Free-flow and porous media coupling
We investigate momentum transport and boundary-layer development at the interface between free-flow regions and porous materials using high-resolution microfluidic experiments. Our work combines Hele–Shaw micromodels, micro-PIV velocimetry, and analytical Darcy–Brinkman modeling to reveal how permeability, porosity, and interfacial geometry govern slip velocity, channeling, and transport across scales. These studies provide experimentally validated frameworks for coupled free-flow/porous-media systems relevant to microfluidics, energy systems, transpiration cooling, filtration, and transport in engineered porous structures. Recent results demonstrated permeability-dependent boundary-layer formation, experimentally validated viscosity-invariant slip length behavior, and exact analytical solutions for laminar flow near permeable interfaces.
Heat and mass transport in scalable MOF sorption systems
We investigate heat and mass transport in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for adsorption-based water harvesting and related separation technologies. Using MOF-801 as a model nanoporous material, we experimentally characterize water-vapor adsorption and thermally driven desorption in a custom flow-through sorption cell. The system enables controlled humid-air exposure and rapid regeneration through direct electrical heating, allowing us to resolve adsorption–desorption kinetics over repeated cycles. By linking equilibrium uptake, mass-transfer rates, bed geometry, airflow conditions, and regeneration time, we identify the transport limitations governing cyclic performance. These studies provide a basis for designing compact MOF-based systems capable of high-frequency operation and improved sorbent utilization.
Hierarchical MOF coatings for phase-change heat transfer
We investigate how metal–organic framework coatings can be integrated with microscale structures to enhance liquid supply, vapor removal, and phase-change heat transfer. Hierarchical HKUST-1 coatings on porous copper meshes combine molecular-scale water affinity with microscale capillary transport, producing coupled liquid–vapor transport across multiple length scales. Through high-speed visualization, wicking measurements, and pool-boiling experiments, we resolve how the porous architecture controls liquid replenishment and vapor escape near the heated surface. The resulting multiscale transport mechanisms substantially enhance boiling heat-transfer coefficients and critical heat flux, demonstrating how functional nanoporous materials can be translated into scalable thermal-management surfaces.
