Molecular and Soft Condensed Matter Field of study: Biophysics
Programme code: W4-S2BFA21.2022

Module name: Molecular and Soft Condensed Matter
Module code: W4-2BF-MB-21-12
Programme code: W4-S2BFA21.2022
Semester:
  • summer semester 2024/2025
  • summer semester 2023/2024
  • summer semester 2022/2023
Language of instruction: English
Form of verification: exam
ECTS credits: 4
Description:
This unit introduces the physics of molecular and macromolecular condensed phases such as liquids, glasses, liquid crystals, plastic and orientationally disordered crystals, polymers and polymer gels. Course syllabus: (1) Basics of molecular condensed matter: introduction (polymorphism, glasses, complex fluids: mesophases & polymers); classification and mechanism of phase transitions (first order, continuous, glassy; nucleation and growth); van der Waals theory; microscopic constituents, effective interactions, disorder & dynamics; experimental tools & linear response theory; Boltzmann distribution and partition function (2) Single component systems: structural glasses, primary and secondary relaxations, aged and stable glasses; orientationally disordered solids and plastic crystals; amorphous and semicrystalline linear polymers; rotational isomeric state model; ideal chains and entanglement, normal and segmental relaxations; viscoelasticity; polymers networks, gelation and rubber elasticity; conjugated and conductive polymers; thermotropic liquid crystals and liquid crystal polymers) (3) Introduction to binary systems and binary equilibrium and non-equilibrium phase diagrams: heterointeractions; glass-forming mixtures; binary plastic crystals; polymer blends, solutions, and dispersions; block copolymers; polymer gels and hydrogels, swelling; superhydrophobic, superhydrophilic/olephobic, superamphiphilic, and self-healing polymer coatings. Self-assembly in condensed matter: biopolymers, helix-coil & coil-globule transitions; surfactant-water systems, biomembranes, lyotropic liquid crystals, emulsions; semiflexible polymers & cytoskeleton; colloidal systems (glasses, crystals, nematics, gels); Applications to drug encapsulation, controlled drug release, and drug delivery.
Prerequisites:
(no information given)
Key reading:
(no information given)
Learning outcome of the module Codes of the learning outcomes of the programme to which the learning outcome of the module is related [level of competence: scale 1-5]
students will be able to describe the phases of single-component molecular systems, and the main experimental techniques available to study molecular dynamics and phase transitions [MB_12_1]
 KBF_W02 [4/5] KBF_W07 [4/5] KBF_W10 [4/5]
students will be able to discuss the (dynamic) disorder present in a phase and its impact on rheological/mechanical properties and on vitrification [MB_12_2]
 KBF_W02 [4/5] KBF_U01 [4/5] KBF_U11 [4/5]
students will be able to describe the main theories that describe the properties of glasses, liquid crystals, linear polymers and polymer networks, as well as their main technological applications [MB_12_3]
 KBF_W02 [4/5] KBF_U02 [3/5]
Type Description Codes of the learning outcomes of the module to which assessment is related
exam [MB_12_w_1]
Oral and written presentation of case study (60%), written midterm exam (40%)
 MB_12_1 MB_12_2 MB_12_3
Form of teaching Student's own work Assessment of the learning outcomes
Type Description (including teaching methods) Number of hours Description Number of hours
lecture [MB_12_fs_1]
Detailed discussion by the lecturer of the issues listed in the table "module description" using the table and/or multimedia presentations
 36
Supplementary reading, working with the textbook
 64 exam [MB_12_w_1]
Attachments
Module description (PDF)
Information concerning module syllabuses might be changed during studies.
Syllabuses (USOSweb)
Semester Module Language of instruction
(no information given)