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Soft Matter Structural Physics Lab
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A lab that explores the softness of gels and polymers by observing their nanostructure through scattering.
AboutAbout the lab
Reading softness from nanostructure
The Soft Matter Structural Physics Lab studies soft materials such as gels and polymer solutions.
Even the bodies of living things, seen at the nano scale, are made of countless strands (polymers) packed together.
The lab examines the nanostructure inside materials from how light, X-rays, or neutrons scatter when they hit them.
Combining rheology and spectroscopy as well, it works to clarify the mechanisms behind the observed physical properties.
Key terms
- Soft matter
- Soft materials such as gels, polymers, and colloids, whose shape changes greatly under a small force
- Rheology
- The study of how materials deform and flow when force is applied. A basic method for measuring the properties of soft materials
- Hydrogel
- A polymer network that holds a large amount of water. Jelly and konjac are familiar examples
NewsLab news
Two master's students received poster awards at the International Symposium on Polymer Physics
A student received an award at the graduation presentation
An undergraduate student received an Outstanding Poster Award
ResearchResearch themes
The targets range widely, from polymer solutions and colloids to gels and biological tissues. Centered on structural analysis by light, X-ray, and neutron scattering, and combined with rheology and spectroscopy, the lab investigates the mechanisms behind the observed physical properties.
*Illustrative imageGels whose flow is controlled by DNA
The lab studies hydrogels cross-linked by DNA double helices. The time until the gel begins to flow matches the time for the double helix to unwind, so designing the base sequence may make it possible to tune fluidity.
*Illustrative imageUltimately uniform transparent gels
If polymers are packed densely in the solution before gelation, they remain uniformly dispersed after solidifying. The lab is advancing research on extremely uniform gels made by this method.
*Illustrative imageSeeing structure and motion by scattering
Using scattering of light, X-rays, and neutrons, the lab examines the nanostructure and molecular motion of soft materials. Rheological measurements, which apply force, and spectroscopic measurements are combined for multifaceted evaluation.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Soft Matter Structural Physics Lab consist of faculty members, PhD, master's, and undergraduate students, and technical assistants.As of 2026
- ProfessorXiang Li
- Project Associate ProfessorShintaro Nakagawa
- Assistant ProfessorTakashi Yasuda
- Project Assistant ProfessorLama Milena
VoicesStudent voices
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Hidrogela egoera solidoan” Lialore / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Gels whose flow is controlled by DNA: “DNA-molecule2” ynse from Poland / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Ultimately uniform transparent gels: “Cubic phase gel” Olli Niemitalo / CC0 (cropped)
- Seeing structure and motion by scattering: “Aust.-Synchrotron-Soft-X-ray-Beamline-Experimental-Station” jjron / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Soft & Wet Matter Lab): “More windows” Jin from Melbourne, Australia / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Fusion Soft Matter Lab): “Hydrogels” Azizbekpm / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Mathematical Biology Lab): “Ba model 1000nodes” Keiono / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Transformative Soft Matter Lab): “Superabsorber Hydrogel KSG 2906 pK” Petra Klawikowski / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
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