Edinburgh Soft Matter and Statistical Physics Programme Grant Renewal
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Sch of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
The term 'soft matter' describes a group of materials that are assembled from components whose size scale is of order microns or nanometers -- much bigger than a typical molecule or atom. Examples include polymers (very long flexible molecules), colloids (small hard spheres), emulsions (droplets of one fluid in another), foams (gas bubbles in a fluid), detergent molecules (with a water-loving head and a water-hating tail -- these clump together into complex shapes), powders (small dry grains), and many analagous systems of biological origin. Familiar examples are respectively engine oil, paint, mayonnaise, shaving cream, shampoo, and talc; the biological analogues include mucus, slime moulds, saliva, and various components of the living cell.In many cases, the system's behaviour is controlled not by the chemical details of its components, but by their physical interactions, which are generic to each class of material. The softness of these materials, compared to (say) a piece of metal, arises from the fact that these interactions are generically weaker than those between atoms. This makes it easy to bend and shape the materials, and to subject them to extremes of flow (causing disruption to the structure) that cannot easily be achieved with metals or other forms of 'hard' condensed matter. The weakness of the interactions means that there is a lot of random motion (the motion we call heat) even at room temperature; the properties of soft materials are often closer to those found by maximising the entropy (randomness) of the system than to those found by minimizing its energy. Under these conditions, one must use the tools of 'statistical mechanics' to understand how the microscopic interactions, combined with entropy, come to determine the properties of the material.The Edinburgh Soft Matter and Statistical Physics Group has developed experimental and theoretical techniques for understanding how the ingredients of a soft material come to determine its properties -- particularly those properties related to how the material flows (the science of 'rheology'). Our work focusses on making detailed studies of a small number of model systems, each representative of a larger class: by understanding these in depth, we hope to find general principles that might not be obvious by collating more superficial results for a wider range of samples. We wish to continue our integrated programme in experiment and theory, to address new topics in soft condensed matter, increasingly those at the interface with biology. The five main projects are:1. Rheophysics -- to understand the behaviour of colloids and other soft materials under conditions of strong flow. Often, flow can totally alter the internal structure of such materials and we want to understand this.2. Physics of barriers in soft matter and biology -- to understand how soft and biological systems undergo 'rare events' taking them from one apparently stable state of organization to another. These include events that alter the way genes are expressed in a cell, and also the nucleation of one phase of matter within another.3. New soft materials -- building on our recent discoveries, we want to use physics to create new and interesting materials with properties potentially relevant to computer displays, drug delivery, catalysis and other fields.4. Physics of cellular motion -- we want to understand how bacteria (which, if they were dead, would be effectively colloids) behave when swimming, either individually, or collectively (in a swarm). At a smaller scale, within the cell there are various soft matter components which use a constant supply of chemical energy to maintain an 'active' (i.e. living) state. We want to understand these too.5. New statistical mechanics tools -- we want to develop new and better theories and simulation models that will, over the longer term, help us connect the microscopic components in soft materials to their macroscopic properties.
Organisations
Publications
Henrich O
(2010)
Thermodynamics of blue phases in electric fields.
in Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Herzig EM
(2009)
Dynamics of a colloid-stabilized cream.
in Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Micheletti C
(2011)
Polymers with spatial or topological constraints: Theoretical and computational results
in Physics Reports
Brader J
(2009)
Glass rheology: From mode-coupling theory to a dynamical yield criterion
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Henrich O
(2010)
Ordering dynamics of blue phases entails kinetic stabilization of amorphous networks.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Schwarz-Linek J
(2012)
Phase separation and rotor self-assembly in active particle suspensions.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Cates ME
(2010)
Arrested phase separation in reproducing bacteria creates a generic route to pattern formation.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Marenduzzo D
(2009)
DNA-DNA interactions in bacteriophage capsids are responsible for the observed DNA knotting.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Zaccarelli E
(2009)
Colloidal glasses and gels: The interplay of bonding and caging.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Cates M
(2010)
Mode-Coupling Theory for the Rheology of Colloidal Glasses: Recent Progress
in Progress of Theoretical Physics Supplement
Cates ME
(2012)
Diffusive transport without detailed balance in motile bacteria: does microbiology need statistical physics?
in Reports on progress in physics. Physical Society (Great Britain)
Wood A
(2008)
Daisyworld: A review
in Reviews of Geophysics
Wood TA
(2011)
A self-quenched defect glass in a colloid-nematic liquid crystal composite.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Voigtmann T
(2012)
Schematic mode coupling theory of glass rheology: single and double step strains
in Soft Matter
Channon K
(2008)
Possibilities for 'smart' materials exploiting the self-assembly of polypeptides into fibrils.
in Soft matter
Janai E
(2012)
Non-crystalline colloidal clusters in two dimensions: size distributions and shapes
in Soft Matter
Eiser E
(2009)
Molecular cooking: physical transformations in Chinese 'century' eggs
in Soft Matter
Koumakis N
(2008)
Effects of shear induced crystallization on the rheology and ageing of hard sphere glasses
in Soft Matter
Tiribocchi A
(2011)
Switching dynamics in cholesteric blue phases
in Soft Matter
Tjhung E
(2011)
Nonequilibrium steady states in polar active fluids
in Soft Matter
Schwarz-Linek J
(2010)
Polymer-induced phase separation in Escherichia coli suspensions
in Soft Matter
Cates M
(2011)
Active soft matter
in Soft Matter
Marenduzzo D
(2010)
Hydrodynamics of non-homogeneous active gels
in Soft Matter
Poon W
(2012)
On measuring colloidal volume fractions
in Soft Matter
Pawsey A
(2012)
Colloidal particles at the interface between an isotropic liquid and a chiral liquid crystal
in Soft Matter
Henrich O
(2012)
Rheology of lamellar liquid crystals in two and three dimensions: a simulation study
in Soft Matter
Thijssen J
(2010)
Demixing, remixing and cellular networks in binary liquids containing colloidal particles
in Soft Matter
Fielding S
(2009)
Shear banding, aging and noise dynamics in soft glassy materials
in Soft Matter
Thijssen J
(2011)
How do (fluorescent) surfactants affect particle-stabilized emulsions?
