Soft Matter: Enabling innovation in the Energy Industry

Soft matter, encompassing a broad class of materials such as colloids, granular matter, gels, polymers, composites and suspensions, has emerged as a rich and multidisciplinary field driving innovations across diverse industries. Its tunability of physical properties such as structure-property relations or rheology offer unique advantages for applications in sectors including food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and energy. In this talk, I will focus on the role of soft matter physics in the energy industry, highlighting both current applications and challenges that hinder broader adoption. I will conclude with a discussion on emerging opportunities for innovations in this rapidly evolving field.