Self-assembled block copolymer morphologies

Research here is concerned with experimental studies of self-assembly and structure control of soft materials. Why do block copolymers, surfactants, liquid crystals, colloidal particles and the like form structures as they do, and what are the relationships between the supramolecular morphology and the molecular level details of these materials?

Can we realize new morphologies by carefully defining our materials on the molecular level and can we engineer or produce perfect soft crystals from self-assembled materials? Our work addresses these questions by considering topics such as the dependence of self-assembled structure on the critical parameters of molecular architecture and chemical composition, the stability and dynamics of defects in ordered structures, thermodynamics and kinetics of phase transitions, and methods of controlling long range order in soft materials. In particular, work centers on polymers, liquid crystals, colloids and combinations thereof.