| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/J001902/1 |
| Title: |
Field-induced assembly in magnetic systems - towards tunable magnetic devices |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dullens, Professor R |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Oxford Chemistry |
| Organisation: |
University of Oxford |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research |
| Starts: |
01 October 2012 |
Ends: |
30 December 2016 |
Value (£): |
730,139
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Complex fluids & soft solids |
Materials Characterisation |
| Materials Synthesis & Growth |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
| Panel Date | Panel Name | Outcome |
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09 Sep 2011
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EPSRC Physical Sciences Materials - September
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Announced
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
Self-assembly is an umbrella term for a fascinating range of processes by which initial components build into a complex structure via a chemical or physical change. From complex inorganic macromolecules to the tertiary structure of polypeptides, self-assembled systems represent an extremely wide variety of systems. However, controlling self-assembly remains a formidable challenge, not least because there are usually many components present which lead to a range of different interactions and competing driving forces. To exploit self-assembled structures for the development of useful materials and tunable devices, it is a prerequisite to have deep understanding of the fundamental structural and dynamical processes underlying the self-assembly.
One particular class of material that displays a rich variety of self-assembled patterns is termed magneto-rheological (MR) fluids. MR fluids are formed by magnetic colloidal nanoparticles dispersed in a non-magnetic solvent (or non-magnetic colloidal nanoparticles in a magnetic fluid). Upon the application of an external magnetic field typically chain-like and fibrous structures appear, which sensitively affect the viscosity of the system. This effect is exploited in a wide range of applications ranging from MR seismic shock dampers to innovative prosthetic limbs. Furthermore, with their tunability of interaction, MR fluids are excellent model systems for fundamental network forming systems.
Here, we propose to investigate the field-induced assembly of fibrous network materials in MR fluids using experiments, computer simulations and stochastic fibrous network theory. Because the typical colloidal length and time scales are of the order of micrometers and seconds respectively, the structure and dynamics can be analysed at the particle level using optical microscopy, which allows for detailed comparisons between experiments, simulations and theory. Furthermore, we aim to exploit the effect of the addition of impurities, confinement and flow to control the network formation, which will allow us to explore the development of tunable magnetic devices.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.ox.ac.uk |