Mechanical fluctuations of microscopic objects, ubiquitous in living biological cells, are caused by a combination of thermal and biochemical forces; the latter are rich in spatiotemporal information about the forces and energies that drive such fluctuation. The question is how to distinguish the chemical driven from the thermal motion as they are often comparable in magnitude. 

Investigating the diffusiophoresis phenomena of two sized colloids suspended in droplets. Using confocal microscopy, we aim to observe the diffusiophoresis process where the large particles migrate in the concentration gradient of the small particles during the drying of the droplet. A time lapse of 3D scanning using the confocal microscope provides a spatiotemporal evolution of the particles' movement and the diffusiophoresis process devoid of other effects like convection that would cause the particles to move. 

From Styrofoam to water bottles, plastic is a pervasive part of daily life. However, only some plastics are recyclable. Our research is focusing on how we can break down different plastics to create nano-particles that can then be used in other research as a form of plastic recycling.