RSA CE&C 2015-2021 Group descriptions

Molecular Systems and Materials Chemistry (MSMC) 61 formulations. Also, methods to produce monodisperse colloidal particles using microfluidics are developed to study self-organization strategies over multiple length scales combining bottom-up and top-down approaches. Furthermore, we study water-in-water (W/W) and other shared-solvent emulsions, which can be prepared bymixing two segregative polymeric and/or colloidal compounds in water. This leads to phase separation and the challenge is to stabilize the interface of such W/W emulsions, which have properties differing tremendously from classical oil/water emulsions. We aim to contribute to this challenge by increasing our fundamental understanding of these macromolecular interfaces using new experimental techniques such as X-ray reflectometry and theoretical insights related to subtheme 2. 4. Sustainability This subtheme addresses probably the most important materials challenge, namely that materials should be made and used in a responsible manner economically, environmentally and socially. We study the possibilities of re-using plastics from waste, such as by mixing them with virgin polymers. The focus is on the mechanical properties of these recycled polymer systems, mainly looking at bulk polymers such as PE and PP but also with attention to engineering polymers such as (co)polyesters and (co)polyamides. The central theme is coupling the molecular aspects of the polymers to macroscopic dynamics and related properties. A mathematical approach based upon the physical and chemical principles of polymers is followed to perform data-driven analyses of properties as a function of structure and processing. By analyzing the complete value chain from resources all the way to end products and recycling opportunities, the aim is for the upcycling of polymers rather than downcycling. Furthermore, our group has also contributed to fundamental knowledge on eutectic mixtures, which are candidates for more sustainable solvents for the chemical industry, and aims to study emulsions based upon such eutectic solvents. Closely related to subtheme 1, our work employs bioinspired synthesis approaches and colloids made from abundant and renewable/bioderived resources such as biogenic and bioinspired silicas to study how function emerges from morphology in order to find replacements for current polluting solutions.