Exploring Frontiers of Nanofluidic Transport for Sustainability and Innovations

Unlike water flow in a garden hose, the physics of fluid motion through nanometer-sized pores is poorly understood. Moreover, machine-made pores also struggle to separate ions which have similar sizes and properties. Key challenges include understanding liquid friction on solid surfaces, mechanisms of molecular separation, and controlling ionic transport in confined geometries. Our research seeks to uncover how ions and water molecules interact with the walls of machine-made pores under extreme confinement.

In this talk, I will begin with an overview of our research activities at Newcastle University, focusing on the physics of nanofluidics, the development of biological pore-like transport mechanisms, and the fabrication of optical sensors. I will then share my research journey, highlighting my transition from electrical to molecular transport, along with my work on graphene-based membranes. Following this, I will discuss our investigations into measuring flows from nanoscale channels and nanofluidic transport in carbon nanoconduits for osmotic energy harvesting. Finally, I will conclude my presentation by discussing our research on liquid-based memory devices (in collaboration with IMEC) for next-generation data storage.

Throughout this talk, I will emphasize how our research drives innovation in water, energy, and advanced technologies, tackling critical challenges in these fields.