PhD project: Bringing Order to a ‘Zoo’ of Colloidal Gels
Project description
Sticky colloidal particles aggregate. When conditions are right, they can form a stringy, space-spanning structure – a ‘gel’ – which behaves in many ways like a solid even though the sample may contain more than 90% liquid. Many personal care products and foods (e.g. yoghurt) are such gels. Recent theoretical advances have suggested that gels can form through a variety of ‘kinetic pathways’, the precise one being chosen being sensitively ‘tuneable’ by varying external conditions. Using a combination of experimental techniques, including microscopy and mechanical measurements, you will test these theoretical ideas in a very well characterized ‘model colloid’ developed in Edinburgh (and now adopted by many groups worldwide). There may be opportunities to work with various industrial partners.
Project supervisor
- Professor Wilson Poon (School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
The project supervisor welcomes informal enquiries about this project.
Find out more about this research area
The links below summarise our research in the area(s) relevant to this project:
- Find out more about Soft Matter Physics.
- Find out more about the Institute for Condensed Matter and Complex Systems.
What next?
- Find out how to apply for our PhD degrees.
- Find out about fees and funding and studentship opportunities.
- View and complete the application form (on the main University website).
- Find out how to contact us for more information.