Module Overview

Surface Chemistry:
Surface and interfacial tension. Surfactants, micelles, detergent action: environmental impact. The Gibbs adsorption isotherm - Surface pressure. Force-Area curves. Preparation and analysis of monomolecular films.
Colloid Chemistry :
Classification of colloidal systems. Domestic and industrial significance of colloidal chemistry. Preparation of colloidal materials. Theories of Crystal growth. Particle size analysis. Colloid stability – non-mathematical treatment of the electrical double layer.
Shulze-Hardy rules for stability. Environmental and health impact of nanomaterials.

Photochemistry
Light absorption and photophysical proceses for organic and inorganic molecules. Efficiencies expressed as quantum yields.
Dye sensitised solar cells – mechanism of operation, current research to overcome limitations.
Quenching of excited state and application to photochemical sensors (e.g. oxygen sensors, cationic sensors)
Metal oxide photocatalysis for environmental remediation, hydrogen production and organic synthesis.

Use of light in the chemical reactions. Photodynamic therapy – role and detection of reactive oxygen species.
Experimental photochemistry – emission and excitation spectroscopy, flash photolysis, determining the nature of the excited state.

Laboratory Work:
Two advanced practical classes which complement the lecture material. Details are in the School of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory Manual.

This module is designed to educate the student in the topical areas of surface and colloidal chemistry and photochemistry. The module is presented with an emphasis on how these topics are relevant to analytical, environmental and medicinal chemistry.

Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown	%
Formal Examination	50
Other Assessment(s)	50