in Soft Matter
Van 't Zand D
(2012)
Anisotropic dynamics of the tenuous gel in a liquid crystal-nanoparticle composite
in Soft Matter
Cates M
(2009)
Lattice Boltzmann simulations of liquid crystalline fluids: active gels and blue phases
in Soft Matter
Valeriani C
(2011)
Colloids in a bacterial bath: simulations and experiments
in Soft Matter
Jenkins M
(2011)
Finding bridges in packings of colloidal spheres
in Soft Matter
Cates M
(2008)
Bijels: a new class of soft materials
in Soft Matter
Elgeti J
(2011)
Defect hydrodynamics in 2D polar active fluids
in Soft Matter
Tavacoli J
(2011)
Particle-stabilized oscillating diver: a self-assembled responsive capsule
in Soft Matter
Foffano G
(2012)
Bulk rheology and microrheology of active fluids.
in The European physical journal. E, Soft matter
Sanz E
(2010)
Dynamic Monte Carlo versus Brownian dynamics: A comparison for self-diffusion and crystallization in colloidal fluids.
in The Journal of chemical physics
Valeriani C
(2010)
Non-equilibrium dynamics of an active colloidal "chucker".
in The Journal of chemical physics
Martinez VA
(2011)
Dynamics of hard sphere suspensions using dynamic light scattering and X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy: dynamics and scaling of the intermediate scattering function.
in The Journal of chemical physics
Laurati M
(2009)
Structure, dynamics, and rheology of colloid-polymer mixtures: from liquids to gels.
in The Journal of chemical physics
Romano F
(2011)
Monte Carlo and event-driven dynamics of Brownian particles with orientational degrees of freedom.
in The Journal of chemical physics
Kim E
(2009)
Hydrodynamic interactions in colloidal ferrofluids: a lattice Boltzmann study.
in The journal of physical chemistry. B
Wilson LG
(2009)
Passive and active microrheology of hard-sphere colloids.
in The journal of physical chemistry. B
Romano F
(2009)
Role of the range in the fluid-crystal coexistence for a patchy particle model.
in The journal of physical chemistry. B
Vass H
(2010)
A multipurpose modular system for high-resolution microscopy at high hydrostatic pressure.
in The Review of scientific instruments
Foffano G
(2012)
Bulk rheology and microrheology of active fluids
Isa L
(2010)
High Solid Dispersions
Description | I will not attempt to summarize the findings which were reported in 142 separate scientific papers. Highlights included a new theory of pattern formation in bacterial colonies; a new understanding of how dense colloidal suspensions get jammed when flowing down pipes; a new understanding of the self-assembly of protein fragments (relevant to prion disease); and a new understanding of the plastic flow of glasses. |
Exploitation Route | The research outcomes of this grant are being exploited by our new partner organization, Edinburgh Complex Fluids Partnership, who actively seek industrial partners with whom to exploit the research. They have a client list of around 25 companies and live collaborations with about ten of these. |
Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | The research has allowed us to set up a new in-house tech-transfer organization called Edinburgh Complex Fluids Partnership (ECFP). This new organization with two full-time staff has active contacts with about 25 companies ranging from multinationals to SMEs and is pursuing direct collaborative research with about ten of these. For example, the work on dense colloids has led to collaborative projects with Johnson Matthey, Syngenta and Mars Chocolate. |
First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Healthcare |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | BBSRC Grouped |
Amount | £262,463 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/I006133/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2011 |
End | 12/2013 |
Description | BBSRC Grouped |
Amount | £262,463 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/I006133/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2011 |
End | 12/2013 |
Description | EPSRC |
Amount | £491,766 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/I034661/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2012 |
End | 04/2015 |
Description | EPSRC |
Amount | £174,452 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/I030298/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2011 |
End | 09/2013 |
Description | EPSRC |
Amount | £5,039,693 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/J007404/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2011 |
End | 05/2017 |
Description | European Commission (EC) |
Amount | £186,800 (GBP) |
Funding ID | PIIF-GA-2010_276190 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 03/2011 |
End | 03/2013 |
Description | Mars UK Ltd |
Amount | £417,510 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Poon |
Organisation | Mars Incorporated UK |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2012 |
End | 08/2015 |
Description | Royal Society of Edinburgh, The |
Amount | £224,415 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Thijssen BP Trust Personal Research Fellowship |
Organisation | Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2010 |
End | 08/2014 |
Description | Royal Society of London |
Amount | £97,248 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 4899 |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2011 |
End | 05/2013 |
Description | Syngenta |
Amount | £91,665 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Industrial CASE voucher 11440214 |
Organisation | Syngenta International AG |
Sector | Private |
Country | Switzerland |
Start | 09/2011 |
End | 03/2015 |
Description | Syngenta |
Amount | £91,665 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Industrial CASE voucher 11440214 |
Organisation | Syngenta International AG |
Sector | Private |
Country | Switzerland |
Start | 09/2011 |
End | 03/2015 |