Division/Committee: [COLL: Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry]

Metamaterials can be designed to exhibit unique physical properties stemming from their hierarchical structure. Examples include optical, electronic, topological, mechanical, and acoustic metamaterials, in addition to metamaterials that can be designed to interact with any wave phenomenon. Contemporary advances in colloidal chemistry, self-assembly, and additive manufacturing of soft matter have now opened the door for three-dimensional metamaterials built from the bottom-up with precise control at micrometer and nanometer length scales. Soft and colloidal systems offer the ability to employ multiple building blocks to target complex behaviors and multi-functionality-moreover, the inherent ability for many soft materials to dynamically change their properties offers the opportunity to design 4D metamaterials that change over time. This symposium will bring together experts in soft matter and metamaterials design to share cutting edge results and identify future research opportunities for Colloidal and Soft Metamaterials. Discussions are anticipated across a range of soft matter research areas, including colloidal synthesis, colloidal, molecular, and polymer self-assembly, additive manufacturing of soft matter, topological behavior, active matter, and more. Discussions are also anticipated across a range of metamaterials research areas, including 3D optical metamaterials, mechanical, auxetic, topological, and acoustic metamaterials, design and simulation, biomimicry, and more. The intersection of these fields will spur additional discussions towards applications like optoelectronics, nanophotonics, sensing, soft robotics, and more.

Glen Hocky

University of Chicago

Appearances