Research

Soft Matter | Photonics | Nanoscience | Biophysics | Renewable Energy

Research Directions

We conduct research at the interfaces of Soft Condensed Matter Physics, Nanoscience, Biophysics, Renewable Energy, & Optics/Photonics. Major research directions include development and applications of novel laser trapping and imaging techniques, study of physics phenomena behind the molecular and colloidal self-assembly, research on fundamental properties of liquid crystals, polymers, nano-structured and other functional materials, as well as development of their photonic and electro-optic applications. To see our past research accomplishments, see the list of publications at the web page: http://spot.colorado.edu/~smalyukh

Soft Condensed Matter Research

Liquid crystals and colloids

Our research is focused on finding new liquid crystal phases and structures and new types of colloidal and molecular interactions with the goal of developing novel materials for technological applications of importaance for the society (such as information displays).

Optics & Photonics Research

Adaptive light & matter

We are interested in novel physics phenomena and technical approaches that allow for optical control of properties and structural organization in ordered soft materials as well as in the use of soft materials such as liquid crystals to control light.

Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Research

Nano-structured materials & nano-scale phenomena for metamaterials assembly

Our focused effort is to understand organization of nano-structured materials & nano-scale phenomena (such as interactions between nanoparticles) with the goal of finding novel approaches for optical metamaterials self-assembly

Biophysics and Biomolecular Materials Research

Physics of biomolecular assembly & biological cells

We study the physics phenomena behind biomolecular assembly & interactions between cells. For example, the image to the right shows a nematic-like ordering of rod-shaped bacteria in the extracellular polymeric matrix of DNA.

Renewable Energy Research

Soft Condensed Matter Physics & Nanoscience for Renewable Energy

We develop novel organic photovoltaic solar cells and light-harvesting approaches utilizing nanostructured soft materials such as smectic and columnar discotic liquid crystals that are doped with nanoparticles or infiltrated into nanostructured materials.

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