Name Responsible Activity "Condensed Matter Theory" "Milorad Milosevic" "Theoretical study of materials (semiconductors and superconductors) of micrometer and nanometer size. The electical, magnetic and optical properties of such nanostructures are studied using theoretical modelling and computer simulations. This is the so-called area of mesoscopic physics and nanophysics. New hybrid systems consisting of combinations of semiconductors and ferromagnets or superconductors are investigated. The goal is the increase of the functionality of semiconductor structures. An important aspect of the research is the interaction with experiment. An active collaboration exists with several experimental and theoretical groups over the world." "Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)" Bals "Within EMAT materials science research is performed on the following topics: - Interpretation of electron microscopy data, including EELS data - Electron tomography - Ceramic bulk materials with special properties such as superconductivity, CMR, ferroelasticity, ferroelectricity, ¿ - Thin film ceramic materials with special properties. - Semiconducting materials, specifically the III-V compounds such as GaN - Metal alloys with shape memory properties; strain field determination around precipitates - Morphology and structure of nano particles - Zeolites and mesoporous materials." "General and Organic Chemistry" "The department AOSC mainly develops research in the areas of: 1. Organometallic Chemistry: Synthesis and characterisation of organotin compounds with potential anti-cancer activity. Structure determination (M. Gielen); 2. High Resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Synthesis and characterisation of organotin polymers for applications in anion recognition and catalysis through advanced structure elucidation by multinuclear and multidimensional NMR spectroscopy (R. Willem & M. Biesemans)." "High Resolution NMR Centre" "Description of the NMR laboratory The High Resolution NMR Centre is basically the NMR lab of the VUB providing all NMR spectra and NMR know how to any researcher of the VUB - or outside the institution - needing NMR for purposes of chemical substance identification and structure determination, either in scientific collaboration, or in service context. This means that, in particular, other research units of the VUB (ORGC, FYSC, FCOL, ULTR, MEMC) make use of these know-how and services on a regular basis. The NMR Centre has profiled itself since 1990 in the advanced chemical structure determination by multinuclear 1D and 2D NMR methods, including its dynamic aspects. The specific own research field of the HNMR team focuses on structural issues on organotin chemistry, addressed by advanced 1D and 2D gradient pulse assisted NMR techniques based on the 119/117Sn nucleus. For the last four years, the scientific interest of the group has evolved towards grafting organotins to soluble and insoluble polymers, aiming at developing applications in the fields of catalysis in transesterification reactions and of potentiometric anion recognition. In this context, numerous external academic joint ventures have been started and are still active with several research teams in Italy, France, Greece, Germany, and several other countries for other projects (see CV R. Willem). Likewise, this novel field of interest has generated interest for the use of NMR at the heterogeneous solid-liquid interface, specifically high resolution Magic Angle Spinning NMR and Diffusion Ordered Spectroscopy. Over the last ten years, HNMR has also been involved in research on organotin compounds with potential antitumour activity. This area of interest has led to different patents, in collaboration with Dr. Dick de Vos of the Dutch company Pharmachemie and Prof. M. Gielen (VUB - POSC). The HNMR group has acknowledged an important equipment grant from the Flemish Science Foundation (Fund for Scientific Research Flanders, FWO) at the beginning of 2002, enabling the lab to apply optimally the above NMR spectroscopic techniques. Students are welcome for Master-theses, and PhD- theses, as are also post-doc researchers for scientific stays of typically one year (financed by e. g. Fund for Scientific Research Flanders, Belgium, FWO, European Marie Curie funding, etc....). The 1D and 2D NMR measurements are performed by the permanent staff members cited above with assistance of the research PhD and Post-Doc researchers. hr-MAS NMR, as well as DOSY NMR measurements are the object of a close collaboration with Prof. Dr. José C. MARTINS, former post-doc researcher of HNMR and presently associate professor (ZAP-hoofddocent) at the University of Ghent; this collaboration also involves the team of Prof. Dr. Guy LIPPENS, with whom the first hr-MAS NMR measurements on samples of the HNMR team have been performed and further collaboration is agreed on. While