Research
Current and Ongoing Projects
"Directed Motion of Janus Particles"
(ongoing research, enabled by our NSF Scalable Nanomanufacturing Program)
More information on this current research here:
"ISS: Thermophoresis in quiescent non-Newtonian fluids for bioseparations"
National Science Foundation
with: Professor Xuanhong Cheng and Professor Kelly Schultz
There are many natural and industrial processes where nanoscale particles suspended in a fluid move as a result of a temperature gradient known as thermophoresis. Thermophoresis impacts a wide variety of processes, such as drug delivery and bioseparations utilized for detecting viruses. However, our current understanding of thermophoresis is limited. Prior experimental studies have conflicting evidence, making the determination of the fundamental mechanisms that drive particle motion difficult. Very few prior studies have considered the motion of these particles in more complex fluids and gels. One key limitation is that it is difficult to separate the impact of thermophoresis from thermally-driven fluid flow that results from fluid recirculation due to temperature-dependent fluid density and gravity. To overcome this limitation, this project will pair terrestrial experiments with those in microgravity onboard the International Space Station (ISS) where buoyancy-driven flow is negligible. The goal is to determine the fundamental physics and chemistry driving thermophoresis in both simple and complex fluids, and use this information for enhancing viral separation platforms by optimizing fluid properties. In an era when disease control is influencing the lives of everyone on Earth, this work will focus on developing enhanced and robust microfluidic viral-load detection devices.
"EAGER: Microscale Fingering Instabilities in Drying Colloid and Polymer Films"
National Science Foundation
This research investigates a visually striking fluid flow instability in colloid-polymer thin films during drying found using high-speed confocal laser scanning microscopy. This is the first observation of a fingering instability of polymer solutions at micron or sub-micron length scales in porous materials such as colloidal crystals. Fingering instabilities, such as the Saffman-Taylor instability, have had broad impacts for transport in porous media for secondary oil recovery and aquifer transport. Most studies of the Saffman-Taylor instability focus on the displacement of one higher viscosity Newtonian fluid with an immiscible lower viscosity Newtonian fluid in either a Hele-Shaw cell or a porous material. The knowledge gained will be used to control or suppress the formation of fingers in order to alter the properties of these films. These fingers may be ubiquitous in drying thin films of particles in viscous liquids and may have a strong impact of the adhesion of these films to their substrates. These structures will be investigated and utilized in the fabrication of nanoscale or microscale networks of fluid channels for devices.
"GOALI: Collaborative Research: Non-invasive measurement of kinematics and rheology in a non-equilibrium drying complex fluid"
National Science Foundation, Case Western Reserve University, and PPG
Lead: Professor Christopher Wirth, Case Western Reserve University
Coatings impact many applications, including consumer products, medicine, food, and engineering applications, typically serve one of three purposes: to protect and extend the life of a product, to improve aesthetics, or to add new functionality. Small defects that form during solidification of a fluid film coating can harm the ultimate functionality of the coating. In a single automotive plant, painting accounts for 60% of the energy consumption, and refinishing to repair defects can cost more than $10 million/year. There are few methods capable of non-invasive tracking of the coating properties during drying. The objective of this project is to develop the capability to measure the transient viscosity and flow of a drying coating with time- and space- resolved optical measurements. The underlying knowledge gained via this project in relation to how transient rheology affects fluid flow will be applicable to a multitude of coating manufacturing processes. The project will have significant impact on coatings design and processing, help to bridge the gap between academia and industry, and include outreach to the science, technology, engineering, and math communities.
Lead: Professor Xuanhong Cheng, Department of Bioengineering
Bionanoparticles, such as viruses and vesicles, are commonly concentrated in clinical diagnosis, defense surveillance and food safety monitoring. Conventional methods, such as high-speed centrifugation and nanofiltration, are instrument and labor intensive and unpractical under resource-limited conditions. These challenges motivate the researchers to create a novel microfluidic solution for nanoparticle processing. Success of the proposed research will have broad practical impact in viral sample processing for clinical diagnostics of infection, homeland security surveillance and food safety monitoring.
"Custom Particle Development"
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratories
Past Projects
(Updates ongoing)