Universität Wien
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260122 VU Soft Matter at Interfaces (2023S)

5.00 ECTS (3.00 SWS), SPL 26 - Physik
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 15 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 09.03. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Thursday 16.03. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Thursday 23.03. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Thursday 30.03. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Thursday 20.04. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Thursday 27.04. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Thursday 04.05. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Thursday 11.05. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Thursday 25.05. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Thursday 01.06. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Thursday 15.06. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG
  • Thursday 22.06. 14:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum Physik Sensengasse 8 EG

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Whether you look at the OLED display of your smartphone, soap bubbles during showering, or your milk for breakfast, soft matter interfaces are ubiquitous. This course gives an introduction to the physical principles to understand the structure and dynamics of soft condensed matter adjacent to solid, liquid, and vapor interfaces.
In particular, we aim for the links connecting intermolecular forces with molecular scale structure, dynamics, and physical materials properties. The course further introduces the experimental techniques required to study soft matter interfaces on the relevant time and length scales. Focus is set to scattering and spectroscopic techniques, providing complementary information.
The course will enable you to understand numerous physical phenomena surrounding us in everyday live while also providing you with the basic knowledge for improving the performance of modern soft materials for specific applications. Examples help to develop a deeper understanding and to explore links to other branches of physics.

Topics:
Thermodynamics of interfaces
Surface tension
Interface induced phase transitions
Adsorption and wetting
Charged interfaces and Helmholtz double layer
Surfactants and Emulsions
Interfacial freezing and premelting
Liquids in nanoporous materials
Self-organization of soft matter thin films
X-ray and neutron scattering
Reflectometry
X-ray spectroscopy

This course is suited for students in the Master and Doctoral program.

Assessment and permitted materials

For each topic there will be homework exercises to recapitulate the knowledge and reach in-depth understanding. Working in small teams of 2-4 students is encouraged.

At the end of the semester, each student gives a short presentation (approx. 12 min) of a scientific paper related to the topics of the course. Papers can be suggested by the students or selected from a given selection.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Aim of the lectures is to obtain an overview over the current research on the molecular scale structure and dynamics of soft matter near interfaces. The exercises and the final presentation will test the knowledge and understanding of the physical models and mechanisms and/or the relevant experimental techniques. Students will be asked to apply their knowledge to related problems and explain fundamental concepts and equations.

1. Excellent knowledge, can explain and apply concepts and equations: 1 (SEHR GUT)
2. Good knowledge, can explain concepts and equations: 2 (GUT)
3. Good knowledge, can understand concepts and equations: 3 (BEFRIEDIGEND)
4. Basic knowledge of concepts, can understand equations: 4 (GENUEGEND)
5. Else: 5 (NICHT GENUEGEND)

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Over the semester, students should have prepared solutions for at least 50% of the exercises and present their work at least 4 times orally at the blackboard to their colleagues. Regular active participation in the exercise discussions. Short presentation of a scientific paper.

Final grad calculation:
40% written exercises
40% presentation of a scientific paper (slides + oral presentation)
20% contributions to discussions

Examination topics

Content covered in the course. Slides will be provided online. Taking notes during the classes is recommended.

Reading list

Metin Tolan
X-Ray Scattering from Soft-Matter Thin Films
Springer (1999)
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2FBFb0112834

Jens Als-Nielsen, Des McMorrow
Elements of Modern X-ray Physics
2nd Edition, Wiley (2011)

Liquid Surfaces and Interfaces: Synchrotron X-ray Methods
Peter S. Pershan, Mark Schlossman
Cambridge University Press (2012)

Physics and Chemistry of Interfaces
Hans-Jürgen Butt, Karlheinz Graf, Michael Kappl
3rd Edition, Wiley (2013)

Association in the course directory

M-VAF A2, M-VAF B

Last modified: Tu 28.02.2023 19:09