Jacob Israelachvili
Encyclopedia
Jacob Israelachvili is a professor of chemical engineering
and materials at the University of California, Santa Barbara
(UCSB). Israelachvili received his Ph.D.
in Physics
from Christ's College, Cambridge
in 1972, and joined UCSB in 1986. His research has involved study of molecular and interfacial forces. His work is applicable to a wide range of industrial and fundamental science problems. In particular, he has contributed significantly to the understanding of colloidal dispersions
, biological systems, and polymer
engineering
applications. Currently, he is studying interfacial phenomena, the physics of thin films, and fundamental questions in rheology
and tribology
of surfaces.
Israelachvili has developed numerous techniques for the static and dynamic measurement of material and molecular properties of vapors, liquids, and surfaces. In particular, he pioneered a sensitive interfacial force-sensing technique known as the surface forces apparatus
(SFA). This instrument involves carefully approaching two surfaces (usually immersed in a solvent
, such as water
), and measuring the force of attraction and repulsion between them. Using piezoelectric positional movement and optical interferometry
for position sensing, this instrument can resolve distances to within 0.1 nanometer, and forces at the 10–8 N level. This technique is similar to measuring the force of interaction between an atomic force microscope
(AFM) and a sample surface, except that the specialized SFA can measure much longer-range forces and is intended for surface-surface interaction measurements (as opposed to tip-surface or molecule-surface measurements). The results of SFA experiments can be used to characterize the nature of intermolecular potentials and other molecular properties.
Israelachvili is also well-known as the author of the textbook "Intermolecular and Surface Forces," published by Academic Press
. This authoritative book describes the fundamental concepts and equations applicable to all intermolecular and interfacial science disciplines.
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
and materials at the University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
(UCSB). Israelachvili received his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
in 1972, and joined UCSB in 1986. His research has involved study of molecular and interfacial forces. His work is applicable to a wide range of industrial and fundamental science problems. In particular, he has contributed significantly to the understanding of colloidal dispersions
Colloid
A colloid is a substance microscopically dispersed evenly throughout another substance.A colloidal system consists of two separate phases: a dispersed phase and a continuous phase . A colloidal system may be solid, liquid, or gaseous.Many familiar substances are colloids, as shown in the chart below...
, biological systems, and polymer
Polymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
applications. Currently, he is studying interfacial phenomena, the physics of thin films, and fundamental questions in rheology
Rheology
Rheology is the study of the flow of matter, primarily in the liquid state, but also as 'soft solids' or solids under conditions in which they respond with plastic flow rather than deforming elastically in response to an applied force....
and tribology
Tribology
Tribology is the science and engineering of interacting surfaces in relative motion. It includes the study and application of the principles of friction, lubrication and wear...
of surfaces.
Israelachvili has developed numerous techniques for the static and dynamic measurement of material and molecular properties of vapors, liquids, and surfaces. In particular, he pioneered a sensitive interfacial force-sensing technique known as the surface forces apparatus
Surface forces apparatus
The surface force apparatus is a scientific instrument and technique pioneered by D. Tabor, R.H.S. Winterton, J.N. Israelachvili in the early 1970s at Cambridge University...
(SFA). This instrument involves carefully approaching two surfaces (usually immersed in a solvent
Solvent
A solvent is a liquid, solid, or gas that dissolves another solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution that is soluble in a certain volume of solvent at a specified temperature...
, such as water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
), and measuring the force of attraction and repulsion between them. Using piezoelectric positional movement and optical interferometry
Interferometry
Interferometry refers to a family of techniques in which electromagnetic waves are superimposed in order to extract information about the waves. An instrument used to interfere waves is called an interferometer. Interferometry is an important investigative technique in the fields of astronomy,...
for position sensing, this instrument can resolve distances to within 0.1 nanometer, and forces at the 10–8 N level. This technique is similar to measuring the force of interaction between an atomic force microscope
Atomic force microscope
Atomic force microscopy or scanning force microscopy is a very high-resolution type of scanning probe microscopy, with demonstrated resolution on the order of fractions of a nanometer, more than 1000 times better than the optical diffraction limit...
(AFM) and a sample surface, except that the specialized SFA can measure much longer-range forces and is intended for surface-surface interaction measurements (as opposed to tip-surface or molecule-surface measurements). The results of SFA experiments can be used to characterize the nature of intermolecular potentials and other molecular properties.
Israelachvili is also well-known as the author of the textbook "Intermolecular and Surface Forces," published by Academic Press
Academic Press
Academic Press is an academic book publisher. Originally independent, it was acquired by Harcourt, Brace & World in 1969. Reed Elsevier bought Harcourt in 2000, and Academic Press is now an imprint of Elsevier....
. This authoritative book describes the fundamental concepts and equations applicable to all intermolecular and interfacial science disciplines.
Appointments, Honors, and Awards
- ACS National Award in Colloid and Surface Chemistry (2009)
- Named by the AICHE as one of the “One Hundred Chemical Engineers of the Modern Era (2008)
- Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering – University of South Florida (2007)
- Honorary Degree of Doctor sc. h.c. - ETH Zurich (2006)
- Schlumberger Visiting Professor – University of Oxford, UK (2005)
- MRS Medal, awarded for recent work on adhesion and friction (2004)
- NAS (Elected to the US National Academy of Science in the area of Engineering Science) (2004)
- APS Fellow (Elected Fellow of the American Physical Society in the area of Biological Physics) (2004)
- Adhesion Society Award for “excellence in adhesion science (2003)