it is correct to state that the core of the HNMR team is small, and actually has always been, this has not prevented the HNMR team to produce more than 150 internationally peer- reviewed publications over the last ten years, including two reviews, and to present on a regular basis the HNMR team's results at international conferences, as testified by more than 100 congress communications as posters or oral presentations, our during invited lectures. Synthesis laboratory The HNMR team has available a synthesis lab equipped with all the glassware and instrumentation necessary for both standard synthesis and handling air and moisture sensitive organometallic substances (vacuum equipment), completed by an FT-IR spectrometer of the Bruker Biospin company. Apart from the NMR equipment described below, all other organic chemistry analysis tools (GC, MS, LC,...) are available at the laboratory of the ORGC research group (Prof. Dr. Dirk TOURWÉ, Faculty of Sciences), a fine organic synthesis laboratory with which HNMR is collaborating on a regular basis. In this way, the HNMR and ORGC laboratories have a sound, complementary and integrated equipment for performing organic and organometallic synthesis. The HNMR team has had a long tradition of collaboration with Prof. Dr. Marcel GIELEN in the area of structural organotin chemistry. It is the purpose that the HNMR team continues this tradition of organotin synthesis at the VUB, and, in particular, develops further the above- mentioned novel centres of interest around interface and polymer-grafted organotin chemistry. Prof. Dr. Marcel GIELEN has an extended activity as Scientific Editor of Scientific Chemistry Journals Instruments, hardware and software - AMX 500 instrument equipped with: three channels for triple resonance experiments; gradient pulse facilities; triple 5 mm probe 1H-15N-13C with z-gradient coil; multinuclear 5 mm triple probe 1H-dual 119Sn/31P-broad band with z-gradient coil. dedicated triple high resolution Magic Angle Spinning 5 mm probe 1H-13C-119Sn with z- gradient coil; digital lock, high performant preamplifiers, fully linear 1H and X transmitters - AVANCE DRX 250 instrument, equipped with: sample changer and automation routine; triple channel and gradient facilities; solid state CP-MAS facility; Quattro 5 mm probe 1H-13C-19F-117Sn with automatic X- nucleus switch and z-gradient coil; multinuclear 5 mm triple probe 1H-117Sn-broad band (BB) from 109Ag up to 31P with z- gradient coil; BB 10 mm probe, all nuclei at resonance frequencies from 109Ag up to 31P; 1H-BB 7 mm CP-MAS probe with max. 7 KHz spinning rate from 109Ag up to 31P; 1H-BB 4 mm CP-MAS probe with max. 15 KHz spinning rate from 109Ag up to 31P; 19F-BB 4 mm CP-MAS probe with max. 15 KHz spinning rate from 109Ag up to 31P. - Network of computers consisting of two Silicon Graphics O2 R5000 computers, operating respectively the AMX500 and DRX250 spectrometers; two Silicon Graphics Octane R10000 computers for data processing and molecular modelling; one Silicon Graphics Indigo2 computer for data processing and molecular modelling; three PC's for personal routine and more advanced NMR data processing, including one for spectrometer control; straightforward access to all Internet facilities; A4/A3/A0 network accessible printer/plotters on site. - Software package including the basic WIN NMR for acquisition and processing of the data; ACCELRYS software for Life Sciences, INSIGHT 4, DISCOVER, BIOPOLYMER ANALYSIS, DECIPHER; software for NMR data processing and interpretations, FELIX ND, FELIXMODEL, FELIX ASSIGN; software for NMR based structure determination, NMRCHITECT, and a package developed in the group of Prof. K. Wüthrich, ETH Zürich, Switserland, DYANA, NOAH, MOLMOL; TRIPOS software for conformational analysis of small peptides; WIN-DAISY, PERCH, g-NMR for advanced spectrum simulations, including chemical exchange; WIN-MAS, software for solid state spectra simulations. Expertise and Research Topics The High Resolution NMR Centre has expertise and experience in following fields of interest : - advanced structural and conformational characterizations of bio-organic and organotin molecules by multinuclear 2D proton detected heteronuclear correlation techniques; - metabolite analysis in carbon-13 enriched biological extracts by 13C NMR in fundamental diabetology research; - structure characterization of organic polymers; - advanced structural NMR-characterization of organometallic compounds, especially in organotin chemistry, in various applications; -structural analysis of peptides or pseudopeptides, and other organic derivatives with pharmaceutical potential by 2D 1H homonuclear NMR techniques; -applications of organotin chemistry in material and polymer science, using organotins either as precursors to mixed organic-inorganic materials or as functionalities anchored to polymeric materials, either insoluble