Department of polymer physics
Laboratory № 7 – Theory and Modeling of Polymer Systems
1. Theory and computer simulation of branched macromolecules and polymer brushes.
2. Self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers.
3. Theory and modeling of mechanic properties of individual polymer and biopolymer molecules.
4. Influence of inter- and intramolecular interactions on structure and mobility of hyperbranched polyectrolytes and their complexes.
5. Structure and dynamics of linear and branched polypeptides and polysaccharides.
6. Computer simulation of complex biopolymer systems.
7. Theory and modeling of dynamic properties of network and dendritic polymer systems. Structural changes occurring during phase transitions in rigid-chain heterocyclic polyelectrolytes.
8. Computer simulation of organic-inorganic composites intended for biomedical applications.
9. Multiscale simulation of thermoplastic polyimides and nanocomposites based on these polyimides.
Head of the Laboratory: S.V. Lyulin, Corresponding Member of RAS, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Laboratory № 8 – Mechanics of Polymers and Composites
1. Development and study of novel thermostable structural composites on the basis of structured polyimide binders with high fracture toughness.
2. Micromechanics of destruction of fibrous composites based on thermostable binders modified with nanoparticles of various morphologies.
3. Preparation of new film-forming and fiber-forming nanocomposites on the basis of polymer scaffolds and inorganic nanoparticles. Investigation of their electrophysical, transport, and mechanical properties.
4. Preparation of one-, two-, and three-dimensional scaffolds for cell technologies; development of medical purpose materials on the basis of biocompatible polymers and nanocomposites; studies of structure and properties of the products.
5. Development of solid-liquid nanocomposites based on microencapsulated liquid fire-extinguishing agents; investigation of properties of these nanocomposites.
6. Synthesis and studies of delivery systems for protein-based pharmaceutical preparations.
Head of the Laboratory: V.E. Yudin, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Laboratory № 10 – Luminescence, Relaxational and Electrical Properties of Polymer Systems
1. Photophysical properties of polymer systems containing ions of rare earth elements and/or organic photoactive fragments.
2. Luminescence studies of formation and stability of interpolymer complexes, complexes of polymers with low molecular weight diphilic ions, and macromolecular metal complexes with transition metal ions.
3. Study of the structure of bacterial cellulose and its composites by dielectric spectroscopy.
4. Application of dielectric spectroscopy in the studies of molecular mobility of polymer systems containing functional groups in side and/or main chains and possessing non-linear optical, mesomorphic, and other useful physical properties (in solutions and in bulk); investigation of the influence of an orientating external field on structurization processes, phase transitions, and orientation of functional groups.
5. Investigation of dielectric behavior and morphology of polymers with complex architecture (polyimide brushes, graft copolymers that consist of a polyimide backbone and long side chains of vinyl polymers with different degrees of grafting, lengths and structures).
6. Influence of chemical factors on the appearance of high-conductivity state at pre-breakdown voltage in the films of dielectric polymers of various chemical structures (particularly, poly(siloxane-imide)s and nanocomposites of noble metals based on polysaccharide arabinogalactan).
7. Development of the theory of dynamic properties of network polymer composites containing elastic fragments and rigid or viscoelastic particles, and development of the theory of network structures consisting of several networks.
Acting Head of the Laboratory: R.Yu. Smyslov, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Laboratory № 13 – Polymer Morphology
1. Study of morphology, supramolecular structure and phase transitions in nano- and microstructured polymer materials and supramolecular systems by X-ray structural analysis, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, polarized light microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, and UV spectroscopy.
2. Development of methodology of studying the structure-property relationship in hybrid organic-inorganic nanosystems based on metal and metalloid nanoparticles stabilized with water-soluble polymers.
3. Study of the structure and sorption properties of promising biomedical materials: gel films of bacterial cellulose intercalated with nanoparticles of various natures stabilized with polymers and hydrated calcium phosphates.
4. Study of structure, morphology, and thermal properties of the nanocomposites intended for membrane technologies based on thermostable polymers filled with nanoparticles of different chemical natures.
5. Study of structure and thermal properties of supramolecular inclusion complexes (polyrotaxanes and pseudopolyrotaxanes) on the basis of cyclic and linear polymers.
6. Study of supramolecular structure and thermo-mechanical properties of porous polyethylene and poly(vinylidene fluoride) films; investigation of conducting composites based on these polymers and polyaniline (polypyrrole) at all stages of production (extrusion, annealing, orientational drawing, thermofixation).
