Multi-scale modelling of particles and processes in complex fluids

我的研究重点是模拟粒子和复杂流体中的动态过程。我将专注于涉及微米和纳米尺度物体的系统，例如，在复杂流体（如液晶）中的软胶体或聚合物。我工作的一个重要方面是发展模型和多尺度计算机模拟技术来研究这些系统。我在未来几年的目标是发展数学模型和工具，以提高我们对粒子物理和复杂流体中相关动力学现象的理解。我将特别考察：1）液晶中的聚合物; 2）液晶中的柔性球状颗粒;以及3）这些系统和有吸引力的纳米纤维的悬浮液的流体动力学。短期目标是了解粒子和聚合物在复杂流体中的相互作用和动力学，以及导致它们自组装成有序或无序相的驱动力。这种理解的直接结果将是使用这些颗粒作为异质复杂流体环境的微流变探针所需的信息，例如发生在生物系统中。同样的信息也将使我们能够制定原则，指导微和纳米流体设备的开发，以操纵悬浮在复杂流体中的生物聚合物和碳纳米管。长期目标是利用这种理解来设计和操纵粒子和聚合物之间的相互作用，以这种方式，它们创造出具有理想特性的新型纳米结构材料，例如真正的光子带隙或其他在有机电子学中有用的电光特性。

My research focuses on modelling particles and dynamic processes in complex fluids. I will concentrate on systems involving micro- and nano-scale objects, soft colloids or polymers for instance, in a complex fluid such as a liquid crystal. An important aspect of my work is the development of models and multi-scale computer simulation techniques to study these systems.My objective over the next few years is to develop the mathematical models and tools to improve our understanding of the physics of particles and associated dynamic phenomena in complex fluids. In particular I will examine: 1) Polymers in liquid crystals; 2) Flexible spheroidal particles in a liquid crystal; and 3) Hydrodynamics of these systems and suspensions of attractive nanofibers. The short-term goal is to understand the interactions and dynamics of particles and polymers in a complex fluid and the driving forces that lead them to self-assemble into ordered or disordered phases. A direct result of this understanding will be the information necessary to use these particles as micro-rheological probes of heterogeneous complex fluid environments, such as occur in biological systems. This same information will also allow us to develop principles to guide the development of micro- and nano-fluidic devices to manipulate biopolymers and carbon nano-tubes suspended in a complex fluid. The long-term goal is to use this understanding to design and manipulate the interactions between the particles and polymers in such a way that they create novel nanostructured materials with desirable properties such as a true photonic band gap or other electro-optical properties useful in organic electronics.