Colloidal Suspensions
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These hollow colloidal peanuts are like paired spheres and form ordered structures similar to those formed by free spheres, but the dynamics of such peanut crystals are strikingly different.
We study the nucleation, growth, and transport of dislocations and other defects in colloidal crystals.
We synthesize micron-sized stabilized PMMA particles.
We observe the buckling patterns induced in confined colloidal suspensions under shear.
Biological Tissues
Articular cartilage is a highly complex and inhomogeneous material. We have studied the spatially-dependent shear mechanical properties of this tissue using a novel confocal microscopy strain-mapping technique. Our primary motivation is to better understand how the elaborate structure of articular cartilage is related to its functional properties.
Novel Materials
NIMS are a new class of solvent free nanocolloidal fluids developed by the Giannelis group at Cornell. The absence of a suspending fluid for the inorganic cores (zero vapor-pressure) combined with the tunability of the cores and the canopy leads to a wide range of physical properties with potential applications as electrolytes for high temperature fuel cells, lubricants, etc. We are currently carrying out bulk rheological measurements to study the influence of external shear on NIMS.
Fluid Dynamics
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Flying insects flap their bending wings in unusual patterns through swirling fluid flows. How do wing deformability, complex flow, and intricate form of wing motion conspire to give flight? By filming free-flying fruit flies, we can begin to discern the roles of these influences in determining flight efficiency, control, and maneuverability.