Project description
Designing liquid-crystal microgels with flexible and programmable size and shape
Increasing demand for responsive materials drives development of deformable micro/nano-particles with programmable transformations. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ShapeGels project aims to develop liquid-crystal microgels (LCMGs), a novel class of soft colloidal particles. By leveraging the stimuli-responsive properties of microgels and the anisotropic behaviour of liquid crystals, the LCMGs will feature programmable, adaptable shape and size transitions in response to external stimuli. The project will create a solid computational theoretical framework, simulation tools and models to design and demonstrate the properties of LCMGs while investigating their customisable collective behaviour regarding shape, size and interparticle interaction. This will establish the groundwork for their experimental realisation, enabling future applications of multifunctional and reconfigurable materials in photonics, microfluidics, biomedicine and microrobotics.
Objective
The growing demand for advanced soft and stimuli-responsive materials has generated interest in developing deformable micro- and nano-scale particles with programmable transformations. Colloidal microgels–cross-linked polymer networks that undergo reversible isotropic volume changes–stand out for their responsiveness to stimuli like temperature. However, despite innovations that have greatly extended their functionalities, architectures and shapes, their responses are typically limited to simple size changes. Expanding these capabilities to include complex, non-spherical deformations and anisotropic behaviours could significantly enhance their potential in applications such as photonics, microfluidics, biomedicine, and microrobotics.
To overcome these limitations, we propose developing Liquid-Crystal Microgels (LCMGs)–a novel class of soft colloidal particles combining the stimuli-responsive properties of microgels with the anisotropic behaviour of liquid crystals. By incorporating anisotropic mesogenic monomers, LCMGs will exhibit programmable, reversible shape and size transitions in response to external stimuli, providing enhanced design flexibility of their deformability and adaptive properties.
This research will employ a multi-scale modelling approach to understand how the interplay between the orientational order of liquid crystals and polymer connectivity and elasticity affects the physical properties and responsive behaviour of LCMGs. The goal is to develop a robust computational theoretical framework and simulation tools and models for predicting and designing the properties of LCMGs, and to explore the tailorable collective behaviour of these particles able to toggle between multiple shapes, sizes and inter-particle interactions. This will lay the basis for their experimental realisation and pave the way for multifunctional, reconfigurable materials with advanced applications, and ultimately stimulate new research in soft matter and biological physics.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences classical mechanics fluid mechanics microfluidics
- natural sciences physical sciences condensed matter physics soft matter physics
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
00185 Roma
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.