Surface & colloid chemistry
Graduate · Chemistry
Syllabus focus
Standard syllabus · STEM / applied
Pricing
Graduate-level rates are set on consultation. See the pricing page for K–12 and undergraduate rates.
Topics typically covered
Standard syllabus
Surface thermodynamics and structure
- Gibbs adsorption isotherm and surface excess
- Surface tension temperature dependence and Eötvös rule
- Contact angle hysteresis and Cassie–Baxter states
- Surface energy components: dispersive and polar contributions
- Solid surface topography and roughness effects
- Surface reconstruction and relaxation at atomic scale
- Low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and RHEED
- Scanning probe microscopy: STM and AFM principles
- Surface X-ray diffraction and reflectivity
- Defects and active sites on surfaces
Adsorption and catalysis
- Langmuir, Freundlich, and BET isotherms: theoretical basis
- Adsorption kinetics and activation energy of desorption
- Calorimetry of adsorption: microcalorimetry, TPD
- Heterogeneous catalysis: Langmuir–Hinshelwood and Eley–Rideal
- Sabatier principle and volcano plots
- Single-atom catalysis on supports
- Operando spectroscopy of catalyst surfaces
- Adsorption on porous materials: zeolites, MOFs, carbons
- Molecular adsorption on single-crystal surfaces (UHV studies)
- Spillover and bifunctional catalysis
Colloid science
- DLVO theory: quantitative treatment
- Zeta potential measurement and interpretation
- Colloid stability maps and critical coagulation concentration
- Emulsion and foam thermodynamics and stability
- Surfactant phase behavior: micelles, vesicles, lyotropic phases
- Microemulsions and Winsor phases
- Polymer-stabilized colloids and steric stabilization
- Colloidal crystals and photonic structures
- Rheology of colloidal dispersions
- Nanoparticle synthesis in colloidal media
Thin films and surface modification
- Self-assembled monolayers: alkanethiols, silanes
- Langmuir–Blodgett films and layer-by-layer assembly
- Atomic layer deposition mechanisms and applications
- Surface grafting of polymers: ATRP, RAFT from surfaces
- Biomolecular immobilization on surfaces
- Surface plasmon resonance and localized SPR
- Superhydrophobic and superoleophobic surfaces
- Antifouling and antimicrobial surface coatings
- Surface functionalization for sensing applications
- Characterization: XPS, ToF-SIMS, contact angle goniometry
STEM / applied
Experimental methods
- QCM-D for adsorption and viscoelastic properties
- Surface tension and contact angle measurements
- Dynamic light scattering and nanoparticle tracking
- BET and micropore analysis of materials
- Zeta potential by electrophoretic light scattering
- Brewster angle microscopy for Langmuir films
- Ellipsometry for thin film thickness
- AFM imaging and force spectroscopy
- Surface cleaning and contamination control
- Data modeling for adsorption isotherms and kinetics
Applied surface and colloid chemistry
- Catalyst design for chemical industry
- Drug delivery nanoparticle formulation
- Semiconductor surface processing
- Corrosion protection and coatings industry
- Water treatment: coagulation, flocculation, membrane fouling
- Personal care products: emulsions, foams, surfactants
- Food colloid science: dairy, beverages, dressings
- Environmental nanoparticle fate and transport
- Startups in surface coatings and nanomaterials
- Career paths in colloid science, catalysis, and formulation
Notes
Graduate-level surface and colloid chemistry. Topics reflect common graduate surface chemistry syllabi at US research universities. Prior physical chemistry and undergraduate surface chemistry helpful.