Laboratory for Microscale Transport Phenomena

Attinger's group research is focused on understanding and controlling transport phenomena in microfluidic systems in the presence of interfaces. To do so, we consider the transport of particles, energy and fluids in geometries with a typical size of a few microns. Such small geometries offer an ideal playing field for micro-drops and micro-bubbles, because surfaces forces like wetting and Laplace forces win over bulk forces like gravity. For instance, the motion of bubbles in microchannels depends strongly on wetting forces. Once this complex interplay of interfacial forces is understood, we engineer surfaces and geometries to put drops and bubbles to work. The best example of a bubble at work is seen in ink-jet printing, where the explosive growth of a micro-bubble is exploited to generate micro-drops with a high precision. Applications of our research improve or radically innovate in processes such as manufacturing, bioengineering and energy transport or production.

This web presents our teaching and research activities. You are welcome to look at our publications, collaborations and people. A gallery presents some of our results.