The RESOLV (Ruhr Explores Solvation) Cluster of Excellence is an interdisciplinary research project led by Ruhr University Bochum and the Technical University of Dortmund. Since 2012, approximately 200 researchers from the fields of chemistry, physics, biochemistry, and chemical engineering have been investigating the role of solvents in both reactions and formulations at the molecular level. In its third funding period (2026–2032), RESOLV will receive 43 million euros in funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG).
One of RESOLV’s three main research areas is “Stability and Homogeneity”, which investigates the physical stability of complex systems against crystallization and liquid-liquid phase separation. In particular, this area focuses on expanding the solubility limits of highly hydrophobic solutes in aqueous environments using suitable additives such as surfactants and polymeric nanocarriers.
Following an overview of RESOLV activities in general, the presentation will illustrate RESOLV’s research activities on solubilization using surfactants, which comprises molecular simulations and experimental characterization of surfactant aggregates using advanced light scattering techniques. Very recently, we succeeded in developing an analytical thermodynamic model that enables modeling of liquid-liquid demixing in aqueous surfactant solutions as well as the prediction of the critical micelle concentration within seconds. Furthermore, for the first time, this modeling approach is even able to predict the dramatic increase in the solubility of hydrophobic compounds in the presence of surfactants. In addition to that, it allows even predicting the size and shape of mixed aggregates composed of surfactants and solutes, as well as the number and even the location of solute molecules within these aggregates in very good agreement with experimental data.