Mesoscale Thermo-Fluid Dynamics Group

Welcome to the Mesoscale Thermo-Fluid Dynamics Group (MTFD) directed by Prof. Carlos E. Colosqui @ the Mechanical Engineering Department of Stony Brook University (SBU). Our research involves the study of multiscale transport phenomena in multiphase systems with complex interfaces, where fluid mechanics is strongly coupled to molecular-level processes. Current research projects deal with theoretical, computational, and experimental studies of problems relevant to applications in materials science, environmental science, and sustainble energy conversion and storage. We employ analytical and computational methods that range from classical continuum models to mesoscopic approaches and molecular dynamics simulations. Our experimental work involves advanced nanofabrication and characterization of nanostructured materials, including synchrotron-based x-ray scattering studies at BNL's NSLS-II. The PI is affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, the Joint Photon Sciences Institute, and DOE-EFRC Center for Mesoscale Transport Properties at SBU. Our group has various collaborations with research groups in academic institutions in the U.S. and abroad, as well as in national laboratories, and industry partners.

Our research work is producing new models to better understand the behavior of nanoparticles, colloidal suspensions, and complex fluids at liquid-fluid/solid interfaces and thin films. Analytical models developed as part of this research can account for experimental observations in studies by our group and collaborators. Metastability induced by physical and/or chemical heterogeneities can produce regime crossovers from deterministic dynamics to thermally activated kinetics, which has dramatic effects on the time scales to reach thermodynamic equilibrium states. Among many other applications, the studied effects can be employed to control the adsorption of nanoparticles at liquid/solid interfaces and to stabilize diverse colloidal materials, such as water-in-water emulsions. This research area has opened exciting directions that we are currently exploring with collaborators in the U.S. and abroad.

Nano/Microfluidic devices can be employed for applications such as energy conversion/storage and water treatment among many others. In nano/microscale systems, Brownian motion, the nanoscale interfacial structure, and surface forces produce a variety of wetting and transport phenomena that enable exciting technical applications. Advances in nanofabrication allow us to engineer the nanoscale structure of surfaces of nano/microfluidic devices in order to control the interplay between thermal motion and interfacial forces, and thus enhance the selective transport and separation of different fluids, solutes, and colloidal materials. At user facilities in the Center for Functional Nanomaterials of Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), our group designs and fabricates slit nanochannels with superhydrophobic nanostructured surfaces having ordered arrays of conical nanopillars (~10 to 100 nm). When using electrolyte solutions these prototype micro/nanofluidic devices can convert mechanical pressure into electric current with unprecedentedly high efficiencies owing to the selective transport of different ions. In related projects we are designing nanoporous materials and capillary devices with nano/microstructured surfaces for mass and charge separation processes. This research area involves multiple collaborations with the DOE-EFRC Center for Mesoscale Trasnport Properties and The Institute of Energy: Sustainability, Environment and Equity at SBU.