GRK 2516:  Control of structure formation in soft matter at and through interfaces

• Subject Area: Polymer Research ; Statistical Physics, Nonlinear Dynamics, Complex Systems, Soft and Fluid Matter, Biological Physics
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 405552959

Interfaces are omnipresent in natural and synthetic soft materials. They separate media which would otherwise be incompatible and protect them from each other, and are routinely employed to direct and enhance processes in chemical and physical applications of soft matter. The strength of using defined interfaces lies in the ability to control their surface composition and functionality, to tailor preparation processes of colloidal crystals, thin polymer films and coatings, or self-assembled monolayers. However, for the most part of the last decades, molecular, polymer and colloidal soft matter scientists have described structure formation at interfaces using equilibrium theory. This is not only an oversimplified picture, but also a missed opportunity. The underlying dynamics of structure formation remain poorly understood, despite the fact that most preparation or fabrication protocols operate under conditions that favour competing interactions and thus multiple assembly pathways. In our research training group (RTG), we recognise the potential and fascinating opportunities offered by structure formation processes that make use of such competing pathways in the preparation of soft functional materials. Our ambitious goal is to understand and design strategies to specifically exploit interfaces such that they guide assembly processes of a variety of soft materials and thereby control their final properties. Within the RTG we aim to uncover universal principles and concepts, by controlling competing pathways in self-assembly processes at and through interfaces. This topic is becoming increasingly important as the molecular and macromolecular research fields are currently experiencing a paradigm shift, transitioning from thermodynamic equilibrium structures to materials systems prepared from dynamic, non-equilibrium processes. It is therefore timely and essential to train the next generation of young scientists at the boundary of chemistry and physics, with a background and foundation in soft matter theory as well as experimental synthesis and characterisation techniques.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
• Participating Institution: Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung; Technische Universität Darmstadt; Universität Stuttgart
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Pol Besenius
• Participating Researchers: Professorin Dr. Katrin Amann-Winkel, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Hans-Jürgen Butt; Privatdozent Dr. Kostas Ch. Daoulas; Professorin Shikha Dhiman, Ph.D.; Professorin Dr. Regine von Klitzing; Professorin Dr. Friederike Schmid; Professor Dr. Thomas Speck; Professor Dr. Lukas Stelzl; Dr. Peter Virnau; Dr. Michael te Vrugt; Professor Dr. Andreas Walther