Flow in porous media:
We develop microfluidic systems to investigate the fundamentals of two-phase flow in porous media. These three-dimensional (3D) model systems allow us to fully visualize the multiphase flow, in 3D, at pore-scale resolution, using confocal microscopy. Moreover, we instrument these systems to simultaneously image the flow and probe their bulk transport properties. We also develop new materials that control the flow in the porous material. This work is motivated by the need to direct fluids for improved resource recovery.
Fabrication of responsive microcapsules: Capsules, which respond to stimuli including contact with aromatic compounds and pH, have been fabricated. These capsules have a huge variety of possible applications in a wide range of fields. Alireza Abbaspourrad 
Double emulsions with two different inner drops: We have developed an emulsification technique that encapsulates two different inner drops inside an oil drop using glass capillary devices with a dual bore injection tube. These devices have been tested with several materials (dye-containing water, tetraethylorthosilicate, ammonia hydroxide, complex mixtures of triglycerides) and have the potential for general applicability. Laura Adams 
Janus emulsions: Stable non-spherical double emulsions with ultra-thin shells and with different components can be produced in large quantities using microfluidics. Having a non-spherical shape means these double emulsions can travel in fluid streams differently than their spherical counterparts, release their cargo and pack together differently. The ability to compartmentalize different fluids in the same container also makes these useful for a wide variety of applications. We can exquisitely control the size and number of compartments. Laura Adams 
Topological emulsions: Characteristics of topology can be generated inside drops with at least two different sizes of inner drops using multi-bore capillary microfluidic devices. These topological double emulsions are a result of confinement between smaller drops and a larger central drop that are contained in an immiscible fluid. Laura Adams 
Capsules as Timestamp Sensors: I am developing smart sensors to exhibit an irreversible and detectable state change when exposed to oil reservoir conditions. An important requirement for all such irreversible state change smart sensors is some form of clocking mechanism that will provide a measure of exactly when the smart sensor has been triggered. This will enable identification of the exact location within the reservoir at which the stimulus occurred. Our strategy is to detect the timing of sensing events by developing packaging that undergoes a physicochemical change at a preset time, thereby providing timestamp information. By incorporating a range of preset response timestamps, we will reconstruct the time and environment behavior of the sensing package and hence of the reservoir itself. Nick Carroll
Fluid flow in porous media: Understanding the physics of how fluids move through porous materials is quite an important problem: for example, a common way of trying to recover oil trapped in sedimentary rock is to pump another fluid through to push the oil out. I am studying the basic physics associated with this process. Sujit Datta
Capillary shaping of nanotubes: We investigate capillary interactions between filamentary nanomaterials to form complex nanostructures. This technology enables cost effective, high-throughput fabrication of complex carbon nanotube structures. This approach offers the ability to form complex carbon nanostructures, hereby extending the current limits of nanofabrication. Michael De Volder
Nanoparticle-stabilized microbubbles: We use glass capillary microfluidics to make nanoparticle-stabilized microbubbles that are useful as contrast agents for seismic imaging of oil reservoirs; moreover, they must be stable at hydrostatic pressures. Wynter Duncanson
Porous microcapsules: Microcapsules, whose membranes are regularly perforated, show selective permeability of encapsulated materials depending on their size, which is a useful property for delivery of drugs, cosmetics, and nutrients and immune-isolation of living cells. We have fabricated well-defined pores which connect internal and continuous spaces of microcapsules by combining a novel microfluidic technology to produce double-emulsion drops with an ultra-thin shell and controlled anchoring of colloids at fluid-fluid interface. Shin Hyun Kim 
Clogging in microfluidic devices: Nearly every application involving fluid relies heavily upon filtration, yet the function of filter design is not well understood. Using soft lithography, we construct microfluidic devices that replicate filter features such as their pore size distribution and we test these devices by clogging them with micro particles and cells. Sorell Massenburg