Soft Matter and Low Dimensional Materials

Recommended Prerequisites

Basic knowledge in Condensed Matter  Physics.

Teaching Methods

Lectures. Laboratory work and project.

Learning Outcomes

Main Goals:
a thorough knowledge of Physics (Physics of soft matter and materials of low dimension) theoretical understanding of physical phenomena (including the statistical models used in the interpretation of the abovementioned materials properties and its phase transitions) modelling and solving problems specific to the area.

Also:
ability to stay current; Ability to search and use the bibliography; to be familiar with the frontiers of research

Skills:
Competence in analysis and synthesis;. Computer skills related to the scope of the study;. Competence to solve problems;. Competence in critical reasoning;. Autonomous learning competence;. Competence in oral and written communications;. Creativity;. Competence in applying in practice the theoretical knowledge;. Competency in self-criticism and self-evaluation; Ability to do perform research projects.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Soft matter: forces, energy and time-scales. Intermolecular forces. Condensation and solidification.
Viscous, elastic and viscoelastic behaviour.
Liquids and glasses. Glass transition.
Phase transitions in soft matter. Classification.
Liquid mixtures. Free energy, phase diagrams, interfaces. Kinetics of phase separation.
Liquid-solid transition. Solidification and fusion. Nucleation.
Coloidal dispersions.
Coloidal particle in a liquid. Stokes law, brownian motion and diffusion.
Einstein equation. Forces between colloidal particles.
Polymeric materials.
Rubbers and viscoelastic behaviour.
Gels. Percolation model. Gelation theory. Flory-Stockmayer model. Liquid crystals. Nematic-isotopic transition. Defects.  Electric and magnetic properties. Frederiks transition. liquid crystal displays.
Thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystal polymers.
Supramolecular self-organisation. Micelles, vesicles and membranes.
Low-dimensional materials. Molecular and low dimensional magnetism.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Project: 100.0%

Bibliography

Soft Condensed Matter, R.A.L. Jones, Oxford Master Series in Condensed Matter Physics, 2002 ISBN: 0198505892

Liquid crystals: nature's delicate phase of matter, P.J. Coolings, Princeton University Press, 2002, ISBN: 9780691086729

Soft Matter Physics, M. Doi, Oxford University Press, ISBN: 0199652953

Low dimensional solids, Bruce, O´Hare, Walton, Wiley, 2010, ISBN: 978-0-470-99751-2

Properties of Interacting Low-Dimensional Systems, G. Gumbs, D. Huang, Wiley, 2011, ISBN: 978-3-527-40894-8.