My research focus on understanding the fundamentals of soft matter systems in particular, Stimuli-Responsive Polymers.
Soft matter is everywhere. We brush our teeth using it, take a refreshing bath with it, protect and beautified our face with it, the soothing soup, soft soft idlis and the yummy sambar, our skin, tissues, cells, muscles are all classical examples of soft matter. The bricks of soft matter are particles/chains with length scales between several nanometers to micrometers. Due to their large structural length scale, the number density of particles constituting soft matter system reduces by many orders (~12 orders) of magnitude, smaller than for an ordinary atomic/molecular material. The relatively small number density and weak interactions between the structural units, results in their easy deformation by external forces (eg: pressing our skin) and this is what makes them SOFT
Research is extensively carried out in the following areas:
Investigating the structure of microgels at extremely low and high crosslink densities from dilute to overpacked conditions
Microgels in colour tunable devices
Self-assembly of zwitterionic stimuli responsive microgels-Role of surface charges?
Light scattering and rheological behaviour of stimuli responsive block co-polymers
Organogels and their applications
Much of my research relies on tools based on Scattering techniques and Microscopy, in particular, Static and Dynamic Light Scattering (SLS & DLS), Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM).
SANS D11@ Institut Laue–Langevin , Grenoble France