We generate insights on the dynamics of complex systems through experiments, theoretical analysis, and simulation. Aims of the research include enabling the efficient control and processing of these systems which are used in a wide range of industries, products, and emerging technologies.
Faculty
Complex fluids, or soft matter systems, encompass suspensions of particulates, polymeric solutions and melts, emulsions, and more. Such materials are used in a wide range of industries and products, and are also of importance to many applications in biotechnology, nanotechnology, and materials science. In most cases, the ability to predict the dynamics of these material are extremely limited, which hinders the rational design of new and efficient processes.…
My research group focuses on rational design and engineering of next generation electrochemical systems for human convenience, energy, environment, and sustainability. We seek to address key questions related to the electrochemical systems by leveraging electrochemistry, materials chemistry, and device engineering. Our interests include (1) synthesis of new materials for electrochemical devices, (2) combining electroanalytical chemistry (i.e.…
OUR RESEARCH FOCUSES ON THEORETICAL & COMPUTATIONAL investigation of transport phenomena and non-equilibrium processes in nano- and microscale systems. We apply various simulation methods, such as molecular and Brownian dynamics, as well as theoretical tools to various systems whose understanding is of significant scientific and technological importance.
SELF-ASSEMBLED SURFACTANT SYSTEMS
Surfactants (or amphiphiles) are molecules that contain both hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments.…
OUR RESEARCH FOCUSES ON DYNAMICS at scales that are small macroscopically (μm to mm), but are large compared to molecular sizes. The research combines statistical mechanics and fluid dynamics with advanced computing to elucidate the key physical processes that underlie laboratory observations and measurements. Current applications include:
REACTIVE TRANSPORT IN POROUS MEDIA Flow and transport in porous media are usually modeled at the Darcy scale, where the system is described locally by average properties, such as porosity, permeability, dispersion coefficients, and reactive surface area.…
Our group focuses on designing advanced polymer materials for clean energy, clean water, and environmental sustainability. We combine modular polymer synthesis with experimental tools that probe both molecular-scale and macroscopic transport in polymers with the goal of informing predictive design of the next generation of materials for membrane-driven separations.
A few areas of interest to our group are:
Predicting gas separation membrane performance in realistic environments
Polymer membranes offer a competitive option for energy-efficient carbon capture and hydrocarbon purification; however, many promising materials developed in the lab fail to perform as well in the field. …
TRANSPORT OF HEAT, MASS, AND MOMENTUM ARE OFTEN accompanied by spatial and temporal pattern formation. Understanding the cause of pattern formation is pivotal as this research has application to the processing of materials on earth and under microgravity conditions. Such processes include additive manufacturing of metals, bulk crystal growth of semiconductors, thin film growth during evaporation, and electroplating.…
ELECTROCHEMICAL ENGINEERING The research performed in this group represents applications of electrochemical engineering to systems of practical importance. In recent work, electrokinetic phenomena were exploited to enhance continuous separation of water from dilute suspensions of clay associated with phosphate mining operations. The technology developed in this project is intended to greatly reduce the environmental impact of mining operations.…
In my group, we leverage our expertise in optimization and multhyphysics simulations to formulate mathematical models enabling the identification of new, sustainable, and innovative processes, and materials. We are motivated by the grand-challenges in sustainability: (1) the need to develop carbon-neutral processes to produce energy and chemicals, (2) the need to minimize waste generation, and (3) the urgency to find mitigation strategies to alleviate the damage already done.…
MY GROUP STUDIES THE BEHAVIOR AND BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS OF MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES. We combine expertise in synthesis and surface modification of magnetic nanoparticles, physical, chemical, and magnetic characterization, and modelling to understand the colloidal behavior of magnetic nanoparticles, their interaction with biological entities, and to advance their biomedical applications. We are actively investigating novel methods of synthesizing nanoparticles with tailored magnetic properties, evaluating nanoparticle stability and mobility in biological environments, and advancing applications of magnetic nanoparticles in cancer therapy and magnetic particle imaging.…
WE STUDY POLYMERS, PROTEINS, AND THEIR HYBRIDS TO DESIGN THE NEXT GENERATION OF SOFT MATERIALS using molecular dynamics simulations, high throughout computations, and enhanced sampling methods. To sustain materials discovery in the future given the limited resources at our disposal, predictive engineering techniques must be employed to allow for efficient design and optimization of materials.…
MY RESEARCH PROGRAM FOCUSES ON DEVELOPING FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING OF TRANSPORT of molecules and ions in membranes, sorbents, catalysts and related materials on a broad range of microscopic length scales between around 100 nm and tens of microns. Such materials usually exhibit complex and, in some cases, even hierarchical structure that results in different transport properties on different microscopic length scales.…
NEARLY ALL NANOMATERIAL APPLICATIONS REQUIRE an interface with other materials, including, for example, polymers in composites, electrodes in devices, pharmaceuticals in drug delivery, body fluids and cells in bioimaging and biosensors, or analytes in chemical sensors. Our group focuses on developing a fundamental understanding of interfaces in nanoscale systems, which can have far-reaching implications to various fields of nanotechnology.…