ESMP research
Elucidating self-assembly phenomena in liquid crystals, nanorod suspensions and polymers, and studying their amplification to signals detectable by the human eye, our research transcends scales from the molecular to the macroscopic. Through rich exchanges with creative people across diverse fields, we put our results to use in unexpected contexts, from biosensing to structural health monitoring.
Driven by curiosity and a desire to solve problems
We create materials, knowledge and solutions
A defining feature of soft matter is a strong response function, that is, the material strongly changes character in response to a small stimulus. We study a range of such behaviors, aiming to understand the processes in depth and uncover their full beauty. A change in temperature, a small strain, or the introduction of a certain molecule beyond a threshold concentration can give rise to dramatic changes in texture, color or shape.
In many cases, the behavior is highly useful, and by collaborating across disciplines, engaging in collaborations with computer scientists, artists, architects, robotics engineers, biotechnologists, as well as experts in logistics and supply chain management, we explore the full vast application potential of the materials we create and investigate. A start-up company offering an anti-counterfeiting solution based on our innovative materials and identification algorithms made by our computer science collaborators is being launched in 2023.