or soluble intended for applications as anion sensors or catalysts. - liquid and solid state NMR in material sciences. In all these areas of interest, HNMR offers know how focusing on homonuclear 2D NMR (MQF-COSY, E.COSY, TOCSY), including water suppression (e. g. WATERGATE) and gradient pulsed techniques, as well as 3D NMR; 1D and 2D, gradient pulsed, proton detected correlation NMR with heteronuclei, involving carbon-13, phosphorus-31 or low abundant spin-1/2 metal nuclei, mainly tin-119 (or -117); double heteronuclear correlation experiments (carbon13/fluorine-19; fluorine-19/tin-117; phosphorus-31/tin-119, carbon-13/tin- 117/119); all NOESY based applications, homonuclear (NOESY, ROESY, off- res-ROESY) as well as heteronuclear (HOESY); CP-MAS and MAS solid state techniques with carbon-13 and metal nuclei, e.g. silicon-29, aluminum-27, tin-117; 2D exchange spectroscopy, also with low abundant nuclei; in collaboration with Prof. Dr. J. C. Martins, availability of 3D 15N edited NOESY-HSQC and TOCSY-HSQC and their sensitivity enhanced versions, 15N J-HMQC, 13C HSQC, HNCA, HN(CO)CA, HNCO and HN(CA)CO, dedicated to structure analysis of single 15N and double 15N/13C isotopically enriched proteins; advanced theoretical and experimental investigations of 1H- 119(117)Sn J-HMQC and HMBC spectroscopy. diffusion ordered (DOSY) spectroscopy techniques. Collaborations The High Resolution NMR Centre has a well established tradition of collaborations and is open to any proposal of collaboration in any application field of high resolution NMR, with academic as well as industrial partners. It provides measuring time and scientific advise in all kind of NMR applications listed above for all research groups of the VUB needing NMR in their research activity. More information - on the R & D data bank of the VUB : http://rd-ir.vub.ac.be/ - simply by contacting the staff, in particular for access to NMR instrumentation and expertise, see addresses above. - on the web site of HNMR: http://dtwws1.vub.ac.be/hnmr/" "Institute for Materials Research" "Marlies VAN BAEL" "The Institute for Materials Research (IMO) is a research centre of Hasselt University with a vast knowledge in the field of materials science.IMO has an integrated and intensive collaboration with IMOMEC (Institute for Materials Research in MicroElectronics), the department of IMEC (Interuniversity Micro Electronics Centre, Louvain) at the university campus in Diepenbeek.While most of the more fundamental research is carried out at IMO, the largest part of applied research and projects in collaboration with industry are concentrated within IMOMEC. The joint activities of IMO-IMOMEC concentrate on wide band gap materials, organic synthesis, organic materials for electronic applications, precursors for nanomaterials, biosensors, nanophysics and electrical, physical and chemical characterisation." "Institute for Materials Research in MicroElectronics" "The joint activities of IMO/IMOMEC concentrate on wide band gap materials, organic materials for electronic applications, precursors for nanomaterials, electrical characterisation and reliability, bioelectronics and physical and chemical characterisation." "Interuniversitary Higher resolution NMR Centre" "The Interuniversitary Higher Resolution NMR Centre" "Laboratory of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry" "The main activity of the research group of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry is the study of environmentally friendly, chemical methods to the synthesis of high-tech, nanostructured inorganic materials.A water based sol-gel method is developed and optimized successfully for the preparation of ferroelectric, piezoelectric, conductive and dielectric metal oxide powders and thin films (with thicknesses from several hundreds down to a few nm), which are strategically important for future developments in nanoelectronics.  These materials have applications in for instance MOSFETs, DRAM, non-volatile memories such as flash or FERAMs, MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems), biosensors and transparant electrodes.  The aim here is to achieve high-quality properties at the lowest possible processing temperatures.  Furthermore, the research group is also developing research activities concerned with preparation, via hydrothermal routes and microemulsion methods, and application of metal oxide nanomaterials: 1) Porous nanocrystalline ZnO and TiO2 films as well as ordered one-dimensional ZnO and TiO2 nanostructures with controlled geometry, for hybrid and dye-sensitized solar cells.2) Metal oxide nanoparticles with a well defined morphology for photocatalysis, UV protection, antifouling applications, etc.3) More fundamental nanoscientific and nanotechnological challenges such as the deposition of ultrathin uniform films and substrate based ordered nanopatternsA great deal of attentation is paid to chemical synthesis aspects as well as chemical-structural characterization of starting, intermediate and finished products.  