THEMES

Our research is focused on various theoretical and experimental aspects of reaction-diffusion systems. In particular, we are interested in studying the mechanisms of pattern formation and spatio-temporal dynamics in multi-dimensional precipitation systems. We also use reaction-diffusion systems to make and control the size and morphology of novel material such as Layered Double Hydroxides (LDH), Lanthanide hydroxides, Metal Organic Frameworks (MOF), Zinc Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIF) and study their potential applications in photocatalysis and adsorption of organic and inorganic pollutants in aqueous media. We have also developed a reaction-diffusion framework to study the solid-state kinetics of polymorphic transformations of various crystalline systems and the dynamics of intercalation and de-intercalation of molecules and biomolecules in layered material.

On the theoretical front, we model the aforementioned experimental systems and develop numerical schemes (such as spectral, finite element and finite volume methods) to solve the resulting evolution equations in complex geometries. Nonlinear parabolic and hyperbolic reaction-diffusion equations coupled to nucleation and growth models, Cahn-Hilliard phase field equations, and generalized hydrodynamics are typically tackled.

MOST RECENT PUBLICATIONS

• A. Abi Mansour and M. Al-Ghoul, “Band Propagation, Scaling Laws and Phase Transition in a Precipitate System II: Computational Study”, The Journal of Physical Chemistry A 119, 9201-9209 (2015).
• M.M. Ayass, I. Lagzi and M. Al-Ghoul, “Targets, Ripples and Spirals in a Precipitation System with Anomalous Dispersion”, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 17, 19806-19814 (2015).
• N. Saad, M. Al-Mawla, E. Moubarak, M. Al-Ghoul and H. El-Rassy, “Surface-Functionalized Silica Aerogels and Alcogels for Methylene Blue Adsorption”, RSC Advances 5, 6111-6122 (2015).
• M.M. Ayass, I. Lagzi, and M. Al-Ghoul, “Three-dimensional Superdiffusive Chemical Waves in a Precipitation System”, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 16(45), 24656-24660 (2014).
• M.M. Ayass, A. Abi Mansour, and M. Al-Ghoul, “Alternating Metastable/Stable Pattern in the Mercuric Iodide Crystal Formation Outside the Ostwald Rule of Stages”, The Journal of Physical Chemistry A 118(36), 7725-7731 (2014).
• M.M. Ayass and M. Al-Ghoul, “Superdiffusive Cusp-Like Waves in the Mercuric Iodide Precipitate System and Their Transition to Regular Reaction Bands”, The Journal of Physical Chemistry A 118(22), 3857-3865 (2014).
• M.M. Ayass, M. Al-Ghoul, and I. Lagzi, “Chemical Waves in Heterogeneous Media”, The Journal of Physical Chemistry A 118, 3857-3865 (2014).
• M. Dayeh, M. Ammar, and M. Al-Ghoul, “Transition from Rings to Spots in a Precipitation Reaction–Diffusion System”, RSC Advances 4(104), 60034-60038 (2014).
• A. Abi Mansour and M. Al-Ghoul, “Vertex-based Finite Volume Simulation of Liesegang Patterns on Structureless Meshes”, Physical Review E 89(3), 033303 (2014).
• J. Rahbani and M. Al-Ghoul, “Fluorescence Study of Ionic Intercalation/De-Intercalation in the Reaction-Diffusion Mediated Polymorphic Transition of a Class of Nanolayered Material”, Defect and Diffusion Forum 235, 334-335 (2013).
• J. Rahbani, A.R. Behzad, N.M. Khashab and M. Al-Ghoul, “Characterization of Internal Structure of Hydrated Agar and Gelatin Matrices by Cryo-SEM”, Electrophoresis 34, 405 (2013).
• J. Rahbani, M. Ammar and M. Al-Ghoul, “Reaction-Diffusion Framework: The Mechanism of the Polymorphic Transition of α- to β-Cobalt Hydroxide”, Journal of Physical Chemistry 117 (8), 1685 (2013).