Surface/Fluid Interactions in Micro and Nano-Channels

摘要

This research project investigates the dynamics of surface/fluid interactions that occur in micro- and nano-channels. For example, micron- resolution particle image velocimetry (micro-PIV) results suggest that a hydrophilic fluid flowing over a solid hydrophobic surface in micro- and nano- channels can create slip flow whereby the no-slip boundary condition may not be valid. The slip flow may be a result of a low-viscosity nanoscale gaseous layer forming between the fluid and the microchannel surface. The microscale allows for free-surfaces to be controlled by surface tension. The free-surface fluidic architecture can be combined with Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) to allow the real-time profiling of atmospheric species and detection of airborne agents. The system has been used to detect 4-aminobenzenethiol, a chemical species similar in size and structure to trinitrotoluene (TNT).