These characteristics are related to the morphological, functional (electrical, electro-optic,...) and other properties of the material systems as they should be applied, which provides the research with an interdisciplinary character. The research group of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry has at its disposal an elaborate set of analysis techniques for the characterization of intermediates and finished products.  Techniques used on a daily basis are: Thermogravimetry (TGA), possibly coupled on-line to mass- (TGA-MS) and infrared spectrometry (TGA-FTIR) to study the outgassing of samples, applied for instance to the identification of functional groups and unraveling the mechanisms in the decomposition of the precursors to the final product.  High temperature diffuse reflection (HT-DRIFT) provides complementary information on the chemical structure of the decomposing precursor, while in-situ high-temperature XRD (HT-XRD) allows the (trans)formation of crystalline oxide phases.  Other FTIR based methods, which are frequently used are transmission FTIR, (attenuated total reflectance) ATR and grazing incidence ATR for thin films.Nanoparticles are characterized by zeta-potential measurements and particle size distribution analysis using dynamic light scattering (DLS).  Techniques for crystallographic and morphologic characterization are XRD, XRR (X-ray reflectometry), AFM (atomic force microscopy), SEM (scanning electron microscopy), cryogenic and cross sectionTEM (transmission electron microscopy) which are available at the Institute for Materials Research.  Starting from 2010 a deep UV-micro Raman triple spectrometer will be taken into use for the characterization of a broad spectrum of precursors and (nano)materials.By participation into projects and networks, less conventional techniques such as EXAFS (extended x-ray absorption fine structure) and neutron diffraction are available as well.The research group is part of the Institute of Materials Research.  The research is carried out in close collaboration with IMEC (Interuniversitair Micro-elektronica Centrum), the independent research center in nano-electronics and nano-technology situated in Leuven.  Furthermore, direct involvement of industrial partners in the research is ensured in several research projects (link below).  The group is a partner in different Flemish, national and international research projects and networks." "Magnetic Resonance" "For nearly half a century now, NMR has been well appreciated as a powerful spectroscopic tool in, among others, chemistry, physics and biomedical science. Its applications are numerous and wide-ranging. The development of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), for instance, has opened new areas of NMR applications, most of them being specific to the medical world. Nowadays, a wide variety of NMR techniques are available for research purposes. One of these is field-cycling NMR relaxation spectroscopy, which enables one to measure spin-lattice relaxation times over a broad range of magnetic field strengths. The study of these relaxation times than provides details about molecular motions and spin interactions. One of the topics under study in our unit is the spin-lattice relaxation time of water nuclei in dilute aqueous suspensions of colloidal silica particles. The aim of this research is double. First of all, the water relaxation mechanisms are experimentally explored in a model system, composed of simple spherical macromolecules. And hopefully, the information thus obtained will be helpful to establish the relaxation pathways in more complex heterogeneous systems, such as protein and polymer solutions or even in biological tissues and fluids. In addition, the surface chemistry and the water interactions at an oxide- interface are probed through this study of the solvent relaxation times. The appreciation of the physical chemistry of oxide interfaces, especially in an aqueous environment, and the reactions controlled by them is a prerequisite for understanding many of the important processes of natural systems. Here we evolve in a field which has possible applications in, e.g., catalysis, soil and mineral chemistry. In parallel, other members in our group apply MRI imaging techniques in order to determine, in vivo, the structure of human bone. It is their aim to develop techniques which must be patient-friendly but are nonetheless capable of predicting bone strength with sufficient accuracy so that they can be helpful in the diagnosis of osteoporosis." "Materials Physics" "Koen VANDEWAL" "The Materials Physics (IMOMAF) research group focuses on developing innovative solutions to successfully bridge the gap between fundamental research and industrially compatible