Abstract:

Incorporating cutting-edge scientific examples into course instruction can not only illustrate the practical significance of the fundamental principles, but also provide examples for the flexible application of these principles, inspiring students' independent thinking abilities. Interface chemistry is an important subject in physical chemistry courses, but students often overlook this part of the knowledge due to the lack of significant interface phenomena in conventional-scale multiphase systems. In recent years, nanomaterials have become a hot topic of scientific research. Nanomaterials exhibit more significant interface phenomena due to their high interface-to-volume ratio. Applying the basic principles of interface chemistry to the study of nanomaterials has led to a series of remarkable achievements. This article first reviews the related basic principles of interface phenomena such as Laplace pressure and contact angle, and then introduces four technological breakthroughs: molecular motors, photo-controlled microfluidic devices, liquid gating techniques, and superhydrophobic surfaces, developed based on these principles.

Key words: Interface phenomena, Molecular motor, Photo-controlled microfluidic device, Liquid gating technology, Superhydrophobic surface