1. How atoms, molecules, macromolecules (proteins, polymers), colloidal particles interact
• Which forces are important – Charges – Dipoles – Polarizability
• What happens if particles interact in a medium
• Water ! – Thermodynamic of water – Hydrogen Bond – Hydrophobic effect
• Forces between macroscopic objects
– Energetic Interactions
– Entropic Interactions
∗ Osmotic Pressure
∗ Depletion Interactions
∗ Combinatorial Entropy
– Electrostatic interactions
∗ Poisson-Boltzmann
∗ Debye-Huckel
∗ Interaction between charged surfaces
∗ Gouy-Chapman-Stern electric double layer
∗ DLVO

2. Polymers
• Conformation of a chain
– Random walk model
– Ideal Chain
– freely joined chain
– freely rotating chain
– worm like chain
– Gyration Radius
– End to end distance
• Free energy of an ideal polymer
• Flory theory for polymers - scaling laws
• Introduction to fractals

3. Mean-field thermodynamics
• Simple mean-field models (vdW)
• Binodal, spinodal, coexistence
• Thermodynamics of mixing
• Flory-Huggins Model
• Flory-Huggins Phase diagram

4. Entropy at work: Nematic transition
• Orientational order parameter
• Mauer-Saupe
• Mean-field theory Landau-De Gennes
• Onsager Theory

5. Gels

6. Elasticity

7. Self-Assembly
• Thermodynamics of self-assembly
• Critical micelle concentration


Suggested Readings:

Polymer Physics by M. Rubinstein, Ralph H. Colby

Soft Matter Physics by Masako Doi

Introduction to the Theory of Soft Matter: From Ideal Gases to Liquid Crystals by Jonathan Victor Selinger

Intermolecular and Surface Forces by Jacob N. Israelachvili

Statistical Physics by Roberto Piazza Springer

Soft Matter: Concepts, Phenomena, and Applications, by Wim van Saarloos, Vincenzo Vitelli, and Zorana Zeravcic. This recommended book provides a comprehensive, modern introduction to soft matter physics

Exams:

The exam will be an oral interview in which the student will be asked to present in depth some of the topics discussed in the class.