Research in the Complex Materials group focuses on the investigation of processing routes to create composite materials with complex hierarchical architectures and on the understanding of their structure-property relations at multiple length scales. Given the wide materials design space already explored by living organisms during natural selection, the team researchers are particularly interested in creating and studying artificial complex materials that resemble the structure of biological composites.

 The complexity of such natural structures requires the investigation of new approaches to direct the self-assembly of synthetic building blocks into intricate architectures that truly mimic the unique biological design. The bioinspired materials obtained using such synthetic routes provide the opportunity to study the design principles underlying the optimized solutions possibly found in natural systems and to eventually translate them into functional materials with unusual properties.

To systematically address these aspects, the team has established a research program that encompasses the investigation of self- and directed-assembly of colloids, the creation and investigation of bio-inspired composites, and the design of complex functional materials for specific applications.