Experimental Soft Matter

FaculteitFaculty of Science

NiveauMaster

Studiejaar2026-2027

Beschrijving

Course goals

Upon successfully completing the course, the student

Can explain how in modern soft matter science the typical areas comprising this field, colloids, surfactants, polymers and liquid crystals are actually intermixed in many different ways. Additionally, knows that although the majority of soft matter can be described with classical physics, the lower end of the colloidal size range also extends this field and connects it to quantum matter, where a quantum mechanical description is essential
Is able to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the different experimental methodologies (see above) that are in use to measure interactions, like DLVO interactions, including van-der-Waals forces, depletion interactions, and steric repulsions.
Has knowledge and understanding of the concepts of static (light, x-ray, neutron) scattering techniques, such as: scattering vector, contrast, structure factor, form factor and can apply them in experiments to characterize soft matter systems, including crystalline and less ordered liquid (crystalline) soft matter systems.
Understands how scattering techniques, like dynamic light scattering, can be used to characterize the dynamics of soft matter systems. Can explain the differences in particles sizing of colloidal particles by SLS and DLS. Describe the different diffusion processes as associated with collective and self-diffusion.
Describe the differences between the liquid crystal phases and explain how these phases can be used in display applications like e.g. twisted nematic displays. Have a basic understanding of more complex soft matter systems comprised of colloids dispersed inside LSs, and LC phases formed by colloids.
Explain why colloidal particles are such a powerful model system to study fundamental questions in condensed matter physics and give and explain examples of such studies, e.g. as connected to crystal nucleation and growth, the role of interactions in phase behavior and the glass transition.
Can give examples and a description of different advanced functional materials based on soft matter systems such as electronic ink, paints and inks based on structural colors, photonic crystal sensors and quantum dots in TV screens.
Can provide a review based on research papers on topics as treated in this course and present this review in a talk combined with providing answers to questions on these topics.

Content

Course description

The course Experimental Soft Matter (NS-EX432M) builds upon the more introductionary course Fundamentals of Soft Matter and exemplifies together with the course Theory of Soft and Active Matter (NS-TP458M) and the MSc Chemistry course Colloid Science (SK-MCS) why Utrecht University is seen already for decades as a leading university in the field of Soft Matter and especially Colloid Science. Leading in both the study of colloid systems not only by theory and experiments, but also by computer simulations. This course also illustrates by describing the experimental techniques that the large length scale that is associated with a theoretical description of soft matter can not only be studied and characterized by scattering techniques (x-ray, neutron, light scattering), but also makes it possible to study these systems quantitatively by modern microscopy techniques such as light confocal nanoscopy and electron microscopy tomography as well. Specifically, it will be explained why, contrary to atomic and molecular systems, inter particle forces between colloidal particles can be measured directly. The advantages and shortcomings of the different experimental techniques, such as surface force apparatus, AFM, TIRM, microscopy, optical tweezers and their combinations will be discussed. It will also be explained why the ability to not only measure but additionally change the interactions in soft matter systems is of importance to change their phase behavior. Next to materials and model systems based on colloidal particles the course also focusses in more depth on the experimental study of the fundamentals and applications of liquid crystals (e.g. in displays), colloids in liquid crystals and colloid based liquid crystals as well. The course also gives examples of how and why colloids are such powerful model systems allowing e.g. the testing of classical nucleation theory and the study of hard particle systems and how control over the interactions and phase behavior of colloids also has led to the development of advanced functional materials such as electronic ink and structural colors.

At the end of the course each student will give a presentation reviewing a topic treated in the course and illustrating that research papers on topics provided as a list from the course can already mostly be read and reviewed. Active participation to the problem classes is a prerequisite for access to the exam.
As mentioned, this course can be combined well with the equally more focused course Theory of Soft and Active Matter (NS-TP458M, 3.75 EC), which can be taken simultaneously in block 2, but also with the MSc Colloid Science (SK-MCS, 7.5 EC) course given by researchers from the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science from the Chemistry Department.

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