Fizzics & Colloids
Fizzics (the science of drops, bubbles, jets, foams, emulsions, soap bubbles)Dynamic Adsorption. Tensiometry. Interfacial Fluid Dynamics. Micellization
Foam Film Hydrodynamics & Thermodynamics. Intermolecular and Surface Forces.
Ph. D. Students: Yiran Zhang (Ph.D. 2016) developed the IDIOM (interferometry digital imaging optical microscopy) protocols and carried out exquisite experimental and theoretical studies on the hydrodynamics of stratifying, micellar SDS foam films. Subinur Ilshat Kemal (Formerly Subinuer Yilixiati, Ph.D. 2018) discovered spinodal stratification and stratification in bile salt foam films. Chrystian Ochoa (Ph. D. 2021) explored the connection between intermicellar distance and stepsize during stratification, and contrasted stratification in SDS and sodium naphthenate foam films. Chenxian Xu ( Ph.D. 2023) discovered stratification in polymer-surfactant mixtures and characterized mesa shape experimentally and theoretically. Current students Lena Hassan and Yash Vidyasagar are exploring protein and food foams, and Nadia Nikolova and Andrew Rasmussen are exploring rheology and dispensing of food and cosmetic emulsions.
UG co-authors include Collin Pearsall, Ewelina Wojcik, Rabees Rafiq, Patrycja Kotwis, and Thomas Mazur, (in prep or under review: Karim Al Zahabi & Monse Reynoso)
INTERMOLECULAR & SURFACE FORCES AND FOAM FIZZICS
Foam films, Stratification, Supramolecular Oscillatory Structural Forces, Colloidal and Interfacial Science
Lifetime, drainage and stability of stratifying micellar freestanding films, including the analysis of thin film equation by including the contribution of disjoining pressure contributed by intermolecular and surface forces.
Hydrodynamics and thermodynamics of thin films of soft matter: interfacial and nonlinear flows.
Discovery and analysis of thickness-dependent phase transitions including nanoridge-to-mesa transition and spinodal stratification, scuplted by supramolecular oscillatory structure force contribution to disjoining pressure.
IDIOM (INTEROMETRY DIGITAL IMAGING OPTICAL MICROSCOPY)
Visualization and analysis of anoscopic thickness variations and transitions in freestanding films
Measurement of thickness down to 1 nm in freestanding films, made possible by coverting the pixel-wise intensity obtained using digital imaging into thickness using interferometry equations.
Shape and shape evolution of nanoscopic ridges, mesas, hills and valleys: interplay of capillary and disjoining pressure.
Analogies and contrast to nanoscopic morphological features that appear as a result of dewetting of supported polymer films. Role of supramolecular structural force, line tension, and concentration-dependent changes in interfacial and bulk properties.
INTERFACIAL ADSORPTION & SURFACTANT SCIENCE
Adsorption Kinetics, Dynamic Surface Tension, Tensiometry
Measurement of dynamic surface tension and adsorption kinetics using Maximum Bubble Pressure Tensiometry or Pendant Drop Tensiometry.
Foamability, Defoaming, Firefighting Foam, Reactor Foam, Lather, Froth, Suds.
SURFACTANT SCIENCE, SELF-ASSEMBLY & COMPLEXATION
Micellization and Micelle Shape and Size, Polymer-Surfactant Complexes.
Influence of surfactant type and concentration on the shape and size of association complexes formed.
Bile Salts. Sodium Naphthenate. Soaps and Detergents.
