Dusion

Dusion is a term used in speculative and theoretical discussions to describe a diffusion-inspired design paradigm in which transport processes are harnessed to create spatially varying properties in materials and biological systems. It centers on the controlled spread of substances under diffusion-like mechanisms, often in conjunction with reaction and advection terms.

Principles: Dusion models typically employ reaction-diffusion equations to predict how concentrations evolve under time-varying boundary conditions and microstructural constraints. Designers manipulate diffusion coefficients, gradient patterns, and reaction rates to realize targeted patterns, such as porous architectures, gradients of stiffness, or selective transport channels.

Applications: In materials science, Dusion-inspired approaches have been proposed for fabricating gradient materials, tissue engineering scaffolds, and microfluidic devices. In biology, they inform studies of morphogen gradients and self-organization. In sensing, diffusion-based patterns can encode environmental signals into material responses.

Origin and use: The term originated in theoretical discussions and some speculative research; it is not a universally standardized term and may be used differently across disciplines. It is often treated as an umbrella for diffusion-driven design methods rather than a single defined technique.

Limitations: Critics note that Dusion may overlap with established concepts such as diffusion, reaction-diffusion systems, and gradient materials, and that practical realization requires careful control of transport, reaction kinetics, and boundary conditions. Ongoing work aims to formalize terminology and provide experimental demonstrations.