Objective In this project I plan to investigate by means of numerical simulations the dynamics and rheology of low-densityequilibrium gels made of limited-valence building blocks. I will start with simple toy models of patchy particlesand then add complexity in the form of inner degrees of freedom by investigating systems that undergo a hierarchicalself-assembly process. Examples of such systems are recently synthesised DNA constructs and telechelic star polymers.The novelty of DELTAS lies in the focus put on the role of the internal flexibility as a tool to tune the dynamicsand the rheology of equilibrium gels. Indeed, the possibility of fine-tuning the structure of these materialslend themselves well to many applications, ranging from medicine to material science. The project goes one step further by proposing to investigate the kinetics, dynamics and mechanical properties of these systems in the framework of (flexible) patchy systems. The usage of simple toy models will grant a better understanding of thephenomenology of these systems. In addition, the realistic systems I plan to investigate will, on one hand, establish a stronger link between theory and numerical simulations and experiments and, on the other hand, provide a testing ground for the results obtained with toy models. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAnatural sciencesphysical sciencesthermodynamicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencescondensed matter physicssoft matter physicsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciences Keywords dynamics rheology gels physical gels hydrodynamics patchy particles colloids patchy colloids DNA polymers Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2015-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2015 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD Net EU contribution € 183 454,80 Address WELLINGTON SQUARE UNIVERSITY OFFICES OX1 2JD Oxford United Kingdom See on map Region South East (England) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 183 454,80
