Transport

Transport processes are fundamental to both technology and life, enabling the movement of matter and energy that drives reactions, sustains biological functions, and powers devices. The flow of electrons and ions underpins energy conversion between chemical and electrical forms. Similarly, in biology, ion transport through membranes generates action potentials in neurons, regulates osmotic balance, and drives muscle contraction. Soft organic materials possess unique properties to bridge the world between macroscopic solid-state devices and biology since they combine mechanical compatibility to biological tissues with chemical tunability.

At MPIP charge and energy transport in soft materials and liquids are studied experimentally and theoretically across time and length scales. Charge transport underlies electrical conduction in organic semiconductors and electrolytes, forming the basis of printed transistors, light-emitting diodes, batteries, fuel cells, and electrolysis. A key challenge is the development of defect free organic materials that will boost the efficiency of such devices. Energy transport, whether mediated by photons, phonons, or heat in soft matter, or by molecules such as ATP in biology, is equally critical. A fundamental challenge is to monitor and understand these complex, coupled processes. This requires a combination of advanced spectroscopic techniques, tailored material synthesis, molecular-scale simulations, and functional device construction. MPIP integrates all these capabilities—ranging from femtosecond-resolved optical methods to precision-controlled chemical synthesis—to correlate molecular dynamics with macroscopic function

Regarding mass transport, biomolecular transport – of proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids within cells  – ensures proper signaling, metabolism, and structural maintenance. At MPIP advanced drug carriers based on polymer based nanocontainers are being developed for precision drug delivery, alongside novel functional macromolecules and bio-hybrid materials capable of direct communication and interaction with living cells, with great potential in future biomedicine. Ultrathin bio-inspired membranes are prepared with controlled pore sizes that allow efficient separation of ions and small molecules. Nanocarrier transport to target cells and tissue but also transport through responsive pores represent key challenges.

Liquid transport is another crucial focus area. It governs solubility, mixing, and reaction kinetics, and in biological systems underlies processes such as blood circulation. With the human body composed of roughly 60% water, understanding water’s molecular behavior—especially at diverse interfaces—is an important scientific goal at MPIP. 

For revealing the underlying transport mechanisms in these molecular systems, advanced simulations and data-driven computational methods complement our experiments and vice versa.

Ultimately, MPIP aims to control the transport of charges, ions, biomolecules, and liquids on the molecular level, which form the backbone of physical and chemical technologies and the physiology of living organisms, linking energy flow to structure and function.