Name Activity "Applied Physics and Photonics" "The Department of Applied Physics and Photonics at the VUB (TONA/TW/VUB) belongs to the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences of our University. It consists of a group of about twenty researchers -engineers and physicists- who are working together on materials, components, devices and subsystems for bringing light into communication and information processing systems.These research themes go from fundamental research to near the market demonstrator systems. The group is also responsible for a successful Photonics curriculum for students in Electrical Engineering. The group is currently involved in thirty important research projects financed by the Flemish government , the Federal Science Foundation , the EC and Industry. The main research themes are : 1. Photonics in Digital Parallel Computing Demonstrators; 2. Micro-Optics for Optical Interconnects; 3. Polarisation in Photonic switching; 4. Organic Materials for Photonics; 5. Photonics in sensing and Nuclear Environments; 6. Holography and Diffractive Optics; 7. Optical Metrology; 8. Biomedical Optics; 9. Photonics and Optics in Education." "Brussels Photonics Team" "Hugo Thienpont" "Photonics -the ""Science-and-Technology-to-Harness-Light""- is a discipline that involves fundamental research of photons, of light-matter interactions, and the development of novel technologies and applications based on the unique properties of light. Photonics leverages these unique properties to probe, sense, transmit, process, display and store information, and to accomplish a multitude of original functionalities, which cannot be achieved otherwise. Photonics Research at B-Phot , under the leadership of Prof. Hugo Thienpont, has been active in the field of micro-photonics for more than 20 years. For his excellent contribution to research, he received a Methusalem Grant for Micro-Photonics. During this time the research domain has changed dramatically. In the early days of micro-photonics a research group was already considered to be very successful when it was able to develop an individual type of micro-optical components. Today however it is indispensable to have access to an entire technology food chain comprising modelling, measurement, and rapid-prototyping of different types of 3D micro-optical components in a variety of materials, before one can even consider assembling the specialty components into practical proof-of-concept demonstrators." "Department of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery" "Topic A : Orthognatic surgery : diagnosis, etiology, treatment planning Topic B : Maxillo-facial traumatology Topic C : Laser therapy Laser in dentistry Topic D : Dental implantology Topic E : Cranio-mandibular dysfunction Topic F : Forensic dentistery" "Dept. of Applied Physics" "TOPIC A : Holography ( Stijns E.) -- TOPIC B : Theory and modelling of non-linear optical materials and structures (Veretennicoff I.) - Wave Propagation in Non-linear Optical Materials and Devices - Optical bistability and diffraction in non-linear optical elements -- TOPIC C : Semiconductor based opto-electronic components for optical switching and optical modulation in the near infra-red (Thienpont H., Van Geen R., Veretennicoff I. and Vounckx R.) - Workshop on Optical Information Technology - Non-linear optics -- TOPIC D Semiconductor based components for far-infrared tele-communication (Vounckx R.) - Components, interconnections and systems for digital optical parallel information processing -- TOPIC E : Interconnects, systems and architectures for optical computing (Thienpont H., Van Geen R., Veretennicoff I. and Vounckx R.) - Components, circuits and architecture of fast information processing - Opto-electronical information technology - Hybride components and subsystems for optical dataprocessing and photonics -- TOPIC F : Optical fiber sensors (Barel A., Thienpont H. and Veretennicoff I.) -- TOPIC G : Plasma physics (Veretennicoff I.) - Transport phenomena and kinetic fluctuations in non-equilibriumsystems -- TOPIC H : Computer assisted optical measurements (Thienpont H.)" "Electronics and Informatics" "ETRO (Electronics and Information Processing) focuses on three major topics: devices and electronic technology (LAMI) on the one hand, and on the other hand the processing of information through electronic means in fields related to digital images and video (IRIS) and speech (DSSP). 1. IRIS studies how to map image processing algorithms on appropriate architectures for efficient implementation, image and video compression, data visualisation, pattern recognition, tracking based on visual cues and various aspects of machine vision in applications like satellite image analysis, medical imaging, industrial visual inspection, anti-personnel mine detection. 2. DSSP studies the analysis, modification, and (re-)synthesis of acoustic speech signals by digital processing equipment. It deals with diverse fields, among which are digital signal processing, pattern recognition, phonetics and software/hardware development. 3. In micro-electronic technology research (LAMI), the emphasis of the research is on optical/electrical interconnect technology, new opto-electronic/electronic devices and the design of mixed analog/digital circuits. Together, the three subunits within ETRO are covering a wide range of generic technologies in the field of Information Technology, which cannot be dealt with separately when the real world applications of the 'information society' are envisaged." "Engineering Materials and Applications" "Wim DEFERME" "Engineering Materials & Applications (EMAP)The Engineering Materials & Applications (EMAP) research group focuses on developing innovative solutions to successfully bridge the gap between fundamental research and industrially compatible products and processes.  