Atomic Force Microscope for Soft Condensed Matter Laboratory

我们研究小组的主要重点是表面和界面的软材料。软物质的物理性质与硬物质不同，因为较弱的分子间键导致对外部应力的较大响应。我们主要研究高分子材料，但也研究DNA分子、活细胞和C。线虫（一种小型蠕虫）。从根本上了解材料特性对于新技术的开发至关重要。这些材料的一个令人惊讶的方面是，在小的长度尺度上，如在薄膜或涂层中，这些材料可以具有与块状系统的性质大不相同的性质。这种差异可能是由于分子受到限制，或者因为所研究的系统越小，界面的作用就越大。我们的工作可以概括为四个广泛和重叠的领域：1）生物物理学：活细胞的微观力学，脂质囊泡和C。优雅的; 2）聚合物结晶：成核和生长; 3）自组装、图案形成和图案化;以及4）限制中以及表面和界面处的聚合物。

The main focus of our research group is soft-materials at surfaces and interfaces. The physics of soft materials is distinct from hard matter as the weaker intermolecular bonds result in a large response to external stresses. We study mainly polymeric materials, but also DNA molecules, living cells, and C. elegans (a small worm). Understanding material properties at a fundamental level, is crucial to the development of new technologies. A surprising aspect of these materials is that on small lengthscales, like in thin films or coatings, these materials can have properties that differ vastly from those of bulk systems. The difference can be the result of molecules being confined or because the interface plays a greater role the smaller the system studied. Our efforts can be summarised under four broad and overlapping areas: 1) Bio-physics: micromechanics of living cells, lipid vesicles and C. elegans; 2) Polymer crystallisation: nucleation and growth; 3) Self-assembly, pattern formation & patterning; and 4) Polymers in confinement and at surfaces and interfaces.