Engineering entropy in soft matter: the bad, the ugly and the good

The role of entropic interactions, often subtle and sometimes crucial, on the structure and properties of soft matter has a well-recognized place in the classic and modern scientific literature. However, the lessons learned from many of those studies do not always form part of the standard arsenal of strategies that are taught or used for de novo studies relevant to the engineering of new materials. Fortunately, a growing number of examples exist where entropic effects have been designed a priori to achieve a desired or new outcome. This tutorial review describes some recent such examples, selected to illustrate the potential benefits of a more pro-active approach to harnessing the often overlooked power of entropy.