EnSE 310

Colloids, Interfaces and Surfaces

Suzana Pereira Nunes

Nanostructured Polymeric Membranes Lab
Building 4, 3rd floor, room 3274
suzana.nunes@kaust.edu.sa
EnSE 310
Colloids, Interfaces and Surfaces
Surface tension and surface free energy (theory and measurement methods)
Surface films on liquid substrates (surface potential, monomolecular films, Langmuir-Blodgett layers)
Capillarity
Electrical aspects of surface chemistry (electrical double layer, zeta potential, DLVO theory)
Surface of solids
Solid-liquid interface, stability of dispersions, stabilization of suspensions
Contact angle (theory and measurement methods)
Emulsions, foams and aerosols
Wetting of surfaces by liquids, Lotus effect
Flotation, aggregation and flocculation
Detergency, surfactants, self-assembly, micelles and vesicles
Friction, lubrication and adhesion
Adsorption
Characterization of colloidal particles
Applications of colloid and surface science in petroleum recovery, coating and painting, food,
pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry
Books:
Evaluation:
35 % Midterm (October 6-2021)
30 % Final (December 13)
20 % Oral presentation (November 15-December 8)
15 % Written report (November 30)
Assignment:

Main points to be presented:

1. Basic Principles of the topic

2. Review examples of recent literature using the method/concept (4 recent

papers using the method or concept). Choose recent 2020-2021, high
impact journals for reviews

3. What are the highlights, what is the main contribution and innovation?

4. What is the relation of the chosen topic with your research work, if any?
Do you have an idea of how to use the published information for a new
research project?
 Colloids, Interfaces and Surfaces

Definition of Colloids (κόλλα kólla, glue)

Thomas Graham (1861):
“Substances of complicated chemical nature with very
high molecular weight and a specific structure of molecules”

Freundlich, Ostwald and Weimarn (1911-1930):

any substance which is in the dispersed state; microheterogeneous (dispersed) systems
(fine suspensions, emulsions, etc)

Macromolecules
Staudinger (1920):
High molecular weight molecules, polymers

Mokrushin, Nature 1962, 861

“The study of interfaces enables us to understand the games water can play to
break the monotony of a rainy day or the tricks it performs while washing dishes.”

Brochard-Wyart and de Gennes

Applications:

soil science, climate, plant biology, surface physics, product formulation in

pharmacology and domestics, the glass industry, automobile manufacturing,
textile production, oil recovery, water harvesting, and much more
Stabilizing emulsions

Cosmetics Food: Mayonnaise

Oil recovery Latex polymerization

Bubbles
Jun 2nd, 2001

Stenocara gracilipes

10 μm

Chhatre MIT
 http://www.technovelgy.com

The man in the white suit (1951)

West Lake, China
 Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)
“One who performs his duty
without attachment,
surrendering the results unto the
Supreme Lord, is unaffected by
sinful action, as the lotus leaf is
untouched by water” (Bhagavad
Gita)

https://rubinmuseum.org/events/exhibitions/the-lotus-effect
The Lotus effect

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJtQ6dvcb
Og

Lotusan paint

10 μm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJtQ6dvcbOg
Biofouling on ships:
high surface roughness
increased frictional resistance
and fuel consumption
Mechano-bactericidal actions
https://www.wentworth.nsw.gov.au/covid-19-updates/
Antigen-specific binding
Frictionless Carbon Nanotubes

Nature 2005
Gecko effect
 Surface Tension. “contractile skin”

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v503/n7476/full/nature12740.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25004942
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NCOnr3VSAY
Surface Tension Surface free energy

work to bring molecules

from bulk to surface

“unhappy” molecules at the surface

 De Gennes, chapter 1
Surface Tension

Cohesion energy in
bulk: U
surface: U/2
Molecule size a
Area a2

Oil: van der Waals interactions

U = kT thermal energy
at 25oC kT = 1/40 eV Surface tension = 20mJ/m2

Water: hydrogen bonds, Surface tension = 72mJ/m2

Mercury: strong cohesive liquid metal, Surface tension = 500mJ/m2
 Surface Tension

γ
(Adamson, Chapter II)
Force per unit length

Units: dyn/cm (= mN/m) (1 dyn = 10−5 N)

l Soap film Force

γ Free energy per unit area

Work = γ dx = γ dA
dx = dA change in area

Units: ergs/cm2 1 erg = 10−7 joule

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1Gy42r_8YY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAXymmaptHw
 Surface Tension

maximal supporting force

of a single leg is 152 dynes
or about 15 times the total 20 μm
body weight of the insect.

Nature 432 (2004) 36

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NCOnr3VSAY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45yabrnryXk
 Surface Tension and Capillarity

Young-Laplace Equation

Young (1773-1829) Laplace (1749-1827)

Edingburgh/Goettingen/Cambridge Caen (France)
 Surface Tension

Work = γ dx = γ dA
l Soap film Force
Soap bubble
Minimum surface area:

Total surface free energy: 4 π r 2γ

 Soap bubbles

Radius decrease dr, change in surface free energy

8π rγ dr
r
Tendency to shrink, balanced by
pressure difference
ΔP
Work against ΔP = decrease in
surface free energy

ΔP4π r dr = 8π rγ dr
2
2γ
ΔP =
r
Oil in water

de Gennes, chapter 1
Oil in water

de Gennes, chapter 1