Millimetric bead of colloidal gel above a bed of silica gel., Crédit: Mélanie Challe / CNRS Images.
The bead has been prepared by Matteo Milani. — **Millimetric bead of colloidal gel above a bed of silica gel.**, *Crédit: Mélanie Challe / CNRS Images.*
The bead has been prepared by Matteo Milani.

Mecanofluorescence in a DNA hydrogel, Rémi Mérindol.
Mecanofluorescence in a DNA hydrogel observed in epifluorescence microscopy. Under stress the fluorescence signal goes from green to red, indicating the zones that are influenced the most by the deformation. — **Mecanofluorescence in a DNA hydrogel**, *Rémi Mérindol.*
Mecanofluorescence in a DNA hydrogel observed in epifluorescence microscopy. Under stress the fluorescence signal goes from green to red, indicating the zones that are influenced the most by the deformation.

Spherulite of PLA, Matthieu Georges.
SEM observation of a spherulite about to be released during enzymatic erosion of a semi-crystalline polymer (PLA). — **Spherulite of PLA**, *Matthieu Georges.*
SEM observation of a spherulite about to be released during enzymatic erosion of a semi-crystalline polymer (PLA).

Ellipsometry, Alexandre Poirier.
Measurement of the interfacial optical profile of hexadecane/water at pH10 (NaOH) and simultaneous measurement of the surface pressure with a Wilhelmy plate.

Aromatic oil crystals, Angelo Pomella.
Images under crossed polarizers of crystals of aromatic acid in vegetable oil at 1.5% (a) and 3.5% (b) concentration. — **Aromatic oil crystals**, *Angelo Pomella.*
Images under crossed polarizers of crystals of aromatic acid in vegetable oil at 1.5% (a) and 3.5% (b) concentration.

Contact between CB7CB and 10CB,
Abir Aouini.
Polarized microscopy image of a contact between the smectic phase of 10CB (top right) and the NTB phase of CB7CB (bottom left) in a liquid crystal cells. An intermediate nematic phase appear in the central zone. — **Contact between CB7CB and 10CB**, *Abir Aouini.*
Polarized microscopy image of a contact between the smectic phase of 10CB (top right) and the NTB phase of CB7CB (bottom left) in a liquid crystal cells. An intermediate nematic phase appear in the central zone.

NTB phase of CB7CB,
Abir Aouini.
Characteristic textures of the NTB phase of the liquid crystal CB7CB observed in polarised microscopy, within a cell with strong planar anchoring. — **NTB phase of CB7CB**, *Abir Aouini.*
Characteristic textures of the NTB phase of the liquid crystal CB7CB observed in polarised microscopy, within a cell with strong planar anchoring.

Nematic liquid crystal of graphene, Camilo Zamora/ Christophe Blanc.
Dispersion of graphene in water at a weight fraction of 0.4%. Due to the strongly anisotropic aspect ratio of the graphene flakes (10µm of lateral size/1nm of thickness), these suspensions form liquid crystalline phases and therefore possess an optical anisotropy observable between crossed polarisers. — **Nematic liquid crystal of graphene**, *Camilo Zamora/ Christophe Blanc.*
Dispersion of graphene in water at a weight fraction of 0.4%. Due to the strongly anisotropic aspect ratio of the graphene flakes (10µm of lateral size/1nm of thickness), these suspensions form liquid crystalline phases and therefore possess an optical anisotropy observable between crossed polarisers.

Soft Matter team at L2C

Our research team is established at the Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (CNRS and Université de Montpellier), within the Soft Matter & Glasses axis.

We focus on a broad variety of systems such as surfactants, polymers, colloids, liquid crystals and biological/biomimetic systems, aiming at relating macroscopic properties to microscopic structure. In each area of research, we design model systems from commercial or newly synthesized molecules for a better understanding of the phenomena.

To know more about our research activities, please refer to our research thematics and list of recent peer-reviewed papers.