Interfaces, by definition, occur due to heterogeneity in physical systems, and thus result in unique properties and interactions. For instance, liquid-fluid interfaces tend to minimize interfacial area due to surface tension; liquid-fluid-solid interfaces give rise to wetting phenomena; and an electrical double layer forms when an electrolyte comes in contact with a charged surface. By invoking concepts from colloidal and multiphase fluid physics, Laboratory of Interface, Flow and Electrokinetics (LIFE) investigates the systems dominated by interfacial phenomena using both experimental and computational approaches.
Specifically, LIFE focuses on (i) electrokinetics for energy and the environment, (ii) flow in porous media, and (iii) advanced nanoemulsions. The overarching goal of LIFE is to uncover the full potential of interfacial science to address societally relevant problems of energy storage, soil remediation, oil recovery, and rational formulation of pharmaceutical and food products.
