Physics of surfaces and interfaces

This subject is oriented to the study of the formation processes and structural characteristics of surfaces and interfaces both from a microscopic and macroscopic point of view, as well as to the study of their particular physical properties, which are already applied, or are susceptible to be applied, in various technological and productive sectors.

Learning outcomes:

1. To familiarize the student with the basic concepts of the Physics of surfaces and interfaces and to apply the knowledge of Physics acquired in the degree about the study of surfaces and interfaces of materials.
2. To know the physical-chemical mechanisms of surface formation, as well as of the formation of solid and liquid interfaces, and their structural characterization.
3. To understand the physical origin of the properties of surfaces and interfaces and how they can be exploited for different applications.

Physical structure of solid surfaces: Definition, modeling, surface structure, surface defects, cooperative effects, surface reconstruction, structural and compositional characterization of surfaces.

Surface properties: Electronic properties: The Jellium model. Surface barriers. Work function and its measurement. Surface states. Plasmons. Surface mobility: superficial network dynamics, and surface diffusion.

Surface and interfacial forces: repulsive atomic potentials. Forces of liquid crystals. Phase transitions in liquid crystals. Properties and applications. Van der Waals forces. Surface-particle forces: electrostatic forces and double electric layer. Solvation forces.

Solid-liquid interfaces: Surface tension in liquids and solids: Measurement. Cohesion and adhesion work. Effect of temperature and curvature on surface tension. Capillarity: The Laplace equation. Interfaces with axial symmetry. Balance of forces of three phases in contact: Young equation, Neumann triangle. Contact angle. Hysteresis of the contact angle. Effects of condensation on capillaries: Kelvin equation.

Surface wetting: Wetting thermodynamics. Immersion heat. Critical point. Kinetic aspects of wetting. Competitive effects. Roughness and Wenzel equation. Physical-chemical heterogeneity.

Thermodynamics and kinetics of adsorption on surfaces and interfaces: The Gibbs potential. Mono and multi-component systems. Adsorption heat. Adsorption at the solid-vapor and solid-liquid interface. Physisorption and chemisorption. Adsorption isotherms in solid-vapor interfaces. Adsorption isotherms in solid-liquid interfaces. Kinetic aspects of the adsorption processes. Heterogeneous catalysis. Applications.

Monolayers: Definition. Types of monolayers. Physical states of the monolayers. Monolayer formation: Langmuir-Blodgett. Self-assembled monolayers.

Growth and epitaxy: Definition of interface. Types. Tension and shear. Interfacial free energy and deformation energy. Growth modes. Nucleation Deposition techniques.

Basic bibliography:
- ROSEN, M. J. “Surfactants and Interfacial Phenomena”. Ed. John Wiley&Sons, 1978.
(The electronic version of its 3rd edition can be found online.)

Complementary bibliography:
-VANS, D. F, WENNERSTRÖM, H. “The Colloidal Domain. Where Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Technology Meet”. Ed. VCH Publishers Inc, NY. 1994.
-HAMLEY, I. W., "Introduction to Soft Matter: Polymers, Colloids, Amphiphiles and Liquid Crystals". Ed. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK. 2000.
-HAMLEY, I. W., "Introduction to Soft Matter: Synthetic and Biological Self-Assembling Materials". Ed. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK. 2007.
-ISRAELACHVILI, J. C. “Intermolecular and Surface Forces”. Ed. Academic Press, Londres, 1995.
- MOROI, Y. “Micelles, Theoretical and Applied Aspects”. Ed. Plenum Publishing Corporation, NY, 1992.
- TANFORD, C. “The Hydrophobic Effect: Formation of Micelles and Biological Membranes”. Ed. Krieger Publishing Company, Florida, 1991.
-HUDSON J. B. “Surface Science, An Introduction”. Butterworth-Heinemann, 1992.
- WOODRUFF D.P. “Modern Techniques of Surface Science.”Cambridge University Press, 1994.
- M. PRUTTON. “Introduction to Surface Physics”. Oxford University Press. 1998.
-Surfaces, Interfaces, and Colloids: Principles and Applications. D. Myers, John Wiley and Sons, 1999.
- KOLASINSKI K. W. “Surface Science: Foundations of Catalysis and Nanoscience”. Wiley. 2009.

In addition, teachers will make teaching material available to students in the Virtual Classroom.

Basic and general:
CG01 – Acquire the ability to perform team research work.
CG02 – Be able to analyze and synthesize.
CG03 – Acquire the ability to write texts, articles or scientific reports according to publication standards.
CG04 - Become familiar with the different modalities used to report results and disseminate knowledge in scientific meetings.
CG05 - Apply knowledge to solve complex problems.
CB6 - Possess and understand knowledge that provides a basis or opportunity to be original in the development and/or application of ideas, often in a research context
CB7 - That students know how to apply the knowledge acquired and their ability to solve problems in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their area of study.
CB8 - That students are able to integrate knowledge and face the complexity of making judgments based on information that, being incomplete or limited, includes considerations on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments.
CB9 - That students know how to communicate their conclusions and the knowledge and ultimate reasons that sustain them to specialized and non-specialized audiences in a clear and unambiguous way.
CB10 - That students possess the learning skills that allow them to continue studying in a way that will be largely self-directed or autonomous.

Transversal:
CT01 - Ability to interpret texts, documentation, reports and academic articles in English, the scientific language par excellence.
CT02 - Develop the capacity to make responsible decisions in complex and/or responsible situations.

Specific:
CE08 - Acquire an in-depth knowledge of the structure of matter in the low energy regime and its characterization.
CE09 - Master the set of tools necessary to analyze the different states in which the matter can be presented.

A course will be activated on the Moodle platform of the Virtual Campus, to which information of interest to students will be uploaded, as well as diverse teaching material.

The activities from which the teaching will be developed will be of several types: theoretical classes, seminars and laboratory practices.
Student participation will be essential in seminar classes and practices.
The student will be given all the necessary base material for the study of the subject, as well as for the realization of the practices. Likewise, the students will have at their disposal hours of tutoring for the individualized discussion of all the doubts that may arise about the content of the subject. These tutorials may be face-to-face or telematic; if they are telematic they will require an appointment, which is also recommended for face-to-face.

Class attendance will be mandatory and the evaluation will be continuous. The participation of the students in the classroom will be taken into account, as well as their performance in carrying out the tasks and exercises proposed and in the laboratory practices. Additionally, each student will present a monographic work of a topic of the recent bibliography of interest for the course.
Exceptionally, a final exam of the subject can be carried out.

For cases of fraudulent completion of work, exercises or tests, the provisions of the ‘Regulations for evaluating the academic performance of students and for reviewing grades’ will apply.

Attendance to theoretical classes: 18 h
Interactive activities in the classroom and in the laboratory: 12 h
Assistance to tutorials: 1 h
Personal work and other activities: 44 h

Languages in which the subject is taught:
Spanish (1st part) and Galician (2nd part)