Many materials in nature, such as exosomes or molecular machines, do not simply form a single final structure. Instead, their function depends on how they are assembled and the route they take along the way. This PhD thesis investigates such systems using the concept of an energy landscape, which can be imagined as a hilly terrain. A material can follow different paths across this landscape, becoming trapped in valleys that represent distinct structures or functions. Using soft materials such as Janus dendrimers and hydrogel micromotors, this research shows that small changes in preparation conditions, like thermal history or light, can steer materials along different pathways, leading to very different outcomes. Importantly, the most useful structures do not always correspond to the lowest-energy state, but instead arise from temporary or out-of-equilibrium states selected by the assembly pathway. By revealing how pathways can be controlled, this work provides new strategies for designing responsive and adaptive materials. These insights are relevant for future applications in medicine, such as drug delivery, as well as in the development of active and smart materials.
Jiabin Luan obtained a BEng in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Science and Technology Beijing, graduating with highest honors. He subsequently earned an MSc in Chemistry and Physics of Polymers from Fudan University, where his research focused on the molecular design of injectable hydrogels for drug-delivery applications. After one year working as a quality assurance engineer on the development of cardiovascular valves, he undertook a short research stay at Southern Medical University in Guangzhou. He then joined the Department of Systems Chemistry as a PhD candidate under the supervision of Prof. Daniela A. Wilson, later continuing as a researcher. His doctoral research centers on dynamic supramolecular systems and energy landscapes for functional assemblies, including a research visit to Western University, Canada.