PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY OF SOLIDS AND SURFACES

The course is part of the core educational activities of the Master's Degree in Sustainable Chemistry and Technologies and it allows the students to acquire the basic knowledge and the understanding of physical chemistry of solids and of Colloid and Surface physical chemistry. The aims of the course are: a) the understanding of the most significant structural properties of the crystalline systems, with some references to the X-ray diffraction technique and theory, b) an introductory overview on the study of the surface and stability of the colloidal systems.

1.Knowledge and understanding
To know and to be familiar with the theoretical basis of the structures of solids (in particular crystalline solids), with the relation between direct and reciprocal lattice, with the properties of a surface and of colloidal systems.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
Ability to: calculate some structural parameters of the crystalline systems, obtain the unit cell parameters from the X-ray diffraction patterns, calculate the specific surface area from physisorption measurements, select the more suitable surfactants for an emulsion.

3. Judgment skills
Ability to evaluate, in a reasoned manner, experimental results associated to crystalline or colloidal systems.

4. Communication skills
To use in an appropriate way the terminology and the symbolism learnt during the course.
To interact with the teachers and the classmates in a dynamic, effective and proper way,

5. Learning ability
To take notes during classes in a proper way, evidencing the topics according to their importance

The prerequisites of the course are the training objectives of the Physical Chemistry courses. It is necessary for the students to know the theoretical foundations and basic applications of the differential and integral calculus, the kinematics, the dynamics and the physical chemistry, in particular thermodynamics.

The course contents can be divided in two parts:
1) physical chemistry of solids
2) physical chemistry of surface and colloids

FIRST PART: Physical chemistry of solids.
Nucleation and growth. Symmetry of molecules and crystal structures. Short-Range Order versus Long-Range Order. Amorphous materials. Lattice, unit cells, and crystal structures. Points, directions, and planes in the unit cell. Imperfections in the atomic and ionic arrangements. X-ray diffraction. Bragg and Scherrer equations. Fourier transform. Reciprocal lattice.

SECOND PART: Physical chemistry of surface and colloids.
Colloids and surface chemistry: general aspects. Specific surface area. Sedimentation and diffusion. Rheology of fluids and dispersions. Surface tension and contact angle. Surfactants. Emulsions. Colloidal structures. Adsorption at gas-solids interfaces.

LABORATORY: Introduction to laboratory. Synthesis and characterization of colloidal systems in relation to the theoretical contents of the course (metal, fluoride and oxide nanoparticles) and estimation of the critical micellar concentration of a surfactant. Structural (XRD), morphological (size and shape by SEM, DLS and analytical ultracentrifugation) and spectroscopic (UV-VIS, PL) characterizations of the synthesized colloidal systems. Lecture to explain how to treat the data.
The attendance of the laboratory activities is compulsory.

Lesson notes
Part 1.
D. R. Askeland, P. P. Fulay, W. J. Wright, The science and engineering of materials, Cengage Learning, 2011.
P.W.Atkins, J De Paula, Chimica Fisica, Zanichelli, 2012
Part 2
P.C Hiemenz and R. Rajagopalan, Principles of Colloid and Surface Chemistry (Marcel Dekker, 1997).J. Lyklema, Fundamentals of Interface and Colloids Science (Academic Press,1991).D. Myers, Surfaces, Interfaces and Colloids (Wiley-VCH,1999).Autori Vari Chimica Fisica dei colloidi e delle interfasi (CLUP 1985).

The exam consists of a written test based on three essay style questions in 2 hours total (75% of the final score) and the evaluation of the report related to the experimental activity (25% of the final score). During the exam, the use of notes, books and other teaching materials is not allowed. A final written report about the experimental laboratory must be submitted not later than two weeks before the final exam and, as a final deadline, not later than two months from the conclusion of the course.

Teaching is organized in face-to-face lectures and laboratory.

Italian

Accessibility, Disability and Inclusion

Accommodation and support services for students with disabilities and students with specific learning impairments:
Ca’ Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding supportservices and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). In the case of disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Climate change and energy" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development