Surfaces and interfaces

Goal: As the size of systems decreases, surface effects become more important. The nano- scale is also the scale at which surface effects dominate over bulk effects. This course introduces the main notions to adress the specific properties and the organization of matter at surfaces from a physical, chemical and biological point of view.

Content:
- notions on molecular and surface interactions. The hydrophobic effect
- thermodynamics of surfaces ; surface tension
- capillarity, wetting, contact angle
- surfactants,  micelles, self-assemblies and lyotropic phases
- Gibbs monolayers, Langmuir-Blodgett films
- introduction to colloidal systems: definition, colloidal stabiility (zeta potential) and size characterization (DLS)
- porous materials: Sorption and desorption phenomena, isotherm of sorption, BET
- introduction to biologic membranes

Bibliography:
J.N. Israelachvili "Molecular and Surface forces"
S. Safran "Statistical thermodyanmics of surfaces, interfaces and membranes "
A.W. Adamson "Physical-chemistry of surfaces"
de Gennes, Brochard, Quéré "Capillarity and wetting phenomena"

Prerequisites: General physics, chemistry and thermodynamics of level Bachelor in Science.

Course taught in english.

Published on April 7, 2019
Updated on February 3, 2021