# Soft Condensed Matter Physics

**Source**: https://physics.nyu.edu/pine/home.html
**Parent**: https://engineering.nyu.edu/impact/quantum

\
\

We study the physics of soft mesoscopic materials, sometimes known as complex fluids. We
investigate colloids, emulsions, polymers, surfactant solutions, non-Brownian
suspensions,
gels, ... These are the materials that make up biological organisms: blood and other
cells,
genetic material (DNA), protein, etc. They are also the materials found in drug delivery
systems and in consumer products such as shampoo, shaving cream, paint, pigments, and
plastics. "Soft" materials yield or deform readily under external forces because they
are
"mesoscopic" – they are made from things that are large compared to atoms and simple
molecules but generally too small to see with the naked eye. These mesoscopic components
often self-assemble into extraordinary structures with striking mechanical, optical, or
dynamical properties. These web pages provide an overview of our work on these
fascinating
materials.

## Center for Soft Matter Research

‹
›

## Colloidal diamond

Colloidal diamond made of clusters with DNA-patchy.

## Colloidal ball & socket joint

Brownian motion in water suspension. (particles ≈ 1/100
human hair diameter)

## Patchy Particles

Colloidal particles with sticky patches. Columns show particles
with 1, 2, 3, and 4 patches of decreasing patch size in each row. See
[research](https://physics.nyu.edu/pine/patchy_colloids.html)
page. Also see news stories in
[Nature News & Views](http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v491/n7422/full/491042a.html),
[The New Scientist](http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22440-polystyrene-atoms-could-surpass-the-real-deal.html),
[C&E News](http://cen.acs.org/articles/90/web/2012/11/Mimicking-Atomic-Bonding.html), and
[CBS News](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57543993/man-made-particles-self-assemble-like-atoms/?tag=categoryDoorTopNews;catDoorTopNews).

\