Course Details
Subject {L-T-P / C} : PH5118 : Introduction to Soft Matter { 3-0-0 / 3}
Subject Nature : Theory
Coordinator : Suryanarayan Dash
Syllabus
| Module 1 : |
(8 hrs) Introduction to soft matter. Properties of soft matter. Intermolecular Interactions. Short and long range forces. Structural organization of soft materials. Experimental techniques for investigating soft matter. Microscopy and scattering methods. Rheology. Response of matter to a shear stress. |
| Module 2 : |
(8 hrs) Statistics of a random walk. Brownian motion and thermal fluctuation. Stokes-Einstein equation. Fick’s law. Phase transitions in soft matter, Liquid-liquid unmixing. Stable, metastable and unstable composition. Phase diagram of a liquid mixture. |
| Module 3 : |
(8 hrs) Polymers. Polymer Chain Conformation. Ideal and Real chains. Scaling laws. Polymer solutions. Solvent Quality: Good, Bad and Theta. Gelation. Chemical gels. Physical gels. Percolation Model. Classical theory of gelation |
| Module 4 : |
(8 hrs) Colloids. Types of Colloids. Characterization of Colloids. Stability of colloidal systems. Kinetic Stability. Thermodynamic Stability. Forces between Colloidal Particles. Van der Waals Forces. Electric Double-Layer Forces. Effect of polymers on colloid stability. |
| Module 5 : |
(4 hrs) Amphiphiles. Surface Activity. Liquid Crystal. Characteristics and Identification Liquid Crystal Phases. Biological Soft Matter |
Course Objective
| 1 . |
To introduce students to the world of soft matter physics |
| 2 . |
To study the importance of random walk and statistical physics in explaining various soft matter phenomena. |
| 3 . |
To learn about the different types of polymers and gels based on various involved interactions. |
| 4 . |
To gain an understanding of the colloids and the underlying forces. |
| 5 . |
To provide basic ideas about amphiphiles, liquid crystals, and biological soft matter. |
Course Outcome
| 1 . |
CO 1: Students will understand the fundamental behaviour of soft matter. |
| 2 . |
CO2: Students will be able to use the statistical physics theory to build different theories and laws of soft matter. |
| 3 . |
CO3: Students will learn about polymer and gelation which will help them to understand its wide application in industry. |
| 4 . |
CO4: Students will gain knowledge about the characterization and stability of colloids. |
| 5 . |
CO5: Students will get a brief introduction to amphiphiles, liquid crystals, and biological soft matter. |
Essential Reading
| 1 . |
Ian W. Hamley, Introduction to Soft Matter: Synthetic and Biological Self-Assembling Materials, Wiley; Revised Edition (2007). |
| 2 . |
R. A. L. Jones, Soft Condensed Matter, Oxford University Press; First Edition (2002). |
| 3 . |
S. F. Sun, Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules: Basic Principles and Issues, Wiley; Second Edition (2004). |
Supplementary Reading
| 1 . |
Masao Doi, Soft Matter Physics, Oxford University Press; First Edition (2013). |
| 2 . |
L. S. Hirst, Fundamentals of Soft Matter Science, CRC Press; Second Edition (2020). |
| 3 . |
M. Rubinstein and R. H. Colby, Polymer Physics, Oxford University Press; First Edition (2003) |
Journal and Conferences
| 1 . |