This is done in a wide range of fields, from materials physics and chemistry to electronics, electromechanics and electrochemistry. Cooperation with industrial partners plays a crucial role in the EMAP research group.The research group includes various subgroups with specific and complementary expertise, which work closely together and operate within the spearhead domains of Hasselt University's Institute for Materials Research (IMO). Moreover, the EMAP research group is affiliated with the IMEC associated laboratory ""IMOMEC"". The main activities are focused on:Sensors for advanced diagnosticsPrinting and spray coating of functional layersElectrochemical energy storage and conversion systemsLifespan and integration of PV cells and modulesModelling of the energy output of PV systemsThin-film and tandem solar cellsThe research group regularly acts as a partner in various European, Flemish, national and international research programmes and networks and has a long tradition of joint research and service provision with industry and research centres.Detailed information about the activities of the EMAP research group can be found on the imo-imomec website as well as on the EnergyVille website.The expertise groups within EMAP are:Biomedical Device Engineering (BDE): Prof. dr. ir. Ronald Thoelen.In the field of advanced diagnostics, the Biomedical Device Engineering group focuses on research into the development of 'specific' measurement platforms that can process the signals from sensors with sufficient precision and speed to translate any impedance, thermal or optical biosensor into a fully functional point-of-care system. The applied research is done in close cooperation with the industry and is applied in various fields, ranging from health (care) to food industry.Functional Materials Engineering (FME): Prof. dr. ir. Wim Deferme.Using various printing and coating techniques, such as inkjet, screen printing or ultrasonic spray coating, functional inks and coatings can be deposited on a wide range of substrates (from glass and foils to textiles and paper) in the FME group. The materials deposited can be conductive for use as interconnects, RFID antennas or electrodes for opto-electronic applications. Other inks and coatings may have the property of absorbing light and can be used for the development of organic solar cells in combination with the abovementioned conductive electrodes. Light-emitting layers are also deposited and can be used to emit light by means of an electric voltage. In addition to research on organic electronics, the focus is on printed sensors for measuring body (or wound) parameters such as temperature, moisture content and pH. Finally, research is also being conducted into stretchable electronics using liquid metals and the 3D shaping of hybrid electronics.Electrochemical Engineering (EE): Prof. dr. ir. Momo Safari.Research in the Electrochemical Engineering (EE) group is focused on the fundamental engineering aspects of electrochemical systems such as advanced batteries, electrolysers and fuel cells. The group's research philosophy is to link experiment and theory to provide in-depth understanding and development of electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems. The aim is to correlate the intrinsic material properties, formulation, processing and microstructure of the electrode and electrolyte components with performance and ageing data from the control system. Applications of this research include in-depth analysis of electrochemical performance, optimisation of electrode/electrolyte formulations, end-of-life testing/simulations and the development of physics-based models/algorithms for device control and charge/health state prediction.Energy Systems Management (ESM): Prof. Dr. ir. Michaël Daenen and Prof. dr. Ivan Gordon (a.i).The determination of the energy yield of solar panels in a wide range of applications is central here. Within EnergyVille, the team from imec and UHasselt is working on a physics-based model for predicting the energy yield. For this, the team relies on fundamental material knowledge from the other PV teams and integrates knowledge of semiconductor materials into thermo-mechanical stress in integrated applications. The simulation framework is continuously expanded with knowledge on new technologies such as bifacial solar cells, thin-film solar cells and tandem solar cells. In addition, the system is continuously extended to integrated power electronics.PhotoVoltaic Cells and Modules (PVCM): Prof. dr. ir. Michaël Daenen and dr. Loïc Tous.The PV cell and module team studies and develops state-of-the-art production techniques and solar cell technologies that will be used in the modules of the future. The focus here is on cooperation with industry with a view to integrating solar cells into applications. The team has all state-of-the-art tools for the production and analysis of the PV modules of the future.The different topics that are studied are:Reliability of interconnections and metallisationThermo-mechanical stress in modules: simulation and validationIntegration of new cell and interconnection techniquesIntegrated PV in VIPV, BIPV, IIPV and AgriPVThin Film PhotoVoltaics (TFPV): Prof. dr. Bart Vermang and dr. Tom Aernouts.Thin-film solar cells are often not yet known to the wider public. But they have special properties that offer new possibilities for the easier application of solar energy. They are lightweight and can be applied not only to glass but also to plastic films, for example. This allows them to cover curved surfaces, such as roof tiles but also car roofs. Moreover, thin-film solar cells can also be made transparent, so that they can be installed in windows.In this research group, we study different materials that can be used in such solar cells, such as chalcogenides and perovskites. We also study the different processes needed to deposit these materials on large surfaces. This ranges from printing or coating processes for liquids, to sputtering and evaporation techniques. The electrical properties are also characterised and modelled, and laser techniques are used to connect solar cells together, with minimal losses.They can also be stacked on top of each other to obtain so-called tandem structures with even higher efficiency. Here, combinations of perovskites and chalcogenides are investigated, as well as combinations with silicon solar cells.Finally, the thin film materials are examined how they can be used to make green synthetic fuels, for example to generate hydrogen or (m-)ethanol. "