EXC 3120 BlueMat - Research Topic B3: Tunable Hydraulic and Capillarity-Driven Water Flow

In conventional porous media, hydraulic permeability and capillary pressure during imbibition are determined by static geometry, water–solid interaction, and fluid viscosity. RT B3 aims to integrate mechanisms for stimulus-dependent changes in the pore size and solid- liquid interaction, resulting in tunable permeability and hydrophilicity-induced changes of local capillary forces. Combining this strategy with multiscale 3D structuring and local interface modification will enable materials that can locally and reversibly switch imbibition ability and kinetics. Challenges include the fabrication of multiscale 3D structures and precise hydrophilicity change at local levels. This RT focuses on understanding dynamic fluid–solid interactions upon reversible tuning by external stimuli in 3D multiscale porous structures. Key questions include: How can we explore the water–solid interfacial structure and measure the impact of tunable pore size and hydrophilicity on fluid transport? How can we tailor the flow and permeability rates by adjusting multiscale porosity (“Murray vascularization”) and response to stimuli? How can we fabricate structured 3D (nano)porous materials with locally and reversibly tunable permeability and hydrophilicity?