Conference Program
Abstracts
In addition to technical sessions typically held in the symposium, this conference will feature three areas that tie strongly with Colorado: energy systems and catalysis, environmental science, and colloids in life science.
ACTIVE MATTER
Active matter describes a class of materials where energy drives the system away from thermodynamic equilibrium. These materials consume energy and perform complex functions such as self-propel, reconfigure, or exhibit emergent behaviors. The session welcomes submissions from all aspects of fundamental research in active matter along with their emerging applications in the fields of soft robotics, biomedicine, and environmental remediation.
Exhibitors


COLLOIDAL AND INTERFACIAL FORCES
This session will focus on the fundamental intermolecular and surface forces at multiple length scales ranging from nano- to macro-scale. Topics of interest will cover intermolecular forces at interfaces, (anti-)adhesion, friction, and (nano)tribology-related subjects. Other relevant topics will include nanoscale organization of confined molecules and particles at interfaces when the degree of confinement becomes comparable with the molecular characteristic length scale.
Sponsors

Organizers: Younjin Min, UC Riverside; Mustafa Akbulut, Texas A&M
COLLOIDS, MACROMOLECULES, AND SURFACES IN LIFE SCIENCE
Within this session, we will hold a symposium on antimicrobial coatings, including biocidal and antifouling surfaces. A second symposium will focus on biointerfaces, bioelectronics, and biosensors, including flexible interfaces. Other areas of specific interest include drug delivery and other therapies, dentistry, viruses, wound healing, transport of biomaterials and cells, biological polymers, and biodegradable polymers.
SELF AND DIRECTED ASSEMBLY
This session will focus on the field of self- and directed assembly of molecules (surfactants, peptides, proteins, and macromolecules) and particles (colloids and nanoparticles). Contributions can detail experimental, computational, or theoretical studies of the equilibrium self-assembly and far from equilibrium directed assembly driven by various external fields or chemical reactions. Studies of the functional properties of self-assembled materials, such as their rheology, optical, mechanical, biomolecular, and transport properties, are also welcome.
Organizers: Qian Chen, UIUC; Taylor Woehl, U Maryland
ELECTROKINETICS AND MICROFLUIDICS
This session welcomes experimental, theoretical, and computational papers concerning all aspects of electrokinetic phenomena and microfluidic design and practice, including hydrodynamic, interfacial, electrokinetic, and acoustophoretic phenomena. Topics might include electrokinetics and microfluidics for controlled synthesis, materials fabrication, metrology, high throughput screening, controlling dynamic experimental conditions, or physically emulating natural phenomena. Work covering both fundamental and applied aspects of microfluidic phenomena are welcome.
Organizers: John Oakey, U Wyoming; Bill Ristenpart, UC Davis
EMULSIONS, BUBBLES AND FOAMS
We invite abstracts on the fundamentals and applications of emulsions, bubbles, and foams. Topics include but are not limited to particle stabilization of interfaces, aqueous-aqueous interfaces, dynamics of microbubbles and nanoemulsions, surfactants dynamics, foam stabilization, polymers at droplet and bubble interfaces, responsive surfactants, and droplet/bubble interactions.
Organizers: Dan Miller, Dow Chemical; Lauren Zarzar, Penn State
ENERGY SYSTEMS
This session focuses on the fundamentals and applications of colloids and interfaces to energy applications, including batteries, fuel cells, energy harvesting, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), geothermal, fossil sources, and other energy-relevant topics. The contributions can involve experiments or modeling, and all parts of the energy chain are welcome, from generation to storage.
GEOCHEMICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS
This session focuses on the fundamental science and applications of colloids and surfaces in geochemical and environmental systems. Topics include interactions of colloids with surfaces and with natural organic matter, characterization of particle size distributions and state of aggregation, colloid- and surface-mediated chemical transformations, colloidal transport and deposition mediated by fluid flows, assay development, and biogeochemical processes.
GENERAL ASPECTS OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
This session welcomes experimental, theoretical, and numerical presentations on aspects of colloid and surface science that do not fit neatly into any of the specific symposia. Abstracts will be grouped to the greatest extent possible and appropriately sub-titled “mini-symposia” will be created to attract a focused audience. Topics of invited talks include colloids/polymer mixtures, granular media, colloids in 3D printing.
MOLECULES AND PARTICLES AT FLUID INTERFACES
This session invites papers in fundamental science and potential applications on the behavior of molecules and particles at fluid-fluid interfaces. Experimental and theoretical works on molecules and particles with an emphasis on self/directed assembly, functional thin films/membranes, interfacial rheology, interactions between multi-components, physical properties of molecule/particle-laden interfaces, etc. are all welcome.
RHEOLOGY AND DYNAMICS
This session focuses on the deformation, flow, and microstructure evolution of colloidal suspensions, gels, emulsions, polymers, and surfactant systems under applied stress. Experimental, numerical, and theoretical studies of rheology and dynamics that connect observations to underlying physics and chemistry are welcome.
SURFACE SCIENCE AND CATALYSIS
Connecting surface science and catalysis can dramatically improve existing catalytic processes and enable the feasibility of emerging ones. Towards this goal, this session will emphasize in situ characterization and computational modeling of active sites, design and synthesis of nanostructured and single-site materials, and modification of surfaces with inorganic and organic functionalities, with the goal of understanding and controlling reactivity for electro, thermo, and plasmonic catalysis.
WETTING AND ADHESION
This session focuses on gaining a deeper understanding of wetting and adhesion phenomena with a wide perspective, including biological, chemical, mechanical systems. Both fundamental and applied aspects of wetting and adhesion are of interest. Studies on these phenomena in non-conventional conditions such as high/low temperature/pressure are also welcome.