materials systems and processes. This is done in a wide range of fields, from nano and quantum physics to electronics, advanced sensing, and healthcare materials. Cooperation with industrial partners plays a crucial role in the IMOMAF 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 IMOMAF research group is affiliated with the IMEC associated laboratory ""IMOMEC"". The main activities are focused on:Wide bandgap materialsQuantum technologiesOrganic opto-electronicsNano-scaled materialsEnergy materials & interfacesHealthcare materials & sensingAnalytical & microscopical servicesThe 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 IMOMAF research group can be found on the imo-imomec website as well as on the EnergyVille website. The expertise groups within IMOMAF are:Wide Band Gap Materials (WBGM): Prof. dr. Ken Haenen and dr. Paulius Pobedinskas.WBGM group encompasses a wide range of wide band gap semiconductors topics, mostly focusing on chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond, but also other materials such as h-BN, ZnO, and AlN. For this, the group has access to seven different CVD reactors and three physical vapor deposition machines. The CVD reactors are used in order to grow n- and p-type diamond films from single crystal to polycrystalline, including low temperature (300 ⁰C) and large area (30 x 30 cm2) deposition. In addition, diamond films with novel color centers based on Eu, Ge, etc. are broadly investigated. The research topics include but are not limited to the influence of substrate orientation on growth and dopant incorporation mechanism, their thermionic emission and electronic transport properties, fabrication and characterization of diamond‑based high‑power electronics, diamond membranes, and the formation of heterostructures of BN/diamond, and diamond/AlGaN/GaN.Quantum Photonics (QPhot): Prof. dr. Milos Nesladek.The Quantum Photonics group deals with optical and photoelectric techniques for measurements of quantum degrees of freedom, and using the developed platforms in the quantum technology field. The key specialisation of the group is photo-electric spectroscopy and using the photo-electric techniques for coherent quantum state readout. The group has developed photocurrent detected magnetic resonance (PDMR) technique applied to NV electron spin state measurements and realised electrical readout of single NV qubit at room temperatures.Another focus of the group are luminescent nanoparticles specifically, fluorescent nanodiamond (FND) with NV colour centres, that have important perspective for nanoscale imaging for biology and medicine. By functionalizing the fluorescent nanodiamond with biomolecules, intracellular sensors for detection and imaging of biochemical processes, ongoing in the cellular machinery, are being developed. Organic Opto-Electronics (OOE): Prof. dr. ir. Koen Vandewal.Research activities of this interdisciplinary group aim to understand fundamental opto-electronic processes in organic and hybrid organic-inorganic semiconductors for novel opto-electronic devices. More specific scopes of the group are:The study of fundamental structure-property relations (electro-optical properties, morphology, …) of novel organic based and hybrid organic-inorganic semiconducting materials using advanced electro-optical characterization techniques, guiding the synthesis of new materials with improved performance.The preparation and characterization of next generation (printable) photonic prototype devices (solar cells, LEDs, transistors, (bio)-sensors, photo-detectors, …) based on low-cost emerging semiconducting materials. These activities benefit from collaboration with the EMAP research group.The study of fundamental photon-to-photon, photon-to-electron and electron-to-photon energy conversion mechanisms in novel material systems incorporated in novel device concepts.The studied organic and hybrid semiconductor materials include polymers, small molecules, and metal halide perovskites designed by the MATCHEM research group.Nano Structure Physics (NSP): Prof. dr. Hans-Gerd Boyen.The Nanostructure Physics group is focusing its research on fundamental topics in nanoscience and nanotechnology with a strong emphasis towards new materials and applications. The main goal of our work is to improve the current understanding of all physical and chemical properties of advanced nano-scaled materials (nanoparticles, nanowires, ultrathin films, muli-layers) including their electronic & atomic (molecular) structure, charge transport, optical and thermodynamic properties, chemical reactivity, etc. Current activities concentrate on thin film photovoltaics with special emphasis on perovskite-based solar cells thereby establishing, beside material-related bulk properties, the impact of surface and interface-related phenomena on the performance of such devices, all studied exploiting a variety