-liquid interfaces: wetting and spreading; contact angle and Young's equation; hysteresis; modification of the wettability properties of surfaces.
- Solid-liquid and solid-gas interfaces: adsorption phenomena and main adsorption isotherms (Langmuir, Freundlich and BET).
- Biomembranes and biological interfaces.

3. Self-assembled systems and materials: structure, properties and applications
- Physical and thermodynamic fundamentals of aggregation; rationalization models: critical packing parameter and spontaneous curvature. Effect of different physicochemical parameters on self-aggregation.
- Micelles: structure and properties; critical micellar concentration (cmc) and Krafft temperature; thermodynamics of micellization; factors influencing cmc; micellar shape, growth and solubilization.
- Bilayers, liposomes and biological membranes – composition, structure and dynamics: phase transitions; applications.
- Liquid crystals and related structures. Microemulsions and Emulsions. Foams.
- Phase diagrams of systems based on surfactants and lipids - rationalization and practical importance.

4. Polymers in solution
- Introduction to polymers; average molecular weight of a polymer; concentration regimes of polymersolutions; polymer chain conformation; defining factors.
- Solubility of polymers: basic thermodynamic aspects; critical phenomena and phase separation.
- Behavior of polymers in solution and on surfaces; polyelectrolytes and block copolymers.
- Mixed surfactant/polymer systems; models; critical aggregation concentration; rheological aspects.

5. Characterization and industrial/biomedical applications of colloids and soft nanomaterials
- Overview and comparison of methods for characterization of colloidal systems. Microscopy radiation scattering methods. Calorimetric methods. Spectroscopic methods.
- Technical, industrial and biomedical applications of colloids and interfaces: detergency, emulsification, dispersion and foams; new materials; food colloids; drug delivery systems; model systems for membranes; non-viral gene therapy; biomaterials.

II - Practical classes

1. Laboratory work: micellization studies of surfactants (or lipids) by conductimetry and surface tension measurement; preparation and characterization of liposomes and liquid crystals; phase diagram studies.
2. Oral presentations (max. 2): topics associated with chapter 5 of the program, developed by groups of students.

Mandatory literature

Hiemenz Paul C.; Principles of colloid and surface chemistry. ISBN: 0-8247-7476-0
Shaw Duncan J.; Introduction to colloid and surface chemistry. ISBN: 0-408-71049-7
Butt Hans-Jurgen; Physics and chemistry of interfaces. ISBN: 978-3-527-41216-7
Evans D. Fennell; The colloidal domain. ISBN: 1-56081-525-6

Teaching methods and learning activities

The theoretical classes involve explanation of contents and interactive discussions with students.

Practical classes comprise laboratory experiments with submission of lab reports. The students will also develop a modern a topic on colloids and interfaces throughout the semester, during the practical classes, and will make oral presentations of this topic for the class. The aim of these presentations is to stimulate teamwork, autonomous work and communication skills.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Trabalho laboratorial	25,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	25,00
Exame	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	20,00
Estudo autónomo	80,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Trabalho laboratorial	20,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

The students must attend a minimum of 3/4 of the number of the practical classes foreseen in the calendar.

Calculation formula of final grade

The final grade of the course, NF, is calculated as follows:
FG = 0.25 x G(LW) + 0.25 x G(OP) + 0.50 x G(E).

G(LW): grade of the lab works, with submission of a simplified report.
G(OP): grade of the oral presentations.

G(E): average grade of G(T1) and G(T2).
- T1, test performed during the semester (1st part of course contents)
- In the regular period exam: test T2 (2nd part of contents).
- In the retake exam, the student can take parts T1, T2 or T1 + T2, for approval or improvement.

Approval: cumulatively, G(T1) ≥ 8.0, G(T2) ≥ 8.0, G(TP) ≥ 9.5, G(OP) ≥ 9.5 and FG ≥ 9.5

Classification improvement

The students may improve their final grade (FG) by improving the component G(E) in a retake exam.

Observations

Jury of the course: Prof. Eduardo Marques, Prof. Margarida Bastos, Prof. Jorge Gonçalves.