ECTS credits ECTS credits: 4.5
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 74.2 Hours of tutorials: 2.25 Expository Class: 18 Interactive Classroom: 18 Total: 112.45
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Particle Physics
Areas: Condensed Matter Physics
Center Faculty of Physics
Call: First Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable
General objective: Soft Matter Physics is a subject mainly framed in a new interdisciplinary scientific field where Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics meet. By Soft Matter we must understand all the diverse range of materials with properties between crystalline solids and gases and molecular systems. Thus, this course will provide the most general theoretical and practical basis on the definition, synthesis and characterization methods, properties and technological applications of the most relevant types of nanomaterials and nanostructures encompassed in the so-called Soft Matter field, with special emphasis on ordered self-assembled nanostructures.
Specific objetctives: The student will be tracked to correlate the structure of these materials with their nano-and macroscopic properties, in order to infer also their possible technological applications. In addition,
students will obtain valuable information about the potential applicability of different supramolecular systems in different scientific and technological fields.
Learning outcomes
With respect to the physical soft matter topic, the student will demonstrate:
- that knows the structure, characteristics and properties of the different types of soft material structures.
- that knows how to relate these materials to their technological applications.
Program of the topic (according to descriptors, see Memory for the request for verification of the BSc. in Physics)
http://www.usc.es/gl/centros/fisica/materia.html?materia=105525
UNIT 1: Soft Matter: General characteristics and Interactions between particles
Introduction. Interactions between atoms and molecules. Classification of Soft Matter. Structural organization. Experimental Techniques in Soft Matter Research
UNIT 2: Polymers
Introduction. Types of polymers. Polymer conformations. Characterization. Types of polymers. Elastic behavior and viscoelasticicity. Polymeric mesophases.
UNIT 3: Colloids
Introduction. Types of Colloids. Forces between colloidal particles. Colloidal stability. Colloidal Dynamics.
UNITE 4:Molecular Assembly
Introduction. Surfactants and block copolymers. Micellization and solubilization. Microemulsions. Vesicles and membranes.
UNIT 5: Molecular Order in Soft Matter: Liquid Crystals
Introduction. Types of liquid crystals. Characteristics and identification of the liquid crystals phases. Phase transitions in liquid crystals. Properties and applications.
UNIT 6: Surface Films and Surface Phenomena
Introduction. The interface: surface and interfacial tension. Experimental methods for measuring the surface tension and contact angle. Monolayers and multilayers. Air-liquid interface. Langmuir monolayer: phases in two dimensions. Gibbs monolayer.
UNIT 7: Nanoparticles and Nanostructures
Introduction. Types of nanoparticles: Organic and inorganic. Properties and applications of organic nanoparticles: Liposomes, polymeric-, carbon-, lipid-based nanoparticles. Properties and applications of inorganic nanoparticles: Metallic, semiconductor, magnetic, ceramic, metal oxides. Properties and applications of nanostructures: Graphene, nanotubes, nanosheets, furelenes.
UNIT 8: Soft Matter in Nature
Introduction. Structural components of life. Nucleic acids and proteins. Cell membranes.
General literature
- EVANS, D. F, WENNERSTRÖM, H. “The Colloidal Domain. Where Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Technology Meet”. Ed. VCH Publishers Inc, NY. 1994. Cap. 1-4
- HAMLEY, I. W., "Introduction to Soft Matter: Polymers, Colloids, Amphiphiles and Liquid Crystals". Ed. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK. 2000.
-HAMLEY, I. W., "Introduction to Soft Matter: Synthetic and Biological Self-Assembling Materials". Ed. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK. 2007.
- HIEMENZ, P. C., RAJAGOPALAN, R. “Principles of Colloid and Surface Chemistry”. Ed. Marcel Dekker Inc., NY, 1997
- HUNTER, R. J. “Introduction to Modern Colloid Science”. Ed. Claredon Press, Oxford, 1993.
- HUNTER, R. J. “Foundations of Colloid Science I, II”. Ed. Claredon Press, Oxford, 1995.
