Colloid and Surface Chemistry : A Laboratory Guide for Exploration of the Nano World

With principles that are shaping today’s most advanced technologies, from nanomedicine to electronic nanorobots, colloid and interface science has become a truly interdisciplinary field, integrating chemistry, physics, and biology. Colloid and Surface Chemistry: Exploration of the Nano World- Laboratory Guide explains the basic principles of colloid and interface science through experiments that emphasize the fundamentals. It bridges the gap between the underlying theory and practical applications of colloid and surface chemistry.

Separated into five chapters, the book begins by addressing research methodology, how to design successful experiments, and ethics in science. It also provides practical information on data collection and analysis, keeping a laboratory notebook, and writing laboratory reports. With each section written by a distinguished researcher, chapter 2 reviews common techniques for the characterization and analysis of colloidal structures, including surface tension measurements, viscosity and rheological measurements, electrokinetic methods, scattering and diffraction techniques, and microscopy.

Chapters 3–5 provide 19 experiments, each including the purpose of the experiment, background information, pre-laboratory questions, step-by-step procedures, and post-laboratory questions. Chapter 3 contains experiments about colloids and surfaces, such as sedimentation, exploration of wetting phenomena, foam stability, and preparation of miniemulsions. Chapter 4 covers various techniques for the preparation of nanoparticles, including silver, magnetic, and silica nanoparticles. Chapter 5 demonstrates daily-life applications of colloid science, describing the preparation of food colloids, body wash, and body cream.

Seyda Bucak, Ph.D., has more than 15 years of experience in chemistry laboratory practices, predominantly in colloids and surface chemistry. She has been working as an associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey, since 2011. She is involved in teaching colloid and surface chemistry at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Currently, her main research areas are in the synthesis and applications of magnetic nanomaterials and peptide self-assembly. She has numerous publications on self-assembly, colloidal material, and nanoparticles. She has also coauthored General Chemistry Laboratory Book and Physical Chemistry Laboratory Book published by Yeditepe University Press.

Deniz Rende, Ph.D., has nearly ten years of experience in undergraduate-level chemical engineering laboratory courses. She actively participated in establishing and coordinating various undergraduate laboratories to be used in teaching general chemistry, physical chemistry, and unit operations courses in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey. She is currently teaching as an adjunct professor and appointed as proximal probe laboratory manager in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Her current research involves viability and reactivity of cells in response to activated magnetic nanoparticles.