The theme of our research is heterogeneous soft matter transport and design, covering topics such as complex fluid dynamics, colloid and interface science, electrokinetics, and rheology. Our research develops predictive multi-scale computational tools (e.g. particle/fluid dynamics simulations) and fundamental theory (e.g. asymptotic/scaling analyses) to address emerging NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering in these research areas, emphasizing on close collaboration with experimental groups to translate knowledge into applications. Examples of applications include enhanced oil recovery, CO2 sequestration, smart materials assembly, sustained drug delivery, engineered functional surfaces, 3D printing, adaptive micro-robots, and microfluidic energy harvesting.
Area 1: Ionic Gradient-Induced Transport of Colloids
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Mechanism
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Broader impacts
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Area 2: Surface Tension Driven Flow over Active Poroelastic Media
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Mechanism
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Broader impacts
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Area 3: Designing Adaptive Colloidal Transport in Heterogeneous Media
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Mechanism
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Broader impacts
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