Soft Materials and Surfaces

Soft Interfaces

I am interested in the behaviour of soft materials and complex fluids at surfaces & interfaces. Soft materials and complex fluids consisting of two or more components, such as nanocolloid or polymer suspensions, polymer blends, block copolymers, exhibit unusual physical properties due to the geometric constraints imposed by the coexistence of the different phases. When confined on surfaces, there is an additional geometric constraint that induces further changes in their behaviour. They can behave in both solid- and liquid-like manner.  Morphology of such systems is of importance. Adhesive and frictional properties depend crucially on interface properties. The performance of composite and nanocomposite materials also depends on interfaces.