AME - Chemical flow control using hydrophobic and hydrophilic patterning
Some functional chemical surfaces interact with flows. Some of the well-known surfaces are hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces. The former repels and the other attracts the water flows.
This project studies the correlation between the pattern of hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces to water flows. Under the same flow conditions, a 100% hydrophobic surface should have the least skin-friction, while a 100% hydrophilic surface should have the largest skin-friction. By pattering these surfaces, we will be able to control the direction of the water flow from the difference in the skin-friction.
Students who are interested in environmental flow in cold climate and/or developing the luminescent sensor should apply to this project. For further information, please contact Prof. Taka Sakaue (hsakaue@nd.edu).
We are an interdisciplinary lab combining fluid mechanics and chemistry. Students who are interested in interdisciplinary research are encouraged to apply. We have collaborations with overseas institutions, such as JAXA (Japan), SUBARU (Japan), the University of Tokyo (Japan), Sophia University (Japan), Kanagawa University (Japan), Toyota Technological Institute (Japan), Aichi Institute of Technology (Japan), National Tsing Hua University (Taiwan), German Aerospace Center (Germany), Fraunhofer (Germany), and the Arctic University of Norway (Norway). There will be a chance for you to join one of them.