Öffentliche Seminare

Gastgeber: Robinson Cortes Huerto Ort: Digital see link

Taming complex fluids with thermal fields

External fields, thermal and electromagnetic, induce a range of non-equilibrium effects in complex fluids consisting of nanoparticle suspensions (Soret, Seebeck, Peltier effects), which can be exploited in energy conversion (thermoelectrics), analytical devices for detection of biomolecules, or nanoparticle transport and assembly. The combination of Non-Equilibrium multiscale simulations and theory has paved the way to explain the physical behaviour of complex fluids under external fields, showing that their response is much richer than previously predicted. I will discuss how simulation techniques can be used to obtain thermophysical properties relevant in energy conversion problems and to uncover novel non-equilibrium effects in complex fluids, associated to the coupling of internal degrees of freedom of molecules and colloids with thermal fields. [mehr]

Understanding the friction of atomically thin layered materials

Friction is a ubiquitous phenomenon that greatly affects our everyday lives and is responsible for large amounts of energy loss in industrialised societies. Layered materials such as graphene have interesting frictional properties and are often used as (additives to) lubricants to reduce friction and protect against wear. Experimental Atomic Force Microscopy studies and detailed simulations have shown a number of intriguing effects such as friction strengthening and dependence of friction on the number of layers covering a surface. Here, we propose a simple, fundamental, model for friction on thin sheets. We use our model to explain a variety of seemingly contradictory experimental as well as numerical results. This model can serve as a basis for understanding friction on thin sheets, and opens up new possibilities for ultimately controlling their friction and wear protection. [mehr]
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