Recharging polymer physics for soft materials design

Speaker: Andrea Giuntoli (University of Groningen)

Abstract:

The incorporation of highly charged polymers is leading to the development of new soft materials in fields such as energy transition and biomedicine. Charged interactions in biopolymers are also widely used by nature to guide and control delicate biological processes. Yet, the connection between theoretical modeling and experimental material design is still at its infancy in this area due to the complex phenomena emerging in charged polymer systems from their nanoscale interactions, such as ion transport and complex coacervation.

In this talk I will discuss the opportunities and challenges of molecular dynamics simulations in informing the rational design of new materials in this area and I will discuss how I overcame the fear of charged interactions in polymer physics. I will show two recent examples of collaborations with experimental groups at the University of Groningen on the development of new hydrogels with unique mechanical properties.

This seminar will take place in room C4.174