- KLEMAN, M., LAVRENTOVICH, O. D., "Soft Matter Physics: An Introduction". Ed. Springer, New York, 2003 (recurso electrónico).
- RUSSEL, W. B., SAVILLE, D. A., SCHOWALTER, W. R. “Colloidal Dispersions”. Ed. Cambridge University Press, 1991.
- "SOFT MATTER CHARACTERIZATION". Ed. R. Borsali, R. Pecora. Ed. Springer, Dordrecht, 2008
- “SOFT MATTER PHYSICS”. Ed. M. Daoud, C. E. Williams, Springer-Verlag Berlín, 1999
Specific literature
- ISRAELACHVILI, J. C. “Intermolecular and Surface Forces”. Ed. Academic Press, Londres, 1995
- ROSEN, M. J. “Surfactants and Interfacial Phenomena”. Ed. John Wiley&Sons, 1978
- TANFORD, C. “The Hydrophobic Effect: Formation of Micelles and Biological Membranes”. Ed. Krieger Publishing Company, Florida, 1991.
- POON, W. C. K; ANDELMAN. “Soft Condensed Matter Physics in Molecular and Cell Biology”. Ed. Taylor & Fancis, London, 2006..
- SCHMID, G. “Nanoparticles: From Theory to Applications”. Ed. Wiley, 2010.
Part of the bibliography is not available in electronic format through the EZproxy service.
WWW Resources
• Teaching resources provided by the lecturers at the Virtual Campus.
• https://www.britannica.com/science/nanoparticle
• https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physics/sections/soft-matter-physi…
• https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2018.00087/full
Basic, transversal and general skills:
CB1 – That students have demonstrated to possess and understand knowledge in an area of study that starts from the base of general secondary education, and is usually found at a level that, although supported by advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects that imply knowledge coming from the vanguard of their field of study.
CB2 - That students know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and possess the skills that are usually demonstrated through the elaboration and defense of arguments and the resolution of problems within their area of study.
CB3 - That students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) to make judgments that include a reflection on relevant issues of social, scientific or ethical nature.
CG1 – To possess and understand the most important concepts, methods and results of the different branches of Physics, with a historical perspective of their
development.
CG2 – To have the ability to gather and interpret data, information and relevant results, obtain conclusions and issue reasoned reports on scientific, technological or other issues that require the use of knowledge of Physics.
CG3 – To apply both the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired as well as the capacity for analysis and abstraction in the definition and posing of problems and in the search for their solutions both in academic and professional contexts.
Transversal skills:
CT1 – To acquire analysis and synthesis capacity.
CT2 – To have the capacity for organization and planning.
CT5 – To develop critical reasoning.
Specific skills:
CE1 – To have a good understanding of the most important physical theories, locating in their logical and mathematical structure, their experimental support
and the physical phenomenon that can be described through them.
CE2 – To be able to clearly handle orders of magnitude and make appropriate estimates in order to develop a clear perception of
situations that, although physically different, show some analogy, allowing the use of known solutions to new problems.
CE5 – To be able to perform the essentials of a process or situation and establish a working model of it, as well as perform the approximations
required in order to reduce the problem to a manageable level. He will demonstrate critical thinking to build physical models.
CE6 – To understand and master the use of mathematical and numerical methods most commonly used in Physics.
CE8 – To be able to manage, search and use bibliography, as well as any source of relevant information and apply it to research works and technical development of projects.
A course will be activated on the Moodle platform of the Virtual Campus, in which information of interest to students will be uploaded, as well as diverse teaching material.
a) Large group classes (expository).
The theoretical contents of each topic will be exposed deductively with the support of audiovisual media, using the blackboard and the material available in the Virtual Campus as an instrument of clarification.
b) Classes in small groups (interactive seminars).
Fundamentally practical classes in which some problems and proposed exercises will be solved, as well as the guide, exposition and debate of topics / issues related to the subject's agenda and which will be made available to students in advance through the Virtual Campus, who will work develop on.
