Theory of Membranes and Complex Fluids

膜和复杂流体理论-提出的研究是针对膜和复杂流体相关的各种主题。膜是由许多分子实体中的任何一种形成的二维结构。它们构成活细胞的细胞壁，是微乳等复杂流体的重要组成部分。膜可以以多种形式存在，包括流体相、定向刚性相、结晶相和聚合相，并且可以形成拓扑结构复杂的结构。这个项目的重点是膜结构本身的平衡和动态方面的秩序，以及这些是如何受到膜形状和与其他膜相互作用的大规模效应的影响的。虽然我们生活的世界是三维的，但在自然界中有许多二维系统的例子，包括两种共存材料（如空气和水）之间的无结构界面，薄膜和膜。薄膜的结构是由外部约束（例如，肥皂膜的周长）决定的。然而，膜可以获得其自身的热力学稳定结构，它可以经历很大的形状变化而不失去其完整性。这种膜对生物材料的研究非常重要，也出现在各种化学合成过程中，包括许多催化材料的生产。

Theory of Membranes and Complex Fluids - The proposed research is aimed at a variety of topics related to memebranes and complex fluids. Membranes are two-dimensional structures formed from any of a number of molecular entities. They form the walls of living cells, and are important components of complex fluids such as microemulsions. Membranes can exist in a number of forms, including fluid, orientationally rigid, crystalline, and polymerized phases, and can form topologically complex structures. This project focusses on equilibrium and dynamical aspects of order within the membrane structure itself, and how these are influenced by the large-scale effects of membrane shape and interactions with other membranes. %%% Though the world we live in is three dimensional, there are many examples in nature of two-dimensional systems, including structureless interfaces between two coexisting materials (e.g., air and water), thin films, and membranes. The structure of a thin film is determined by an external constraint (e.g., the perimeter of a soap film). A membrane, however, can attain a thermodynamically stable structure of its own, which can undergo large changes of shape without losing its integrity. Such membranes are important for the study of biomaterials, and also appear in a wide variety of chemical synthesis processes, including production of numerous catalytic materials.