We study complex fluids, including Brownian and non-Brownian particle suspensions, emulsions, polymers (including DNA), and mixtures of the above.
Much of our research focuses on self-assembly, both to understand how nature employs it to form complex and useful structures, and to develop methods to manipulate it to make interesting new materials.
We are also interested in the dynamics of complex fluids. This includes Brownian motion, rheology (the study of viscosity and elasticity in complex fluids), and hydrodynamics.
Our approach is mostly experimental. It is also highly interdisciplinary. We synthesize exotic multifunctional colloids, employing the ever-expanding methods of colloid chemistry. We use optical methods, including light scattering, optical microscopy, and particle tracking, to probe the structure and dynamics of complex fluids. We use a variety of commercial and home-made rheometers to probe the viscoelastic and nonlinear rheological properties of complex fluids.
People working in the Pine lab include physicists, chemical engineers, chemists, and materials scientists.
This links on this page describe our research and methods.
National Science Foundation
Keck Foundation