The objective is that students apply the theoretical knowledge acquired to problem solving, and do the search, understanding and analysis of information related to the contents of the topict, which will help them in assimilating the theoretical concepts of the topic. The participation of students is here essential since this will allow part of their continuous assessment to be carried out. In addition, the clarification of doubts about theoretical and practical aspects that the student may have when solving problems and exercises will be carried out, together with the supervision, presentation, debate and/or comments on the proposed works and/ or any other activity proposed, which can be carried out both individually and in groups. This activity by the students will be included in their continuous evaluation.
c) Tutoring
They are oriented to the resolution of doubts and specific difficulties of a theoretical, conceptual and / or practical nature, paying individual attention to the student or student who needs it, both in person and electronically and whenever the student requests it in advance.
First chance
Continuous evaluation (70%)
Objective: To evaluate the learning process of the student.
This evaluation will be based on: control of attendance to lectures (minimum attendance 85%) and active participation in them, attendance to individualized tutorials, performance of various scheduled activities (previously communicated to students) such as exposition of problems proposed for resolution (at interactive classes); carrying out and presenting individually one or more works and bibliographic searches on a topic of interest or complementary subject related to the contents of the program; and any other activity related to the topic that may arise and that allows evaluating the learning process of the students.
Failure to take any of the proposed continuous assessment tests will imply not scoring in the final grade. In the event that this situation occurs for a cause duly OFFICIALLY JUSTIFIED, an alternative will be offered to the affected student.
Repeating students DO NOT keep the continuous assessment mark.
Individual final test (30%)
Objective: To evaluate the individual knowledge acquired by the student.
There will be a final exam on the official date scheduled by the Faculty of Physics. This exam will be made of test and/or short answer questions in order to evaluate the knowledge acquired, both its understanding and the reproductive assimilation.
Overall evaluation
In the current academic year, and as a consequence of the changes derived by COVID-19, the global and final mark will be the weighted sum of the final exam mark (weight of 30%) with the score of the activities foreseen in the continuous evaluation (weight of the remaining 70%). This weighting will only be effective in the event that the students comply with the attendance requirements and preparation of the proposed activities; otherwise, students will obtain as a global mark that obtained in the final exam exclusively.
The grade will be graded as FAIL if the student does not obtain a mark equal to or greater than 5.0 between the continuous assessment tasks and the final exam.
In the case of fraudulent performance of the activities included in the continuous evaluation and / or the final exam, the Regulations for the evaluation of the academic performance of the students and the revision of grades will apply.
The qualification will be of Not presented only in the event that the student does not appear at the final exam of the subject and in accordance with the provisions of the permanence regulations in the undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in force at the USC.
Second opportunity
For the global evaluation related to the second opportunity (July), the score obtained in the continuous evaluation will be maintained (if effective).
Class work in classroom: 42 hours
Blackboard classes in large group: 24 hours
Laboratory classes in small groups: 18 hours
Small Group Tutorials: 3 hours
Student's personal work: 67,5 hours
Self-study: 40 hours
Writing exercises, and other work: 20 hours
Preparation of oral presentations, debates, etc..: 7,5 hours
Total hours: 112.5
The students are commited to previously make the following subjects:General Physics, Thermodynamics, Solid State Physics.
It is recommended to attend classes and actively participate in them.
To attend the tutorials to solve doubts and develop issues proposed for presentation.
Working in groups from the first day (theoretical study, resolution problems and issues, working to present and defend, etc.)..
Use the recommended biblography in each unit to save time.
Attending continuously the classes since during these the outlines of the final exam will be raised.
Tutorials will be online or in person, and will require an appointment
Pablo Taboada Antelo
Coordinador/a- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Phone
- 881814111
- pablo.taboada [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Professor
Alberto Pardo Montero
- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Condensed Matter Physics
- alberto.pardo.montero [at] usc.es
- Category
- Xunta Post-doctoral Contract
Oscar Abelenda Caamaño
- Department
- Particle Physics
- Area
- Condensed Matter Physics
- oscar.abelenda.caamano [at] usc.es
- Category
- USC Pre-doctoral Contract
| Monday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:30-12:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom 830 |
| Tuesday | |||
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