of electron spectroscopic techniques.Energy Materials and Interfaces (EMINT): Prof. dr. Frank Uwe Renner.Energy materials, their functioning, operation, and their degradation are in the core of reaching a sustainable society. The EMINT group aims to gain mechanistic insight into related reactions of materials and interfaces. Research focuses on electrochemical interfaces, in particular related to active materials and electrodes of Li-Ion Batteries (LIB) or solar cells, but also on electrodeposition and wet corrosion including alloying and dealloying processes.Chemical and electrochemical reactions naturally take place on the molecular or atomic scale. High-resolution techniques are therefore ultimately important to gain deeper understanding. Next to common laboratory-based techniques and surface science approaches, also more advanced structural and spectroscopic methods such as Atom Probe Tomography (APT) or Hard X-ray Photoelectron-Spectroscopy (HAXPES) are employed. The group furthermore utilizes Synchrotron Light for example for in-situ X-ray diffraction at electrochemical interfaces.Nanobiophysics & Soft Matter Interfaces (NSI): Prof. dr. Anitha Ethirajan.The NSI group focuses on the fundamental and applied aspects of various Soft Matter interfaces with special emphasis on nanomedicine and biosensors.The research activities include development and characterization of various functional structures with interesting properties aimed towards biosensors and nanomedicine (bioimaging, drug delivery, contrast agents and theranostics). The group addresses fundamental and applied research questions employing concepts in biophysical chemistry and engineering.The group has expertise on the development of functionalized nanoparticles that are sensitive to single or multiple stimuli (exogenous such as light, temperature and endogenous triggers such as pH, enzymes, ROS, GSH etc.,). Responsive nanocarriers designed to sense the local environment offer an elegant route to sense the complex biological microenvironments and allow for detection and targeted therapy at the same time.The research interests include also the study of structure-property relations of soft matter mixtures in confined geometry in the nanoscale with emphasis on the interfaces between the blend materials (e.g. active layer of a solar cell or polymer-drug/active ingredient).The interdisciplinary group has expertise in bottom-up (self-assembly, colloidal techniques) and top-down approaches, various surface engineering routes, molecularly imprinted polymers, electronic read-out techniques for sensing, and employs state-of-the art characterization tools to address the above-mentioned fields.Within the nanomedicine research domain, the following topics are addressed:Nanoparticles/nanocapsules based therapies in the field of cancer, central nervous system, tissue engineering and regenerative medicineHybrid nanoparticles containing lipid structuresNano-bio interfaces focusing on nanoparticle-cell interactionsTheranostics agents based on nanoparticlesConjugated polymer-based nanoparticles for bioimagingContrast agents for multi imaging modalities and therapy (microbubbles)Within the biosensors research domain, the following topics are addressed:Molecularly imprinted poymers (MIP) based sensors for the detection of target molecules relevant to food, health, and environmental safetyIntracellular sensorsAnalytical & Microscopical Services (AMS): Prof. dr. Jan D'Haen and Prof. dr. Ward De CeuninckThe AMS expertise group is active in the field of analytical and microscopical analyses (including reliability aspects) upon materials systems as well as upon a wide variety of microelectronic components. The group is specialized in the development of high resolution in-situ measurement techniques. In the first place, the group acts as a supporting unit to other imo-imomec groups and also to EnergyVille. Regular activities involve analytical & electrical characterization of experimental materials systems and/or experimental sensor devices. Internal projects have a clear focus on the development of electronic interfaces to biosensors and the development of reliability equipment for solar cells and modules. Besides the internal activities, the AMS group also participates with other research partners in a wide variety of research programs on a national & international level (in e.g. the framework of EnergyVille). Together with MATCHEM the group also acts as a major service centre towards industry by putting its specific knowledge and its state-of-the-art equipment at disposal of industry. From laser optics to biomedical devices, from raw materials to solar panels or high-speed processors, the imo-imomec services can help industrial development of new processes and materials, transfer those processes to production, qualify new production tools, solve production problems, and much more."