Applied Colloid and Surface Chemistry
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
Colloidal systems are everywhere, from personal care products to industrial formulations and food. The course introduces the student to the phenomena that govern the behavior and reactivity of surfaces and colloidal systems. Students will familiarize themselves with the main experimental techniques used to characterize interfaces and colloids, both from a theoretical perspective and via exercises on real-life examples.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student should be able to:
- Describe the main phenomena that govern the behavior of interfaces (surface tension, adsorption, wettability, adhesion, surface electrification...) and the relative theoretical models
- Identify approaches to modify the surface properties of materials and the stability of colloidal systems
- Identify characterization techniques that can be used to study specific properties of colloids and surfaces; make comparisons with other similar techniques in relation to the merits and limitations of each method
- Read critically the experimental reports of some of the characterization techniques seen during the course (BET, DLS, etc.) and apply simple models to analyze the experimental data
- Describe the main phenomena that govern the behavior of interfaces (surface tension, adsorption, wettability, adhesion, surface electrification...) and the relative theoretical models
- Identify approaches to modify the surface properties of materials and the stability of colloidal systems
- Identify characterization techniques that can be used to study specific properties of colloids and surfaces; make comparisons with other similar techniques in relation to the merits and limitations of each method
- Read critically the experimental reports of some of the characterization techniques seen during the course (BET, DLS, etc.) and apply simple models to analyze the experimental data
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
- Difference between surface and interface, dispersed system and colloid. Dispersed systems in food science. Surface and interfacial tension and their experimental determination.
- Adsorption: definition and relation with surface tension. Marangoni effect and its innovative applications. Physisorption, chemisorption, and their experimental distinction. Adsorption isotherms, their experimental determination, and real examples of application in pollutant removal.
- Surface functionalization: mechanisms of film formation, self-assembled monolayers, experimental techniques for manipulation and study of monolayers, biomedical and advanced materials applications.
- Surface area and porosity of solids: experimental methods for determining surface area based on the BET model and its application to real data. High surface area materials and micro, meso, and macroporous materials. Experimental techniques for studying solid porosity: mercury porosimetry, BJH and t-plot methods, with applications to real cases.
- Wettability and adhesion: theoretical models and experimental methods for determining wettability (goniometric, tensiometric, Washburn method), techniques for modifying surface wettability, superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic materials and their applications (smart materials, robotics, etc.). Dewetting phenomena: industrial issues and applications in nanoparticle synthesis. Determination of solid surface energy and techniques for predicting wettability (wetting envelopes) with application to real data. Capillarity. Interpretative models of adhesion phenomena, techniques for experimental determination of adhesion, lotus effect, petal effect, and gecko effect.
- Surface charge and colloidal stability: origin of interfacial electrification. Electrocapillary and electrokinetic phenomena and their applications. Point of zero charge and isoelectric point: differences, techniques for their experimental determination (classical methods, pH-shift, electrokinetic), and application examples. Critical comparison of techniques for determining colloidal particle sizes (electrokinetic methods, electroacoustic, microscopy). Stability of colloidal dispersions with examples and its experimental determination.
- Adsorption: definition and relation with surface tension. Marangoni effect and its innovative applications. Physisorption, chemisorption, and their experimental distinction. Adsorption isotherms, their experimental determination, and real examples of application in pollutant removal.
- Surface functionalization: mechanisms of film formation, self-assembled monolayers, experimental techniques for manipulation and study of monolayers, biomedical and advanced materials applications.
- Surface area and porosity of solids: experimental methods for determining surface area based on the BET model and its application to real data. High surface area materials and micro, meso, and macroporous materials. Experimental techniques for studying solid porosity: mercury porosimetry, BJH and t-plot methods, with applications to real cases.
- Wettability and adhesion: theoretical models and experimental methods for determining wettability (goniometric, tensiometric, Washburn method), techniques for modifying surface wettability, superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic materials and their applications (smart materials, robotics, etc.). Dewetting phenomena: industrial issues and applications in nanoparticle synthesis. Determination of solid surface energy and techniques for predicting wettability (wetting envelopes) with application to real data. Capillarity. Interpretative models of adhesion phenomena, techniques for experimental determination of adhesion, lotus effect, petal effect, and gecko effect.
- Surface charge and colloidal stability: origin of interfacial electrification. Electrocapillary and electrokinetic phenomena and their applications. Point of zero charge and isoelectric point: differences, techniques for their experimental determination (classical methods, pH-shift, electrokinetic), and application examples. Critical comparison of techniques for determining colloidal particle sizes (electrokinetic methods, electroacoustic, microscopy). Stability of colloidal dispersions with examples and its experimental determination.
Prerequisites for admission
Elements of thermodynamics (potential energy, enthalpy, entropy, Gibbs free energy, chemical potential, ideal gas laws), kinetics (kinetic equation, activation energy) and electrochemistry (electric potential, dielectric constant), which are generally presented in introductory courses of chemistry and physical chemistry.
Teaching methods
The theoretical concepts are presented through lectures (48 h corresponding to 6 CFU). The student is encouraged to apply the concepts learned by solving small problems and exercises on real data. Seminars on applied topics are offered as optional complementary activities.
Teaching Resources
- Hans-Jürgen Butt, Karlheinz Graf, Michael Kappl, Physics and Chemistry of Interfaces, Wiley, 2003
- Tharwat F. Tadros, Dispersion of Powders in Liquids and Stabilization of Suspensions, Wiley, 2012
- Lecture notes given by the professor
- Tharwat F. Tadros, Dispersion of Powders in Liquids and Stabilization of Suspensions, Wiley, 2012
- Lecture notes given by the professor
Assessment methods and Criteria
The assessment method is an oral examination. The student is first asked to prepare a short presentation regarding a literature paper chosen in agreement with the lecturer. After the presentation, the student answers few questions aimed at assessing the general understanding of the principles underlying the behavior of surfaces and interfaces discussed during classes.
CHIM/02 - PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Professor:
Meroni Daniela
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Meroni DanielaProfessor(s)