Our Research
Micro and nanoscale fluid transport phenomena play a crucial role in a wide range of mechanical engineering applications, such as the cooling of electronic devices, proton exchange membrane fuel cells, and gas separation membranes. We are investigating such phenomena through both experimental and computational approaches.
Microscopic aspects of evaporation at liquid–vapor interfaces
Evaporation of water is a ubiquitous phenomenon in both nature and engineering applications. To gain microscopic insights into evaporation at a liquid–vapor interface, we are exploring a novel experimental method for measuring the nonequilibrium velocity distribution of water molecules evaporating from a liquid–vapor interface. In addition, we are developing a highly efficient numerical scheme for simulating nonequilibrium gas flows near liquid–vapor interfaces induced by evaporation.
Water and oxygen transport in the catalyst layers of proton exchange membrane fuel cells
The reduction of oxygen transport resistance is essential for realizing the high current density operation of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). We aim to clarify the transport mechanism of water and oxygen in the catalyst layers of PEMFCs using experimental and computational approaches and obtain a way of designing highly efficient materials.
Gas transport mechanism in CO2 separation membranes
Membrane-based gas separation technologies attract considerable interest because of their potential high energy efficiency. We are conducting molecular dynamics and grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations to clarify the relationship between gas separation performance and the microscopic structure of polymer membranes.
