The soft nanoscience group focuses on fundamental and applied soft matter research, and aims at understanding the formation processes, structure, and functional properties of nanostructured systems that play an important role in real life. This research is not only driven by scientific curiosity, but we constantly seek to utilize our profound understanding of the equilibrium and non-equilibrium properties of soft matter systems such as colloids, polymers and surfactants in order to explore new routes towards nanotechnology-based applications.

The interaction between colloidal particles, their ability to form either highly ordered or amorphous structures, is of fundamental importance for novel applications in areas such as photonics or composite materials. In combination with polymers, hybrid nanocomposites have been developed to combine the advantages of both classes of materials and widen their application range. Here we design functionalized nanoparticles that can be used to create adaptive polymer-colloid nanomaterials with tailored optical, magnetic and mechanical properties. We investigate nanotechnology applications in areas such as life and food sciences. We also continue to develop tools for a non-invasive nanocharacterization of these complex materials.

Our scientific activities are centered around the following topics:

• Nanoparticles as model atoms: Fundamental condensed matter research using nanoparticles as versatile model systems.
• Proteins as model colloids: How to use nanoscience to understand protein interactions and learn more about protein condensation diseases such as cataract formation.
• Nanoscience and food: Bridging the gap from fundamental nanoscience and -technology to the formation of complex food systems.
• Making and exploring novel materials: From responsive nanoparticles and polymers to intelligent materials with novel properties.
• Making new tools: Develop new tools for the characterization of the nanoworld.