Steven De Feyter
The team
Steven De Feyter is a chemist and professor at KU Leuven, Belgium. His interests are nanochemistry and supramolecular chemistry on surfaces. Self-assembly on surfaces is a central theme of his research, with a focus on the relation between structure and function. Recent research activities cover a broad range of topics such as two-dimensional crystal engineering (e.g. formation of nanoporous surfaces, chirality at interfaces), templating, dynamics and reactivity. These studies aim at bringing insight in the fundamental aspects of molecule-substrate interactions and molecular organisation on surfaces, as well as the formation and use of these nanostructured functional surfaces (e.g. 2D materials). The liquid-solid interface is a preferred environment to induce self-assembly. Also biomolecular systems (DNA, proteins, their complexes, etc.) are investigated, with a focus on those that are involved in disease related processes. Scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy techniques are particularly useful to probe the structural, dynamic, and electronic properties of these surface-confined molecular systems.
Yves Geerts is a chemist and professor at ULB, Belgium. His research focuses on the design, synthesis and processing of novel materials with unusual optoelectronic properties. In the past, YG has mostly worked in the field of discotic liquid crystals. More recently, he has redirected his scientific activities towards crystals. Three research lines are developed: (i) the crystal engineering of organic semiconductors to increase charge carrier mobility, (ii) the use of well-defined non-equilibrium thermodynamic conditions to control the thin film morphology and polymorphism, (iii) the substrate-induced phases of molecular crystals, in close collaboration with R. Resel.
Yves Geerts
The research program of the Feringa group is focussed on synthetic and physical organic chemistry. Inspired by Nature's principles of molecular assembly, recognition, transport, motion and catalysis, the goal is to exploit the full potential of synthetic chemistry to create new structures and functions. A major part of the research is directed towards dynamic molecular systems. The focus is on molecular nanoscience, novel responsive materials and photo-pharma exploring biohybrid systems, self-assembly, molecular switches and motors. A second part of the program deals with the development (and application in chemical biology) of novel stereoselective synthesis methods and asymmetric catalysis. Chirality is a leading theme and over the years a unique and broad expertise in fundamental aspects of stereochemistry has been acquired including chiroptical phenomena, chiral amplification and origin of chirality.
Ben Feringa
Roberto Lazzaroni is a chemist and professor at University of Mons.His research interests mostly deal with: (i) the morphological, electronic, optical, and transport properties of organic (semi)conducting materials in thin films, (ii) the chemical nature, the structure, and the electronic properties of organic/organic and organic/inorganic interfaces, and (iii) the self-assembly of functional (macro)molecules at surfaces. This is achieved through a joint theoretical/experimental approach in which multiscale modelling is combined with experimental structural, spectroscopic and scanning probe techniques.
Roberto Lazzaroni
Jérôme Cornil is a research director of the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS). His research interests mostly deal with the theoretical characterization at the atomistic level of the structural and electronic properties of organic and hybrid materials in their bulk or at interfaces in relation to electronic applications.
Jérôme Cornil
Sandra Van Aert
Sandra Van Aert is a physicist and Professor at University of Antwerp, Belgium. She pioneered the use of statistical parameter estimation theory in the field of transmission electron microscopy. This enables one to measure unknown structure parameters with high accuracy and precision from experimental images. This is nowadays recognised as the optimal method for quantitative electron microscopy and allows one to measure 2D atomic column positions with subpicometer precision, to measure compositional changes at interfaces, to count atoms in an atomic column with single atom sensitivity, to unscramble mixtures of elements, and to reconstruct 3D structures with atomic resolution. The method of atom-counting that she developed, resulted in the first 3D reconstruction of a nanosized particle with atomic resolution - a dream of many experts in the field of electron microscopy. For this work she received an outstanding paper award and several research highlights. One of her current research interests is to detect and position light elements including oxygen and hydrogen using state-of-the-art aberration corrected electron microscopy in combination with advanced statistical techniques.
Thomas Altantzis is a physicist and tenure track assistant Professor at the Faculty of Applied Engineering of the University of Antwerp, Belgium. His research focuses on the structural, morphological and compositional characterization of energy related materials, both in- and ex-situ, using advanced transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The main philosophy of his work is to apply the most relevant, high-end TEM techniques to characterize nanomaterials and also develop new approaches for specific research questions. The outcome of his research has been published in selected high impact journals and has received several research highlights.
Thomas Altantzis
Roland Resel
Roland Resel is a physicist and professor at TUGraz, Austria. Roland Reseal has contributed to the field of organic semiconductors mainly on the structural characterisation of thin films which are used in organic electronic devices. Thin films of molecular crystals, thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystals, polymers as well as of self-assembled monolayers are investigated to solve crystal structures, characterize the epitaxial order and to relate the crystallographic real structure to the thin film morphology. The goal of his current research is to identify the basic mechanisms which determine the order of the molecules at interfaces. To this end, in-house x-ray diffractometers and but also synchrotron facilities will be used for the project. Working experience is established at the synchrotrons, ESRF Grenoble, HASYLAB Hamburg, BESSY Berlin and ELETTRA Trieste.