Abstract:

Many functional (bio-)molecules possess structural flexibility which provides functionality. For example, different conformations may enhance or inhibit a protein’s activity in allosteric regulation or enable the catalytic activity of enzymes. Colloidal structures currently lack this property, restricting their use as building blocks in shape-changing materials, microscopic machines, and model systems.

In this talk, I will show how we can create flexible colloidal structures by exploiting colloidal joints that enable the formation of strong and specific but surface-mobile bonds. I will describe how this bond mobility affects the diffusive and self-assembly behavior and illustrate the variety of flexible structures that we obtained. I will discuss the surprising findings we made while attempting to integrate self-propelled motor elements into flexible structures – the final step towards creating a new class of shape-changing materials and machines.

The opening act is given by Casper Gyurik: "Towards quantum advantage via topological data analysis”. 

The Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85449906697?pwd=bEMzVVFkMU1yWEdkUEtVMStkQ1dPQT09

Meeting ID: 854 4990 6697

Passcode: 822762