Active Colloids for Technology InnoVation & Engineering

Our research group develops the fundamental science and engineering principles of active colloids by controlling particle dynamics and understanding the interplay among interactions, structure, and function. Just as LEGO blocks can be assembled into diverse machines and architectures, active colloids serve as dynamic building blocks for micro-LEGO engineering. Our vision—Active Colloids for Technology InnoVation & Engineering—connects microscale dynamics to macroscale systems, functional materials to device integration, and theoretical understanding to innovative applications, offering new approaches to industrial challenges that are difficult to address with conventional technologies.

A central focus of our research is active colloids for transport phenomena, encompassing mass transfer, heat and charge transfer, and fluid flow. By tailoring particle motion, collective behavior, and dynamically assembled structures, we investigate how interactions at the microscale govern transport at larger scales. We apply this understanding to direct the transport of matter, charge, phonon, and energy, developing functional materials and integrated devices for mixing, separation, thermal management, and electrochemical processes. Through these efforts, we aim to translate the dynamic capabilities of active colloids into practical engineering solutions.