Soft Matter Laboratory

We are a laboratory devoted to the study of soft matter systems working at the Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas y Aplicadas (INIFTA) in the Department of Chemistry of the Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP). Our approach is multidisciplinary, involving concepts and expertise from chemistry, physics, biomedical engineering, and materials science. We pursue the goal of understanding the relationship between molecular structure, molecular function and macroscopic properties. In this context, we are particularly interested in designing and building soft materials and devices with unprecedented properties and functions. The research projects on which we are presently working involve the integration of functional molecular systems into devices and platforms for different specific purposes. The devices of current interest are solid-state nanopores, graphene-based field-effect transistors and bioelectrochemical sensors.

Research

Microporous and Mesoporous Materials

Part of the appeal of microporous and mesoporous materials is the unique and thorough molecular control of their intrinsic topological and chemical characteristics that nanochemistry is able to provide. With the correct choice of building [...]

Molecular Modeling of Soft and Nanostructured Materials

Overview The focus of our research is on the molecular modeling of soft and nanostructured materials. We develop and apply theoretical models and computer simulations. Our goal is to understand how molecular interactions and nanoscale [...]

Biomimetic Nanofluidic Architectures

The virtues of working with nanofluidic elements are being increasingly recognized by the biomimetics research community. This has led to the emergence of a research area that is currently at the forefront of materials science [...]

Functional Macromolecular and Supramolecular Materials

In the recent years, the combination of polymer chemistry and supramacromolecular assembly has demonstrated unparalleled versatility to build up functional materials entirely from scratch. For instance, it is now well accepted that the manipulation of [...]

Soft Surfaces and Interfaces

The chemistry that occurs at interfaces plays a determinant role in our everyday life, ranging from biological to large–scale industrial processes. This can be observed when following the development of novel biosensors or efficient catalysts [...]