Magnetic Colloidal Polymers

MAGICOPOLY is a research project on a novel class of soft magnetic materials that self-assemble from Magnetic Colloidal Polymers (MCPs). MCPs are permanently linked, quasi-linear assemblies of magnetic nanoparticles. These structures can be engineered to have varied architectures (linear, dendritic, and star-like), magnetic content, chemical properties, and diverse composition profiles. In that sense, they add a new layer of complexity to the classical concept of chemical polymers that are prevalent in our lives today. The properties of conventional polymers can be "switched" by changing temperature, solvent, pH, or light, or by adding chemical reagents. However, these stimuli often cause undesirable side effects or interference. Magnetic fields, by contrast, act primarily on the magnetic components of the system. By moving from chemical polymers to MCPsand thus combining the complexity of traditional polymers with the ability to control properties "at a distance" via magnetic fieldswe can create materials with exceptional and exploitable properties. MCPs self-assemble into superstructures such as micelles, bilayers, vesicles, and porous networks. By balancing chemical factors (e.g., solvent selectivity and backbone composition) with magnetic interactions, we can control which superstructures form, trigger transitions between them, and, most importantly, regulate their behaviour with magnetic fields. First, we must understand the static properties of the basic building blocks (MCPs) by screening different designs and relating them to the superstructures they form. Next, promising structuresthose highly susceptible to magnetic fields or readily controllable (e.g., via field-induced deformation or dissolution)are examined for their dynamic properties, with an eye toward modifying rheology and surface adsorption for technological applications. Finally, these findings are used to demonstrate the potential of MCPs as thermo- and magneto-responsive surface coatings and as the basis for future passive-cooling technologies. All of this is enabled by the technology stack developed for MAGICOPOLY. We create computational tools that overcome longstanding limitations in modern functional-materials design, allowing us to simulate explicit magnetodynamics, realistic chemical properties, and hydrodynamic effects simultaneouslyand to study their complex interplay. We use this toolbox to build generalisable models that guide laboratory synthesis and optimise materials for industrial applications. MAGICOPOLY is led by Dr Deniz Mostarac with the support of Prof Philip J. Camp (University of Edinburgh) and Prof Dieter Suess (University of Vienna). This primarily theoretical and computational study extends to the experimental implementation of novel materials in industrially relevant contexts through collaboration with Infineum UK Ltd and the laboratory of Assoc Prof Jia Min Chin.