COMPLOIDS

Physics of Complex Colloids: Equilibrium and Driven

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'With progress in nanotechnology, biophysics, and polymer synthesis, colloidal science has reached a new level of importance. A large variety of complex colloids of different shapes, with binding specificity, and variable softness has been synthesized, opening quite exciting ways for engineering materials at the nanoscale. The purpose of COMPLOIDS is to obtain a fundamental understanding of the Physics governing the self-organization and the dynamical behavior of complex colloidal particles in the bulk, under confinement and out of equilibrium. For this purpose, the partners will consider a variety of novel, experimentally accessible colloidal systems that share the common properties of anisotropy, associativity and softness of their constituent particles. A well-coordinated combination of experiment, theory and simulation will explore the fundamental Physics, define similarities and differences between the systems considered and search for common underlying mechanisms of self-organization that are distinct to these complex and highly versatile colloidal systems. The technical objective of COMPLOIDS is to apply the gained knowledge with the goal of engineering novel materials in close collaboration with participating high-technology EU-companies. Young researchers will also profit from COMPLOIDS in a variety of ways. They will be exposed in high-level research working, within a highly connected and interdisciplinary team of researchers and developing state-of-the art tools in the Statistical Physics of Soft Matter. Further, they will attend world-rate graduate programs and courses in the participating academic partners and they will obtain hands-on experience of the industry sector through the participation of industrial partners.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Soft and deformable complex colloids with particles having anisotropic shape and interactions have been the focus of intense research due to their potential applications. Exciting new results from EU-funded scientists pave the way to exploitation.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Colloids are materials in the solid, liquid or gas phase that have particles dispersed throughout them. They include common foams and aerosols. Complex colloids form an important subdiscipline of soft matter physics and are foreseen for use in photonic or phononic band gap materials, chemical sensors and data storage devices.

Tunability of the interactions within the colloids will be the key to exploitation. It opens the door to novel ordering, structuring and flow scenarios potentially accomplished via controlled self-assembly. However, this requires deep understanding of common underlying mechanisms of self-organisation leading to accurate prediction and engineering of structure formation. The collaborative EU-funded project 'Physics of complex colloids: Equilibrium and driven' (http://www.itn-comploids.eu (COMPLOIDS)) was launched by 12 European partners to gain and apply this knowledge.

The project was a phenomenal success with results fully achieving or surpassing original scientific goals and opening up new avenues of research in soft matter physics. A wealth of publications was generated, many in the most esteemed journals in the field, including Nature, Science, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Along the way, the consortium supported the training of numerous early-stage researchers and experienced researchers, contributing to their scientific and career development and achievement of advanced degrees. Advanced methods in theoretical, computational and experimental aspects of modern research in soft matter science are now part of the toolbox of trainees.

The team also organised a highly prestigious Enrico Fermi Summer School with the title 'Physics of Complex Colloids', hosting nine full-time lecturers and six featured speakers from around the world. The proceedings have been published and are expected to be a reference standard, a legacy of the project's work for future generations. The tremendous success led to an invitation by the Italian Physical Society to conduct another Summer School in 2015.

COMPLOIDS scientists succeeded in reducing the complexity of complex colloids and have paved the way to their exploitation thanks to deeper understanding of the mechanisms of self-organisation. Lasting impact will be felt throughout the soft matter physics community and knowledge gained may soon be exploited in exciting new devices.