Applied Colloid and Surface Chemistry
A.Y. 2023/2024
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
- Definition of surface, interface, disperse system and colloid. Disperse systems in food science. Surface tension, interfacial tension and their experimental determination.
- Adsorption: definition and relation with surface tension. Marangoni effect and its innovative applications. Physisorption, chemisorption and how to distinguish them experimentally. Adsorption isotherms, their experimental determination and application to pollutant remediation.
- Experimental methods for the determination of surface area and porosity: BET model and exercise on real data. Mercury porosimetry. High surface area materials and microporous and mesoporous materials. Determination of pore size by BJH method and t-plot with exercises on real data.
- Wetting and adhesion: wetting models, characterization techniques (goniometric, tensiometric and Washburn methods), modification of wetting properties of surfaces, superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic materials and their applications (smart materials, robotics, etc.). Surface free Energy of solids and prediction of contact angle values (wetting envelopes), with application to real data. Capillarity. Adhesion models, classes of adhesive materials, experimental characterization of adhesion, lotus effect, rose petal effect and gecko effect.
- Films and self-assembled monolayers: formation mechanisms, experimental techniques for film manipulation and characterization
- Interfacial electrification: origin of interfacial electrification. Electrocapillary and electrokinetic phenomena and their applications. Point of zero charge and isoelectric point: differences, experimental measurement (classical, pH-shift and elettrokinetic methods), and applications. Particle size determination with microscopies (optical, confocal), electrokinetic and electroacustic methods. Stability of colloids: stabilization strategies, controlled destabilization and characterization techniques to study the destabilization mechanisms.
- Adsorption: definition and relation with surface tension. Marangoni effect and its innovative applications. Physisorption, chemisorption and how to distinguish them experimentally. Adsorption isotherms, their experimental determination and application to pollutant remediation.
- Experimental methods for the determination of surface area and porosity: BET model and exercise on real data. Mercury porosimetry. High surface area materials and microporous and mesoporous materials. Determination of pore size by BJH method and t-plot with exercises on real data.
- Wetting and adhesion: wetting models, characterization techniques (goniometric, tensiometric and Washburn methods), modification of wetting properties of surfaces, superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic materials and their applications (smart materials, robotics, etc.). Surface free Energy of solids and prediction of contact angle values (wetting envelopes), with application to real data. Capillarity. Adhesion models, classes of adhesive materials, experimental characterization of adhesion, lotus effect, rose petal effect and gecko effect.
- Films and self-assembled monolayers: formation mechanisms, experimental techniques for film manipulation and characterization
- Interfacial electrification: origin of interfacial electrification. Electrocapillary and electrokinetic phenomena and their applications. Point of zero charge and isoelectric point: differences, experimental measurement (classical, pH-shift and elettrokinetic methods), and applications. Particle size determination with microscopies (optical, confocal), electrokinetic and electroacustic methods. Stability of colloids: stabilization strategies, controlled destabilization and characterization techniques to study the destabilization mechanisms.
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. 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.
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)