Soft Condensed Matter Physics Group
Soft condensed matter is one of the fastest growing fields of physics. The Group specialises in advancing our understanding of soft matter, in particular self-assembling nanostructures, nanomaterials, proteins, porous media, and polymer colloids. Experiment and theory are both employed, often in combination. The experiments are performed in our cutting-edge labs equipped for magnetic resonance imaging, photoluminescence, Raman spectroscopy, modulation spectroscopy, ellipsometry, scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy with high temporal and spatial resolution. The theory is mainly computational in nature, making extensive use of computer simulation. Soft matter exhibits a very rich variety of intriguing phenomena which lead to an extremely wide range of everyday applications, such as in pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs and coatings, but also to high-tech applications in optoelectronics, semiconductors, sensors and actuators, biomimetic materials and nanocomposites. We attempt to answer fundamental questions about the structure and dynamics of these fascinating systems. A few examples are: Why do some polymers have sticky surfaces and what is the effect of adding nanoparticles? How are the structure and properties - such as conductivity - related in electro-active soft matter, such as carbon nanotube hybrids? In other studies, we ask how to control drug release from polymers or water diffusion in cements. Our theoretical research tries to understand how proteins crystallise, and how cells “compute” the appropriate response to an external stimulus. Research is supported by research councils, the EC, and companies, such as ICI, Unilever and Cytec. It is carried out in collaboration with biologists, chemists and engineers within the framework of the Surrey Materials Institute. The Institute is a multi-disciplinary venture spanning the University. It is housed within a large suite of newly-refurbished laboratories. We also have extensive international collaborations within Europe (e.g., Amsterdam and Paris) and the US (e.g. Dallas). We welcome applicants from a broad range of academic backgrounds.
Click here to find out about the group's research interests and here to learn about the employed techniques.
