CAREER: Entropic Control of Colloidal Stability, Phase Transition, and Particle Deposition: Theory of Depletion Forces

摘要CTS-0133780 D。普渡大学的Corti这项提议处于一个领域的前沿，即在稠密悬浮液中的自组装，在这个领域，理论落后于迅速发展的实验技术。 对基于几何的统计力学和新颖的模拟，以解决熵驱动的过程的重点承诺在高智力水平的研究。 该理论有一个明确的物理基础，相对简单，但并不容易，并通过与一个配备直接测量粒子间电位的小组合作的实验努力来补充。这种方法可能足够强大和简单，可以为寻求自组装新结构的实验者提供指导，并吸引其他应用统计力学的人。教育努力明智地集中在化学工程的本科课程，特别是热力学内容。在研究生研究中，将课程内容与实际可访问的主题联系起来会有很多收获。

AbstractCTS-0133780D. Corti, Purdue UniversityThis proposal lies at the frontier in an area, self-assembly in dense suspensions, in which theory lags behind rapidly evolving experimental techniques. The focus on geometrically-based statistical mechanics and novel simulations to address entropy-driven processes promises research at a high intellectual level. The theory has a clear physical basis and is relatively simple, but not easy, and is complemented by an experimental effort in collaboration with a group equipped to measure interparticle potentials directly. This approach might be powerful and simple enough to provide guidance for experimentalists seeking to self-assemble novel structures and to appeal to others applying statistical mechanics. The educational effort wisely concentrates on the undergraduate curriculum for chemical engineering, particularly the thermodynamic content. There is much to gain from linking course content to physically accessible topics in graduate research.