Thermodynamics and energetics of soft matter systems

24 Jul 2018, 08:30 → 26 Jul 2018, 16:50 Europe/Paris

ILL4/rdc-1 - Amphi Chadwick (ILL4)

Soft matter pervades into daily life under several forms: biological matter, foams, food products, ink, tires, and many others. In contrast to their very different appearance, all these systems are governed by the same, fundamental physical laws. Aim of the school is providing an overview of the forces governing the behavior of soft matter systems and introducing the most relevant techniques to probe such interactions.
The school proposes frontal lectures for doctoral students working in the field of soft matter given by recognized experts from all over Europe. Poster sessions will be opened for discussion on research topic and experimental results between students and invited lecturers.

 

Pre-registration is necessary because of the limited number of places in the school.
A short description of research activity and a CV should be sent to softmatter2018@ill.fr
The organising committee will examine your application and inform you in April 2018.

poster ILL.pdf

Tuesday, 24 July

Welcome and Registration

ILL/PSCM Guided Tour

12:00 Lunch

School Opening

1 Lecture 1: Introduction to colloid and interface Science

Introduction to colloid and interface science & its applications. Basic concepts. Van der Waals interactions, the electric double layer, and DLVO theory. Further interaction mechanisms (steric, depletion).

Speaker: Dr Emanuel Schneck

15:30 Coffee Break

2 Lecture 2: Fundamentals of self-assembly processes

Basic Principles in Supra- molecular Chemistry. Non- Covalent
Interactions and Host- Guest Complexes. Free energy landscape, polydispersity, cooperativity.

Speaker: Prof. Christoph Schalley

Poster Session & Discussion with Wine and Cheese

Wednesday, 25 July

3 Lecture 3: Methods in Calorimetry and Volumetry

Free energy and its derivatives: the partial molar quantities. Relevance in colloidal systems and methods to access them. Enthalpy changes in supramolecular aggregates: van’t Hoff vs direct methods. Introduction and experimental tips in calorimetry
and volumetry. lsothenral titration calorimetry: equilibrium and kinetics. Prediction abilities and case studies.

Speaker: Dr Guiseppe Lazzara

10:30 Coffee Break

4 Lecture 4: Methods to probe energetics in biological systems

Methods to probe the energetics, structure and conformational dynamics of biomolecular systems - Introduction to cell membranes, model biomembranes, lipid phase transitions. Proteins and their stability, free energy landscape, folding kinetics, interactions. Methods to probe the thermodynamics, conformation, dynamics and interactions of biomolecules.

Speaker: Prof. Roland Winter

12:15 Lunch

ESRF Guided Tour

Poster Session & Discussion

Free afternoon

Social dinner

Thursday, 26 July

5 Lecture 5: Physics of macromolecular systems

Conformation of polymer chains, chain statistics, polymer solutions and blends, thermodynamics, phase separation, mechanical properties.

Speaker: Dr Julian Oberdisse

10:30 Coffee break

6 Lecture 6: Thermodynamics of interfaces

Thermodynamics of interfaces and adsorption, surface tension, contact angle, wetting. Interaction between surfaces and stabilisation mechanisms (foams, emulsions).

Speaker: Dr Antonio Stocco

12:15 Lunch

7 Lecture 7: Solvation and Solubilization

Ideal and real mixtures and solutions. Molecules and macromolecules in solution. Free energy of solvation, chemical potentials, activity coefficients: experimental and theoretical approaches. A microscopic view from homogeneous to structured solutions: osmolytes, hydrotropes, surfactants. Concepts from Kirkwood-Buff theory. Solubilization in micro-structured solvents.

Speaker: Dr Dominik Horinek

School closing