Welcome to the SFB "Molecular Structuring of Soft Matter"
The Collaborative Research Centre (SFB) 1176 'Molecular Structuring of Soft Matter' investigates the design of highly defined macromolecules. The building blocks, i.e monomers, of macromolecules are arranged along a (one-dimensional) chain. However, their alignment in or on an (inter)phase is also of significant importance. In addition, the spatial alignment of the building blocks in networks, resulting in specific material properties, is of significance. The function of the macromolecular materials is primarily determined by their molecular structure and the thereof resulting spacial arrangement and linkages. This molecular structure can be the sequence of the monomers along the chain, the uniformity of the chain-length (i.e. the dispersity) or the degree of branching within the macromolecule. The precise placement of functionalities along the chain can determine and regulate the behavior of the chain in solution – the so-called coiling behavior. Surfaces can consist of repeating units or be decorated with macromolecules, which impart specific function to the surface. In a polymeric network, the complex properties of the resulting material are determined by the length of the single mesh as well as by the sequence of the building blocks of functionalities. The Collaborative Research Centre 1176 has the aim – within the scope of defined and well-founded problems – to synthesize polymeric materials with a so far unmatched degree of structural control in three dimensions. In doing so, the targeted molecular weight, precise control of a defined function as well as control over dispersity will be established. The focus on the molecular structure of soft materials by a dimensional organizing principle – determining the function – opens the possibility to classify the synthetic challenges as well as to transfer the scientific findings from one to the next dimension.
10.06.19 SFB1176 is now on Twitter
Check out our SFB1176 Twitter account
You can find our latest tweets in the navigation on the left or directly on Twitter.
Congratulations to Qi An on winning a price for her highly commended student talk "Synthesis of stimuli-responsive and self-healing porous polymers via dynamic nitroxide exchange reaction" at MOF2018 in New Zealand.
23.11.2018
Workshop "Hello Industry"
Save the date! 21.03-22.03.2019, KIT
For more information click here.
19.11.2018
The group of Prof. Lahan recently published an article in Science on Templated nanofiber synthesis, related to project B3. See KIT press release here.
21.09.2018
SFB-Event: Career Paths
On Wednesday, Otcober 10, 2018, the SFB1176 offers an evening event for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers highlighting different possible career paths after the PhD (see flyer here).
25.06.18
Magritek highlights the work of Prof. Wilhelm on NMR-SEC system, related to project Q1 (link to article).
18.04.2018
The team of Michael Meier within the SFB1176 (project A3) recently published a paper in Nature Communications on "Multicomponent reactions provide key molecules for secret communication". Check out the KIT's press release on this hot paper.
There is also a nice interview with SWR2 (in German) available, explaining the presented concept.
13.04.2018
The team of Prof. Barner-Kowollik and Prof. Roesky, recently published an article in J. Am. Chem. Soc. (wihtin the project A2). Check out their Cover Picture!
20.03.2018
Workshop "Bewerbungsunterlagen-Check" - 09.04.2018, 14-18:30 Uhr.
Further information can be found here.
The team of Prof. L. Barner within the SFB1176 (project C3) recently published an article in Angew. Chem. on "Counting the Clicks in Fluorescent Polymer Networks".
link to article
07.02.2018
PhD position within the Cooperative Research Centre on 'Molecular Structuring of Soft Matter’ (SFB 1176), Institute for Applied Materials, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. The position is offered in the project „Sequence-Controlled Growth of Cross-Linked Polymer Layers on Surfaces“ (http://www.sfb1176.de/B2.php). The project focuses on the synthesis and design of molecularly structured layers on graphite or silicon substrates. In addition to their chemical, physicochemical and physical characterisation, the layers will be tested as protective electrode films on the negative electrode of lithium-ion batteries. The successful design of such layers could greatly enhance the performance, energy density and lifetime of these batteries. The position combines strategies of organic synthesis of with electrochemical methods for characterization. Candidates should have a master in Chemistry and profound knowledge in organic and polymer Chemistry. Applications including a letter of motivation (German or English) should be submitted via email to frieder.scheiba@kit.edu no later than 12.03.2018.
The team of Prof. Willem M. Klopper within the SFB1176 (project Q5) recently published an article in ChemPhysChem on "Computational study of the molecular structure and hydrogen bonding in the Hamilton wedge/cyanuric acid binding motif". Check out their Cover Picture!
Link to article
The team of Prof. Manfred Wilhelm within the SFB1176 (project C1) recently published a full paper in Advanced Science on "Osmotic Engine: Translating Osmotic Pressure into Macroscopic Mechanical Force via Poly(Acrylic Acid) Based Hydrogels". Check out their Cover Picture!
Link to article
On Tuesday, October 10, 2017, the SFB1176 offers a panel discussion for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers highlighting different possible career paths for young researchers.
The fourth workshop of the Graduate School of the SFB 1176 took place on 14.-15. September, 2017 in Annweiler (near Trifels castle). Attendance of all members of the Graduate School was mandatory.
01.08.2017
Advanced Science highlighted the work of Prof Wilhelm on Producing Energy
with Superabsorbers (related to project C1)
09.06.2017
Congratulations to Christopher Barner-Kowollik on winning the Australian Laureate Fellowship for his project "Light Induced chemical modularity: a new frontier in macromolecular design"
KIT newsThe third workshop of the Graduate School of the SFB 1176 took place on 29.-31. March, 2017 in Annweiler (near Trifels castle). Attendance of all members of the Graduate School was mandatory.
At the latest SFB assembly, Dr. Manual Tsotsalas was voted to be the new Equal Opportunity Officer taking over the position from Dr. Leonie Barner. We thank Dr. Barner for her commitment to the SFB and for the establishment of the 'Development Program for High Potentials in Chemistry'.
