Soft matter - Bordallo Group

We study the structure of soft matter, such as polymer materials and complex biophysical systems.

We study the polymers with a combination of scattering, rheology and numerical simulations, with particular emphasis on self-assembly and dynamics.

Considerable focus is also given to the study of hydrogen dynamics of specific polymers – mostly the ones applied in dentistry - as well as  to the understanding of the dynamics of biologically bound water in living cells and proteins.

The unifying theme of my research has been to understand the effects of structural changes on the physical properties principally those governing dynamics in, and induced around, a material. The sequence of topics I worked on evolved from luminescent impurities in ionic crystals to other classes of materials; ferroelectrics, colossal magnetoresistance, molecular magnets, cement paste, clays, and then to systems of biological significance. As a consequence of this development of scientific interest, I have been trained in a broad range of experimental and computational techniques, starting with optical spectroscopy and proceeding to Raman, infrared, elastic and inelastic neutron scattering, X-rays and synchrotron radiation.
I have sought to develop links to strong collaborators at the international level and have being engaged on promoting neutron scattering as a technique that possesses the ability to answer important questions to physicists, chemists, material scientists, and biologists.