Name of Research Group:Soft Matter Physics Lab (SMPL)

Description of Research Group:Our research interests are the classical topics in the soft matter physics, including the wetting phenomena, the passive and active Brownian motion in confined space and the self-assembly away from equilibrium state.

Colloidal particles in the Hele-Shaw cell exhibit distinct dynamics due to the confinement. The interaction among the particles make the problem much complicated. The microscopic collision process between particles and the thinning fluid layer surrounded is intriguing in the confined 2D system. By using the thermal controlling, magnetic (electric) filed we play the games on the Brownian motion of the passive particles and active stochastic microswimmers.

Recently, we are employing the bacteria, E. Coli, to illustrate the hydrodynamic behavior in the microfluidic channels, and the run-tumble active random motion. We quantitatively measure the bacteria orientation responding to the surrounding fluid flow, especially when the mean velocity of the fluid is comparable with the swimming velocity of the bacteria. We are extremely attracted to the collective motion, active rheology of the bacteria in the limited slow Poisseuille flow in the microfluidic channels.

Meanwile, drying suspension on diverse substrates with varying conditions is another topic we are still working on. Wetting control by nanostructured semiconductor materials is dedicated to the drying pattern from the colloidal suspension. Pressure (high pressure/vacuum) and temperature (heating and frozen) are used to control the drying dynamics of drops with the complex fluid.

Team members Introduction:

课题：细菌在肌动蛋白丝悬浊液中的运动

肌动蛋白丝是维持细胞力学稳定性、形状、迁移等过程与特性的关键活性物质，作为一类具有柔性的丝状体，在溶液中交联形成一类特殊的“活性凝胶”（Active physical gel）。自驱动粒子，如细菌，在这类“物理凝胶”中的运动可作为模型系统，用于揭示细菌等活性自驱动粒子在粘弹性介质中的运动动力学。