Soft Condensed Matter Group

Soft condensed matter systems are materials which deform easily under the influence of external fields such as electric fields, shear or gravity. They contain structures with length scales that are much larger than atomic or molecular dimensions, and display dynamics that are much slower. Nevertheless, their structure and dynamics are still governed by thermal fluctuations. We study the physics of soft matter model systems and, using these insights, fabricate new mesostructured materials from them.

Our research tools consist of:

confocal microscopy,
scattering methods,
colloid synthesis,
computer simulations and theory.

We form one group with Molecular Biophysics

The SCM group is part/member of:

First ever observation of Brazil nut effect for colloidal particles

Experimental and theoretical physicists at Utrecht University have observed an unexpected phenomenon in mixtures of colloidal particles: the Brazil nut effect. The discovery is important for knowledge about matter, including colloids, polymers, liquid crystals and surfactants. But developers of paints and inks, and completely different disciplines, such as geology, will also benefit from understanding this […]

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Extremely sensitive nano-sensors can detect trace amounts of molecules

Utrecht researchers have developed a new type of sensor, about 500 times smaller than the width of a human hair, with an unprecedented ability to detect extremely small amounts of molecules. These sensors can be used to detect and identify trace amounts of substances such as chemical pollutants or molecules important in medicine. The sensors […]

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