Projects
Investigation of hydrogels and cryogele with single molecule spectroscopy: new synthesis methods for in-situ characterization at the molecular level. Ghent University
In this interuniversity and multidisciplinary project, the synthetic expertise of the UGent group (Du Prez) will
be combined with the single molecule spectroscopy (SMS) expertise of the KULeuven group (Hofkens) for the
set-up of a fundamental project in which on one hand hydrogels and cryogels with comparable compositions
will be prepared by respectively free radical, controlled radical and click chemistry methodologies and on ...
Development of a predictive model for hydrogel formation via a combination of synthesis and computational chemistry KU Leuven
Hydrogels are important materials with applications among others in tissue engineering. The goal of this project is to optimize a class of urea based hydrogelators previously developed in the host group via a combination of organic synthesis and computational analysis. Using organic synthetic methods, a diverse set of analogues of the urea based gelators will be produced. These compounds will serve as the structuring elements to form ...
Controlled spatial patterning of ligand presentation within hydrogels. KU Leuven
State of the art
Natively, cells reside in a complex microenvironment, called the extracellular matrix (ECM), where they receive numerous signals (chemical, mechanical, biological) that allow them to maintain proper function; however, cells can be damaged and these interactions disrupted as a result of injury or disease. To address this problem, tissue engineering is developing as an emerging field with the ambitious aim to ...
Green Synthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide from alternative sources Using innovative Photocatalysts. University of Antwerp
Plasma-based green hydrogen synthesis from hydrocarbons Ghent University
Plasma-based H2 synthesis from hydrocarbons could be a complementary approach to water electrolysis, because it also uses renewable electricity and has no CO2 emission, and in addition, it can valorize CH4 and plastic waste, generate high value C-materials as side-product, and is thermodynamically more favourable. However, before exploiting this application, it is crucial to gain a better fundamental understanding of the plasma processes. ...
Electrochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from water and oxygen KU Leuven
The presence of organic contaminants in wastewater poses considerable risks to the health of both humans and ecosystems. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an important chemical commodity that has been widely used as an environmentally benign oxidant and a potential energy carrier in various applications, including wastewater treatment, disinfection, chemical synthesis, paper/pulp bleaching, semi-conductor cleaning, and fuel cells. My work is arm to ...