Acting Head of the Laboratory: V.K. Lavrent’ev
Laboratory № 16 – Molecular Physics of Polymers
1. Analysis of the relationship between chemical structure of polymers and properties of individual macromolecules.
2. Study of interactions between polymer molecules in solutions, between polymer chains and solvent molecules, analysis of anisotropic order in polymer solutions.
3. Investigation of formation of supramolecular structures in polymer solutions.
4. Investigation of intermolecular interactions in anisotropic polymer melts.
5. Study of the processes of formation of polymer nanocomposites and their properties.
Main experimental methods (hydrodynamic and optical methods): static light scattering; dynamic light scattering; analysis of polarization of the scattered light; flow birefringence; sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation; translational diffusion; viscometry, etc.
Head of the Laboratory: A.P. Filippov, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Laboratory № 19 – Physical Chemistry of Polymers
1. Development and optimization of the methods for preparation of microporous films of flexible-chain polymers with varying parameters (pore size, total porosity, specific surface area, permeability, mechanical properties).
2. Strongly swelling pH-sensitive polyelectrolyte hydrogels, studies of gelation kinetics, swelling-contraction processes, mechanical properties.
3. Multicomponent micro- and nanostructured composites including porous polyolefin films, conducting polymers, strongly swelling hydrogels, and natural polysaccharides.
4. Development of novel biologically active membrane materials on the basis of bacterial cellulose.
5. Separation-pervaporation membranes on the basis of the composites of poly(phenylene-iso-phthalamide) with C60 fullerene and carbon additives; investigation of their physico-chemical, transport, and sorption properties.
6. Study of phase transitions in thermotropic liquid crystal polymers by statistical analysis of polarized optical images using the corresponding computer software.
Head of the Laboratory: Prof. S.V. Bronnikov, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Analytical Laboratory № 20
1. Investigation of hydrodynamic, optical, molecular, and conformational properties of a wide range of macromolecules (both synthetic and natural) by hydrodynamic and optical methods, chromatographic methods. Study of supramolecular structures, nanostructures, and polymer films.
2. Development of methods of physico-chemical analysis of linear and branched organo-soluble and water-soluble polymers, synthetic and natural polymers, copolymers and associated compounds (catalysts, stabilizers, monomers, oligomers): molecular hydrodynamic and optical methods, thin layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, and elemental analysis.
3. Establishing the relationship between structure of macromolecules and their hydrodynamic behavior and molecular mass distribution (for synthetic polymers and biopolymers) in diluted solutions; study of the relationship between chemical structure, the presence of functional groups and biological activity of polymers.
4. Study of rheological behavior of concentrated solutions and melts of polymers and their composites depending on their composition and preparation methods under various temperature-time schedules for the purpose of establishing the structure-property relationship and predicting properties of the final product.
Head of the Laboratory: V.D. Krasikov, Doctor of Chemical Sciences
Group № 21 – Spectroscopy of Polymers
1. Determination of chemical structures of macromolecules; identifying chemical transformations in polymers.
2. Orientational and conformational characteristics of macromolecules, intermolecular interactions.
3. Surface characteristics of polymer materials, polymer brushes, conducting polymers, filled polymers.
Head of the Group: A.V. Dobrodumov, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Laboratory № 22 – Multiscale Experimental Studies and Simulation of Polymer Composites on the Basis of Promising Thermoplastics for Industrial Applications
1. Modification of polymer scaffolds by introducing nanoparticles and creating nanocomposites with the structure controlled by nanofillers.
2. Multiscale computer simulation of structure and dynamic properties of materials; revealing the relationship between chemical structures of nanocomposite components and properties of the final materials.
3. Experimental studies of structure and properties of nanocomposite materials, comparison of the experimental results and the data of multiscale computer simulation.
Head of the Laboratory: Dr J. Kenny (S.V. Larin, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Deputy Director for Science)
Laboratory № 23 – Polymeric Biomaterials and Systems
1. Development of new phenomenological models for high performance polymeric materials with the use of modern analytical and computational methods.
2. Development and optimization of the methodological approach to the synthesis of bionanocomposite materials on the basis of chemically modified bacterial cellulose and polyesters (polylactic acid, polyhydroxybutyrate, polycaprolactone).
3. Verification and calibration of the developed synthetic methods with the corresponding comprehensive chemical and physical experiments.
4. Development and optimization of biodegradable and biocompatible polymeric materials with chemically modified surfaces, primarily, bionanocomposites intended for high-technology environmentally safe industrial and biomedical applications.
5. Development of innovative industrial technologies, mainly related to production of novel biocompatible materials for 3D printing process, eco-friendly packaging, tissue engineering, and wound dressings.
Head of the Laboratory: Dr M. Karttunen