Structural Food Physics and
Soft Matter Self-Assembly
In general the research of the group is centered around mesoscale self-assembly and particularly the formation of geometrically and topologically complex structures in soft matter systems, both synthetic systems like block copolymers and amphiphilic molecules and from various food- and biological systems, for example photosynthetic membranes, milk/fat-based systems, oleogels and biomacromolecules like starch.
The group is newly established at the Department of Food Science having migrated from the X-ray and Neutron Science section at the Niels Bohr Institute and is led by Associate Professor Jacob Kirkensgaard.
In general the research of the group is centered around mesoscale self-assembly and particularly the formation of geometrically and topologically complex structures in soft matter systems, both synthetic systems like block copolymers and amphiphilic molecules and from various food- and biological systems, for example photosynthetic membranes, milk/fat-based systems, oleogels and biomacromolecules like starch. A particular area of interest after the move to FOOD is the study of nanostructural transitions during digestion and how this influences bio-uptake of nutra- and pharmaceuticals.
In terms of methodology, our work has two main facets:
(1) structural investigations using small-angle x-ray and neutron scattering techniques and advanced data analysis and modeling related to this.
(2) coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of soft matter self-assembly.
A state-of-the-art new x-ray instrument is being installed in 2020 at FOOD and will allow a range of experiments to be conducted in-house. We also routinely go to international large scale facilities to do neutron scattering or synchrotron x-ray scattering if needed.
We always have suggestions for student projects at all levels, please drop by my office in C401 at Rolighedsvej or send me an email.
Block copolymer self-assembly under hyperbolic confinement
Numerical simulations reveal a family of hierarchical and chiral multicontinuous network structures self-assembled from a melt blend of Y-shaped ABC and ABD three-miktoarm star terpolymers, se figure below. These mesostructures are among the most topologically complex morphologies identified to date and represent an example of hierarchical ordering within a hyperbolic pattern, a unique mode of soft matter self-assembly. In this project the idea is to implement a simulation setup to investigate the self-assembly of model block copolymers under different hyperbolic constraints, i.e. where the polymer are forced to assemble within a thin curved film. For more information see here >>
If you are interested - please contact Jacob Kirkensgaard (jjkk@food.ku.dk)
Simulation and experimental study of block copolymers self-assembling under spherical confinement
A rel
atively new, but conceptually simple experimental procedure makes it possible to form spherically confined nano-particles out of block copolymers by a clever evaporation of mixed good and bad solvent for the polymers. A new simulation setup allows to simulate such spherically confined systems of arbitrary mixtures of block copolymers which reproduce existing experimental results for diblock copolymers. In this project the idea is to investigate the effect of confinement on new metal containing diblocks and/or ABC star polymeric systems which in the melt state form many complex structures already. For more information see here >>
If you are interested - please contact Jacob Kirkensgaard (jjkk@food.ku.dk)
Block copolymer self-assembly under double spherical (shell) nano-confinement
A relatively new, but conceptually simple experimental procedure makes it possible to form spherically confined nano-particles out of block copolymers by a clever evaporation of mixed good and bad solvent for the polymers. A new simulation setup allows to simulate such spherically confined systems of arbitrary mixtures of block copolymers which reproduce existing experimental results for diblock copolymers. In this project the idea is to investigate the effect of such confinement when the polymers at the same time are restricted to move on an inner sphere which could either be a metal nanoparticle or a liquid core. If this is a Master project there is a possibility to expand the project experimentally. For more information see here >>
If you are interested - please contact Jacob Kirkensgaard (jjkk@food.ku.dk)
Structural characterization of thylakoid membrane stacks
Thylakoid membranes (TM) are a vital part of the photosynthetic machinery in green plants, cyanobacteria and algae as most of the proteins taking part of the light capturing is embedded in this membrane system. TM’s has a very striking organization on mesoscales as they arrange into stacked cylindrical domains, ‘grana’, surrounded by membrane sheets,‘stroma lamellae’, connecting other grana. Ultimately we are interested in the role of this organization in the process of photosynthesis and specifically the structural behavior in the grana stack.
The project will be focused on structural characterization of well-defined TM’s cross-characterized by electron microscopy. This will be done performing detailed measurements using Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS). There are many possible directions for a project within this field - please come and discuss if interested. For more information see here >>
If you are interested - please contact Jacob Kirkensgaard (jjkk@food.ku.dk)
Wang-Landau Monte Carlo simulations of single ABC miktoarm star block copolymers
The behavior of single polymer chains under different solvent conditions plays a central role in polymer physics. This is also the case when different chains are combined to form block copolymers. A single homopolymer chain in a so-called bad solvent will collapse to a structureless compact globule minimizing unfavorable contact between the solvent and the monomers. Introducing two kinds of monomers A and B immediately gives rise to a much richer behavior. In particular, micro-phase separation is possible, leading to various interesting internal structures. In this project you will use a Wang-Landau Monte Carlo simulation setup to investigate 3-armed ABC star molecules. The major interest is how confinement within a globule, which in this case is a flexible kind of confinement, affects the resulting morphology. For more information see here
If you are interested - please contact Jacob Kirkensgaard (jjkk@food.ku.dk)
Most recent publications
Click here for full list of publications
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[64] X. Liu, J.J.K. Kirkensgaard and L. Skibsted Hydrates of Calcium Citrate and Their Interconversion in Relation to Calcium Bioavailability Food Research International, 109867 (2020) |
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[63] D. Felix Da Silva Tenório, H. Wang, T.P. Czaja, F. van der Berg, J.J.K. Kirkensgaard, R. Ipsen and A. Hougaard Powder Technology, Accepted (2020) |
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[62] S. Alinejad, J. Quinson, J. Schröder, J.J.K. Kirkensgaard and M. Arenz Carbon-supported platinum electrocatalysts probed in a gas diffusion setup with alkaline environment: how particle size and mesoscopic environment influence the degradation mechanism ACS Catalysis, Accepted (2020) |
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[61] Y. Zhong, T. Keeratiburana, J.J.K. Kirkensgaard, B. Khakimov, A. Blennow and A.R. Hansen Carbohydrate Polymers, 251, 117056 (2021) |
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[60] M.C. Pedersen, V. Robins, K. Mortensen and J.J.K. Kirkensgaard Evolution of local motifs and topological proximity in self-assembled quasicrystalline phases Proc. Roy. Soc. A., 476, 20200170 (2020) |
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Contact
Structural Food Physics and Soft Matter Self-Assembly
Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 26, DK-1958 Frederiksberg
Jacob J. K. Kirkensgaard
Associate Professor
Office: C401
Cell: +45 23746863
Email: jjkk@food.ku.dk