Research topics

Our group focuses on design and controlling of chemical systems with emerging complex behavior using self-assembly and self-organization processes. Self-assembly is a process in which structures emerge in a closed system without external direction (human interventions) due to minimization of the free energy. However, self-organization is a process occurring far from the thermodynamic equilibrium, and the higher order structures emerge in open systems with an external energy (fuel) source. We combine these phenomena to design new chemical systems with unique chemical and physical properties, namely (i) self-assembly of oppositely charged nanoparticles; (ii) drive and trigger the self-division of self-assembled giant unilamellar vesicles using enzymatic reaction as an external chemical trigger; (iii) regulating activity of an enzyme and microorganism by an autonomous chemical system; and (iv) investigation of the dynamic self-assembly of colloids into precipitation wave.