Colloid and Surface Chemistry

The course deals with colloidal systems and interfaces. Colloids consist of small particles dispersed in a medium, typically a liquid. The particle size is in the nanometer to micrometer range. Colloids are important for a variety of practical and industrial applications: pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper industry, food, environmental protection, and many applications of biological relevance. In the course you will learn about basic properties of colloidal systems and interfaces. You will also gain insights into how to characterize colloidal systems. The course covers, e.g., suface tension, adsorption, adhesion, monolayers, surfactants, liquid crystals, emulsions, microemulsions, electrical double layers, van der Waals forces, colloidal stability, light scattering, electrophoresis, and other electrokinetic phenomena. The course includes five laboratory exercises: surface tension, micelle formation, diffusion, colloidal stability, and electrophoresis.