- Study Course Title
- Soft Nanomaterials
- Study Course Code
- FiziM052
- Branch of Science
- Physics and astronomy
- Credits (ECTS)
- 3
- Total Number of Contact Hours
- 32
- Number of Lecture Hours
- 28
- Number of Seminar and Practical Assignment Hours
- 4
- Number of Hours for Laboratory Assignments
- 0
- Independent Study Hours
- 43
- Language of Instruction
- English
- Course Approval Date
- 26.01.2026
- Responsible Unit
- Faculty of Science and Technology
Course Developer
PhD Programme(līm.), Jorge Luiz Coelho Domingos
Prerequisite Knowledge
Prerequisite knowledge required for the acquisition of the course corresponds to the study programme admission requirements and the general knowledge, skills and competences obtained at the previous level of education.
Study Course Abstract
The aim of the study course is to establish an understanding about different types of soft nanomaterials, their applications and related theoretical study methods.
Tasks of the course are to:
- Introduce the main classes of soft nanomaterials, their physical properties, and applications.
- Develop understanding of key theoretical concepts and scaling ideas used in soft matter physics.
- Train students in quantitative and conceptual problem-solving in soft matter topics (e.g., Brownian motion, diffusion, basic rheology).
- Develop the ability to read, interpret, and discuss scientific literature in soft matter.
Course Plan — Full-time Regular Studies
| No. | Topic | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction: aim and content of the course. What is soft matter? Types of soft nanomaterials | 3L |
| 2 | Scales in soft matter: energy, time, and length scales. Interactions in soft systems | 3L |
| 3 | Brownian motion and thermal fluctuations. Langevin equation (conceptual and quantitative) | 4L |
| 4 | Colloids: diffusion, Stokes law, stability and effective interactions | 3L |
| 5 | Liquid crystals: nematic order, order parameter, and basic phenomenology | 3L |
| 6 | Complex fluids and rheology: viscoelasticity and basic models | 3L |
| 7 | Microfluidics: low Reynolds number flows and applications | 3L |
| 8 | Magnetic soft matter: dipolar interactions and field-driven behavior | 3L |
| 9 | Active matter: basic concepts and examples (including magnetotactic bacteria) | 3L |
| 10 | Guided discussion of research papers and project preparation | 4S |
| Total | 28L · 4S | |
Characterization of Students' Independent Work Organization and Tasks
During this course students' work will involve:
- Studies of literature and study materials individually or in groups.
- Performing homework individually.
- Getting acquainted with, developing and presenting a project work in groups or individually.
At the beginning of the course students will be introduced to principles of preparing deliverables. Consultations (both remote and in person) will be available for unclear questions.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
- Identifies different types of soft nanomaterials and explains their key physical properties and applications.
Skills
- Applies basic theoretical models and scaling arguments to analyze soft matter systems.
- Solves quantitative and conceptual problems in soft matter topics (diffusion, Brownian motion, basic rheology).
Competence
- Critically reads and discusses research literature in soft matter and connects theoretical ideas with real systems.
Requirements for Awarding Credits
Students may take the final examination only if all interim assessments and other mandatory requirements have been successfully completed (where applicable).
Final grade consists of:
| Component | Assessment | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Intermediate tests | Homeworks | 50% |
| Final examination | Final project defense by oral presentation | 50% |
Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes
In accordance with Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia, at the end of the course, students' knowledge is evaluated according to the following criteria: the amount and the quality of the obtained knowledge, acquired skills and competence in compliance with the planned learning outcomes.
| Type of Assessment | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homeworks | — | + | + | — |
| Exam | + | — | — | + |
Compulsory Reading List
- Jones, R. A. L., Soft Condensed Matter, Oxford University Press, 2002.
- Doi, M., Soft Matter Physics, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2013.
Further Reading List
- J. K. G. Dhont, An Introduction to Dynamics of Colloids, 1996.
- Tierno, P., Recent advances with anisotropic magnetic colloids: realization, assembly and applications, https://doi.org/10.1039/C4CP03099K.
- Klapp, S. H. L., Collective dynamics of dipolar and active colloids: from passive to active systems, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cocis.2016.01.004.
Periodicals and Other Sources
- Distribution service and an open-access archive for scholarly articles: arXiv.org.
- European Physical Journal E.
- Physical Review E.
- Soft Matter (Royal Society of Chemistry).
Academic Integrity and Generative AI
Plagiarism and other academic misconducts are not permitted within the course; please refer to the Regulations for Academic Integrity at the University of Latvia. Within this course, the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is allowed in exceptional cases, if it has been specified and authorised in writing by the instructor of this course. In all other cases, submission of materials generated by AI (text, images, audio, video, etc.) in independent and group assignments, test, examination or any other assessment is not permitted. Submission of this type of material will be considered an unauthorised use of aids.
Course materials
Dedicated pages are ready for lecture notes and homework files.