interfacial Science and Surface Engineering Lab
iSSELab
KRÜSS Surface Science Hub
Droplet Dynamics
Droplet dynamics relates to the study of the behaviour of droplets, especially during the time in which the droplet is being manipulated by an external force.
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Microchannel Flow
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Microfluidics is the science and technology of systems that process or manipulate small (10 -9 to 10 -18 liters) amounts of fluids using channels with dimensions of tens to hundreds of micrometres. With this range of small dimensions, surface forces, inertial forces, and viscous forces are dominate over gravitational forces. It has numerous applications in biomedical research, food and chemical industries to achieve high-throughput separation of purified plasma or purification of drinking water from water-borne pathogens.
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Heat Transfer
Relating to our studies, this category is the collection of how droplets effect the transfer of heat in a system. This includes the evaporative cooling of an object as the liquid changes states into a gas, as well as the use of the liquids themselves to carry heat from one location to another as the bulk liquid flows (utilising the thermal capacity of the liquid).
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The preparation of surfaces with different types of wettability profiles for varying applications. A frequent approach is growth of nano- and micro-structures on metal surfaces through chemical etching, which is then followed by surface modification with low surface energy materials to endow the surfaces with water repellency. Besides the wet chemical method, solvent-less methods have been developed to create contrasting patterns of wettability on a substrate. Surfaces with wettability contrast can be used for fog harvesting and guided fluid transport.
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Surface Functionalization
Electrohydrodynamics
​Electrohydrodynamics (EHD) is related with the study of the dynamic response of fluids that are under the application of electric fields. It has already been proven that a sessile drop on a dielectric will spread when a potential difference is applied, and this phenomenon is usually referred as Electrowetting. Electrowetting is described by the Young-Lippmann’s equation, which predicts the change in the contact angle of the drop as a function of the applied voltage. The better understanding of the transient dynamic of Electrowetting can allow to improve the performance of devices based on this phenomenon as liquid lenses, labs on a chip, and electronic paper.
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Magnetohydrodynamics
Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) is the field of science which involves the study of the interaction between a magnetic field and electrically conducting fluids. We are focusing on the effect of the magnetic field on the spreading, impact, freezing and coalescing of droplets. There is a significant influence of magnetic field on the impact of a ferrofluid droplet. The maximum spreading diameter of a droplet, upon impact, can be manipulated by the magnetic field. By applying the magnetic field, the parameter related to solidification or freezing of a droplet can
be also be varied. The knowledge of MHD can be utilised in 3D metal printing, manufacturing, anti-cancer drug delivery.
​
Droplet Dynamics
Droplet dynamics relates to the study of the behaviour of droplets, especially during the time in which the droplet is being manipulated by an external force.
​
Microchannel Flow
.jpg)
Microfluidics is the science and technology of systems that process or manipulate small (10 -9 to 10 -18 liters) amounts of fluids using channels with dimensions of tens to hundreds of micrometres. With this range of small dimensions, surface forces, inertial forces, and viscous forces are dominate over gravitational forces. It has numerous applications in biomedical research, food and chemical industries to achieve high-throughput separation of purified plasma or purification of drinking water from water-borne pathogens.
​
Heat Transfer
Relating to our studies, this category is the collection of how droplets effect the transfer of heat in a system. This includes the evaporative cooling of an object as the liquid changes states into a gas, as well as the use of the liquids themselves to carry heat from one location to another as the bulk liquid flows (utilising the thermal capacity of the liquid).
​
Surface Functionalization
The preparation of surfaces with different types of wettability profiles for varying applications. A frequent approach is growth of nano- and micro-structures on metal surfaces through chemical etching, which is then followed by surface modification with low surface energy materials to endow the surfaces with water repellency. Besides the wet chemical method, solvent-less methods have been developed to create contrasting patterns of wettability on a substrate. Surfaces with wettability contrast can be used for fog harvesting and guided fluid transport.
​
Electrohydrodynamics
​Electrohydrodynamics (EHD) is related with the study of the dynamic response of fluids that are under the application of electric fields. It has already been proven that a sessile drop on a dielectric will spread when a potential difference is applied, and this phenomenon is usually referred as Electrowetting. Electrowetting is described by the Young-Lippmann’s equation, which predicts the change in the contact angle of the drop as a function of the applied voltage. The better understanding of the transient dynamic of Electrowetting can allow to improve the performance of devices based on this phenomenon as liquid lenses, labs on a chip, and electronic paper.
​
Magnetohydrodynamics
Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) is the field of science which involves the study of the interaction between a magnetic field and electrically conducting fluids. We are focusing on the effect of the magnetic field on the spreading, impact, freezing and coalescing of droplets. There is a significant influence of magnetic field on the impact of a ferrofluid droplet. The maximum spreading diameter of a droplet, upon impact, can be manipulated by the magnetic field. By applying the magnetic field, the parameter related to solidification or freezing of a droplet can
be also be varied. The knowledge of MHD can be utilised in 3D metal printing, manufacturing, anti-cancer drug delivery.
​