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Soft Matter (soft + matter)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Chemistry	55%
Polymers and Materials Science	44%

Selected Abstracts

Harnessing Surface Wrinkle Patterns in Soft Matter

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 16 2010
Shu Yang
Abstract Mechanical instabilities in soft materials, specifically wrinkling, have led to the formation of unique surface patterns for a wide range of applications that are related to surface topography and its dynamic tuning. In this progress report, two distinct approaches for wrinkle formation, including mechanical stretching/releasing of oxide/PDMS bilayers and swelling of hydrogel films confined on a rigid substrate with a depth-wise modulus gradient, are discussed. The wrinkling mechanisms and transitions between different wrinkle patterns are studied. Strategies to control the wrinkle pattern order and characteristic wavelength are suggested, and some efforts in harnessing topographic tunability in elastomeric PDMS bilayer wrinkled films for various applications, including tunable adhesion, wetting, microfluidics, and microlens arrays, are highlighted. The report concludes with perspectives on the future directions in manipulation of pattern formation for complex structures, and potential new technological applications. [source]

Book Review: Soft Matter.

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 20 2006
By Gerhard Gompper, Michael Schick (Eds.).
No abstract is available for this article. [source]

Quantitative Reflection Interference Contrast Microscopy (RICM) in Soft Matter and Cell Adhesion

CHEMPHYSCHEM, Issue 16 2009
Laurent Limozin Dr.
Abstract Adhesion can be quantified by measuring the distance between the interacting surfaces. Reflection interference contrast microscopy (RICM), with its ability to measure inter-surface distances under water with nanometric precision and milliseconds time resolution, is ideally suited to studying the dynamics of adhesion in soft systems. Recent technical developments, which include innovative image analysis and the use of multi-coloured illumination, have led to renewed interest in this technique. Unambiguous quantitative measurements have been achieved for colloidal beads and model membranes, thus revealing new insights and applications. Quantification of data from cells shows exciting prospects. Herein, we review the basic principles and recent developments of RICM applied to studies of dynamical adhesion processes in soft matter and cell biology and provide practical hints to potential users. [source]

Electronic Contact Deposition onto Organic Molecular Monolayers: Can We Detect Metal Penetration?

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 13 2010
Hagay Shpaisman
Abstract Using a semiconductor as the substrate to a molecular organic layer, penetration of metal contacts can be clearly identified by the study of electronic charge transport through the layer. A series of monolayers of saturated hydrocarbon molecules with varying lengths is assembled on Si or GaAs and the junctions resulting after further electronic contact is made by liquid Hg, indirect metal evaporation, and a "ready-made" metal pad are measured. In contrast to tunneling characteristics, which are ambiguous regarding contact penetration, the semiconductor surface barrier is very sensitive to any direct contact with a metal. With the organic monolayer intact, a metal,insulator,semiconductor (MIS) structure results. If metal penetrated the monolayer, the junction behaves as a metal,semiconductor (MS) structure. By comparing a molecule-free interface (MS junction) with a molecularly modified one (presumably MIS), possible metal penetration is identified. The major indicators are the semiconductor electronic transport barrier height, extracted from the junction transport characteristics, and the photovoltage. The approach does not require a series of different monolayers and data analysis is quite straightforward, helping to identify non-invasive ways to make electronic contact to soft matter. [source]

Institute of Physics, CAS: (Adv. Mater.

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 45 2009
45/2009)
Founded in 1928, the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has become one of China's leading research institutions. In 2003, the Institute acquired the Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, one of the first six national laboratories in China. Its current programs focus on condensed matter physics and its theory, optical physics, atomic and molecular physics, soft matter, plasma physics, and computational physics. [source]

Application of standard DFT theory for nonbonded interactions in soft matter: Prototype study of poly- para -phenylene

JOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2006
Marcelo Alves-Santos
Abstract We present a detailed analysis of the application of density functional theory (DFT) methods to the study of structural properties of molecular and supramolecular systems, using as a paradigmatic example three para -phenylene-based systems: isolated biphenyl, single chain poly- para -phenylene, and crystalline biphenyl. We use different functionals for the exchange correlation potential, the local density (LDA), and generalized gradient approximations (GGA), and also different basis sets expansions, localized, plane waves (PW), and mixed (localized plus PW), within the reciprocal space formulation for the hamiltonian. We find that regardless of the choice of basis functions, the GGA calculations yield larger interring distances and torsion angles than LDA. For the same XC approximation, the agreement between calculations with different basis functions lies within 1% (LDA) or 0.5% (GGA) for distances, and while PW and mixed basis calculations agree within 1° for torsion angles, the localized basis results show larger angles by , 8° and a nonmonotonic dependence on basis size, with differences within 6°. The most prominent features, namely the torsion between rings for isolated molecule and infinite chain, and planarity for the molecule in crystalline environment, are well reproduced by all DFT calculations. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 27: 217,227, 2006 [source]

Colloidal soft matter as drug delivery system

JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 1 2009
Giulia Bonacucina
Abstract Growing interest is being dedicated to soft matter because of its potential in delivering any type of drugs. Since hydrophilic, lipophilic, small and big molecules can be loaded into these colloidal systems and administered through the parenteral or nonparenteral route, soft matter systems have been used to solve many biomedical and pharmaceutical problems. In fact, they make possible to overcome difficulties in the formulation and delivery of poorly water-soluble drug molecules, settle some stability issues typical of biological drug molecules, design parenteral sustained release forms and provide functionalized soft particles that are very effective in drug targeting. This review deals with the important role that colloids play in the drug delivery and targeting, with particular attention to the more currently used systems such as microemulsions, organogels, liposomes, micelles, and dendrimers. Though significant progress has been made in drug targeting, some challenges still remain. Further efforts will be required to better understand the characteristics of targets and to discover new ones. In-depth knowledge of the physico-chemical structure and properties of the systems used for targeting is fundamental for understanding the mechanism of interaction with the biological substrate and the consequent drug release. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 98:1,42, 2009 [source]