Our research has an experimental emphasis with a focus on soft matter and sensing technology. We characterize the flow physics of complex fluids, often in confined environments, as well as soft solids. We develop new sensing concepts with applications to the environmental and the medical field. Other work includes microoptical devices and the development of functional material and fabrication processes for sensors and actuators.
Flow-Induced Tissue Compaction
Strain profiles throughout a porcine skin sample due to water flowing top down for driving pressures from 16 mbar (black) to 270 mbar (teal) shown 0.4 s (x) until 5 minutes (o) after pressure increase. Editor’s Pick in Physics of Fluids, 35(8), 081902, 2023.
A Smart Impact
A novel methodology for controlling the spreading of droplets impacting a substrate is presented. It is shown that the maximum diameter of a droplet at equilibrium can be controlled through the substrate temperature. Our latest results can be found at Soft Matter, 2014,10, 808-812.
Fabrication of Microneedles
Many vaccines are currently administered via intradermal or intramuscular injections; however, immune responses to vaccines can be greatly improved by their administration into the skin without inducing potential toxic effects.
Evaporation-Driven Low Reynolds Number Flows
Evaporation of a polymer solution is widely used in many industrial processes such as solvent-casting, microneedle fabrication, ink-jet printing, adhesive bonding and also painting and coating purposes.
Evaporation of Sessile Droplets
The evaporation of droplets with complex shapes, including line droplets has several applications in printing and painting industries.