The Lab is an integrated part of a Coordinated Research Team in Norway, COMPLEX, which involves people and labs located at NTNU as well as at The University of Oslo (UiO) and at The Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), near Oslo.

Experimental techniques

• Sample preparation: Purification of colloids and nanostructured soft materials.
• Thermodynamics:
  Thermal Gravimetry Analysis.
  Differential scanning calorimetry.
  Rheometry including electrorheology, magnetorheology, and in-situ small angle light scattering rheometry.
• Surface analysis:
  Atomic Force Microscopy.
  Optical microscopy.
• Scattering/Diffraction:
  X-ray scattering: 2D WAXS and SAXS.
  Static and dynamic small angle light scattering.
• Experiments performed outside the lab:
  Other COMPLEX Labs at NTNU, IFE and UiO.
  Neutron scattering/diffraction (IFE, Kjeller).
  Synchrotron X-ray scattering at ESRF France, LNLS Brazil, PAL South Korea.
  Magnetic Resonance Imaging UFPE in Recife, Brazil.

We study the physics of SOFT CONDENSED MATTER, i.e. materials which are easily deformable by external stresses, electric or magnetic fields, or by thermal fluctuations. For this, we apply the principals of COMPLEXITY, i.e. "To extract physical knowledge from a complex system, one must focus on the right level of description"..

Presently our main physical model system is nano-layered silicates, or in other words CLAY, which is soft because clay is built from complex self-assembled structures of nanoparticles. We wish to focus on, and study thoroughly a few physical systems representative for soft and complex matter, for a long time, from different points of view, using different experimental techniques, thus studying interconnected complex physical phenomena.

Our main motivations are:

• Developing new understanding of the basic physical properties and processes in soft and complex matter from the nano scale to the.human and geological scale.
• Work on universal problems of practical relevance to fields of actual importance to society, ranging from nanotechnology to environmental topics.

Some of our scientific keywords are:
Soft condensed matter physics, Nano-physics, Complex matter, Complex processes, Pattern formation, Complexity, Spontaneous self-assembly, Guided self-assembly, Smart materials, Nano-structured materials, Nano-particles, Nano-clays.

Contact: Professor Jon Otto Fossum: http://folk.ntnu.no/fossumj