NANOSYSTEMS

Part A: Physical chemistry and characterization of nanosystems.
Nanoscale dimension and quantum size confinement.
Intermolecular forces: electrostatic forces, dispersion forces, hydrogen bonds.
Physical Chemistry of interfaces.
Thermodynamics of self-assembly and self-organization.
Amphiphilic molecules: thermodynamics for aggregation of micelles, bilayers, vesicles, biological membranes.
Self-assembled monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett films.
Electron and charge transfers.
Electrochemical techniques.
Scanning probe microscopies.
Optical, electronic microscopies and other surface characterization methods.

Part B. Preparation, properties and application of nanosystems.
Bottom-up approaches to nanosystems production.
General concepts of solution synthesis: La Mer description of nucleation and growth process, Ostwald ripening, sintering.
Steric and electrostatic stabilization of nanosystems (DLVO theory, Z-potential, stealth behavior).
Aggregates of amphiphilic molecules and peptides.
Polymeric nanoparticles and dendrimers.
Stimuli-responsive nanosystems.
Carbon nanostructures (nanotubes, fullerenes, graphene).
Metal nanoparticles, nanoshells, nanorods and nanoclusters.
Plasmon resonance in metal nanostructures and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).
Semiconductive nanoparticles: quantum dots.
Oxides nanoparticles : silica, titania.
Magnetic nanoparticles.