20.02.2017
The Team of Christof Wöll within the SFB1176 (project C4) recently pusblished a paper in Nature Communications on fabricating two dimensional textiles from monomolecular polymer fibers entitled "Molecular weaving via surface-templated expitaxy of crystalline coordinationnetworks". Check out the KIT's press release on this hot paper by clicking on the link below.
Economy Meets Science in cooperation with "Chemie-Verbände-Baden-Württemberg" (see Poster) will take place on 6th of March 2017. Participating companies are Fuchs Petrolub SE, Mineraloelraffinerie Oberrhein GmbH & Co.KG, Karl Wörwag Lack- und Farbenfabrik GmbH & Co.KG. There will also be Johannes Scheiger, former trainee at VCI e.V. - office Brussels and an applicant training from "Chemie-Verbände Baden-Württemberg will be held.
Participation is only possible with prior registration until the 14th of Febuary next to Dominik Voll's office door (Wolfgang-Gaede-Str. 1a, CFN, Geb. 30.25, Room 119, 1st floor).
SFB 1176 excursion to BASF SE in Ludwigshafen on January 24th, 2017 with talks from BASF scientists, and a tour through the production and lab facilities. Many thanks to Dr. Nikolaus Nestle (BASF SE) for the organization!
11th-12th of January 2017, Workshop „How to start your own lab” in the context of our development program for high potentials in chemistry with Dr. Philipp Gramlich (external link) and Dr. habil. Alexander Schiller (external link).
The team of Christopher Barner-Kowollik within the SFB1176 (project A3) recently published a paper in Nature Communications on photochemically-driven sequence-defined polymer synthesis entitled "Coding and Decoding Libraries of Sequence Defined Functional Copolymers Synthesized via Photoligation". Check out the KIT's press release on this hot paper by clicking on the link below.
KIT press informationThe third workshop of the Graduate School of the SFB 1176 will take place on 29.-31. March, 2017 in Trifels near Annweiler. Attendence of all members of the Graduate School is mandatory.
SFB 1176 excursion to Münzing Chemie GmbH in Abstatt/Heilbronn on November 7th, 2016 with talks from the company, Prof. Meier, and a tour through the production and lab facilities.
Prof. Christopher Barner-Kowollik - founding speaker of the SFB 1176 - together with Prof. Martin Bastmeyer and Prof. Martin Wegener has received the Erwin Schrödinger Award for Specifically Designed Petri Dishes.
The three KIT scientists received the award worth EUR 50,000 for their interdisciplinary research on three-dimensional cell culturing.
Link_moreThe SFB 1176 and KIT students visited the ARLANXEO NBR emulsion rubber plant in La Wantzenau on September, 21st, 2016. We would like to thank Dr. Sven Brandau and his colleagues for organizing everything.
The Graduate School of the SFB 1176 will travel to the Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI) in Siebeldingen on September 27th, 2016. A guided tour through the labs and cellar of the institute and talks on analytical NMR of complex mixtures are planned. All members of the Graduate School are encouraged to participate.
JKI SiebeldingenThe second workshop of the Graduate School of the SFB 1176 took place on 8.-9. September, 2016 in Bad Herrenalb (which is situated near Karlsruhe at the edge of the Black Forest). Attendence of all members of the Graduate School was mandatory.
1.8.2016
The speaker of the SFB 1176, Prof. Christopher Barner-Kowollik, and Dr. Leonie Barner have both accepted professorial positions at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, starting in April 2017. We congratulate them both and wish them all the best for their continuing academic career. A/Prof. Barner and Prof. Barner-Kowollik will continue to hold fractional appointments at the KIT and lead their SFB projects. From 1st of August 2016 on, Prof. Michael Meier will be the speaker of the SFB 1176.
1.8.2016
Der Sprecher der SFB 1176, Herr Prof. Dr. Barner-Kowollik, und Frau Dr. Leonie Barner haben beide einen Ruf an die Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australien angenommen. Wir gratulieren ganz herzlich und wünschen beiden auf dem eingeschlagenen beruflichen Weg weiterhin viel Erfolg. Die weitere Kooperation und die Fortführung aller betroffener Projekte durch Frau Barner und Herrn Barner-Kowollik ist gesichert. Mit dem Wechsel verbunden übernahm zum 1.8.2016 Herr Prof. Dr. Michael Meier die Sprecherschaft des SFB 1176.
Mercator Fellow Prof. Martina Stenzel (UNSW, Sydney) will visit the SFB1176 from 19.06. - 09.07.2016. Lectures are planned.
Read more
Prof. Rachel Yerushalmi-Rozen will visit the KIT from 10.07. - 21.07.2016. Lectures will be held on July12th and July 14th.
Read moreThe "Development Program for High Potentials in Chemistry" of the SFB 1176 has started with 11 participants. Read more ...
The office of the SFB1176 is now located in the CFN-building, room 118. The new phone is -45804.
The SFB 1176 is a sponsor of the 3rd Belgian-German Macromolecular Meeting - Dynamic and Responsive Polymer Systems which will be held form February 15th to 16th, 2016, in Houffalize, Belgium.
Link_moreThe first workshop of the Graduate School of the SFB 1176 will be held on March 31st and April 1st, 2016 in Bad Herrenalb (which is situated near Karlsruhe at the edge of the Black Forest). Attendence of all members of the Graduate School is mandatory.
The establishment of the SFB 1176 'Molecular Structuring of Soft Matter' and its scientific programme and aims have been featured in the KIT-News in November 2015. Please click on the link to watch the video.
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The Helmholtz Association has selected Dr. Manuel Tsotsalas to receive a Helmholtz Young Investigators Group. With an annual funding of €250,000 for the next five years, he can now establish and manage his own research group focusing on the topic of "hierarchically structured polymers / biomaterials".
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