AMADEus Seminar - Dr. Rémi Mérindol - Friday 30 june 2017 - 10:00 am CRPP (Amphi)

Summary:

Living organisms create exceptional materials in mild conditions, tough and strong composites (nacre, wood), responsive components (mechano-sensors, light-sensors), and autonomous systems (nerves, microtubules). The key to efficiency in these structures relies on the organization of the different components from molecular to macroscopic scale.

In order to build upon the concepts learned from biology we need to develop and design new self-assembly pathways and push the production of complex hierarchical materials. First, I will present the layer-by-layer assembly of cellulose/polyvinylamine composites. In these multilayers, the self-assembly conditions control the nanoarchitecture which, in turns, determines the macroscale mechanical properties. For example aligned multilayers reach strength up to 490 MPa while random softer composites self-heal at high humidity.

Moving to DNA, I will present a new temperature driven self-assembly process, that leads to addressable microgels with tunable structures. Combining this process with canonical hybridization we show how to assemble, core-shell structures with a solid or liquid core, macroscale multicompartment hydrogels and light responsive gold-DNA hybrids. This platform opens perspectives for further design of structural, responsive or autonomous hierarchical materials.