Thermal signature of air bubble entrapment during droplet impact on a smooth heated surface 
impact on heated bi-phobic surfaces 
thermal signature of a water droplet impacting a hot surface 
metallic melt pool during additive manufacturing 
Ice particle dynamics and melting after impacting a heated bath 
water droplet impact on superhydrophobic, elastic substrate 
“tulip” splashing of a water droplet impacting on a vibrating superhydrophobic surface 
image of the same area during dropwise condensation on a lubricant-infused surface using a) interferometry and b) brightfield microscope objectives 
Microdroplet self-propulsion on LIS 
Optical image of dropwise condensation on lubricant-infused surfaces 
Environmental SEM image of dropwise condensation on a nanoparticle coating 
oil (blue) and water (red) droplets on omniphobic nanoparticle coated surface 
water droplets on “NeverWet” surface 
water (back) and IPA (front) droplets on steel micro-mushroom surface 
SEM of micro-mushroom fabricated with mEDM for metallic oleophobic surfaces 
3D height image of a NeverWet surface for macroscale roughness characterization
Welcome!
In this research group, our focus lies on understanding the interplay of fluid dynamics and heat transfer of droplets and other multi-phase systems. Practical applications of interest are additive manufacturing, phase change heat transfer for thermal management and thermal storage, and droplet interactions with biological systems. To fundamentally study these thermal-fluidic interactions, we combine multiple experimental techniques, such as high-speed optical and infrared (IR) imaging, interferometry, confocal fluorescence microscopy, and conventional heat transfer measurements.
Current projects include the characterization of melt pool dynamics during metallic 3D printing, dropwise condensation heat transfer on lubricant-infused surfaces (LIS), droplet impact and heat transfer dynamics on various engineered surfaces, and the development of a thermal heat switch. For more information on projects, please see here.
Hooding Ceremony
Dr. Junhui Li defends PhD thesis
Dr. Jianxing Sun defends PhD thesis
Patty receives funding from NSF
3 STUDENTS RECEIVE NSF GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
