for K.U.Leuven

for Chalmers University of Technology

for Delft University of Technology & Leiden University

for T.U. Dresden

K.U.Leuven

Major Nanotechnology:

• Electrodeposition of compound semiconductor nanowires
  http://www.imec.be/wwwinter/student/en/thesis/2006/topic_78.shtml

• Modeling of semiconducting nanowire based devices
  http://www.imec.be/wwwinter/student/en/thesis/2006/topic_84.shtml

• Study of the role of metal-contact interfaces in resistive switching devices for new nano-scale non-volatile memory elements
  http://www.imec.be/wwwinter/student/nl/eindwerken_unif/prom_2007/nano_01.shtml

• The all-organic tandem solar cell: the way towards increased efficiencies
  http://imecwww.imec.be/~wwwinter/student/nl/eindwerken_unif/prom_2007/nano_02.shtml

• Printing solar cells: the ultimate low-cost photovoltaic technology
  http://www.imec.be/wwwinter/student/nl/eindwerken_unif/prom_2007/nano_07.shtml

• Study of the electrochemical formation of the memory material CuTCNQ
  http://www.imec.be/wwwinter/student/nl/eindwerken_unif/prom_2007/nano_10.shtml

• First-principle modeling of III/V semiconductor effective masses
  http://imecwww.imec.be/~wwwinter/student/nl/eindwerken_unif/prom_2007/nano_60.shtml

• Electrical characterization of high-mobility gate stacks
  http://imecwww.imec.be/~wwwinter/student/nl/eindwerken_unif/prom_2007/nano_61.shtml

Major Nanoscience:

• How are holes affecting the electron motion in a quantum wire?
  http://www.imec.be/wwwinter/student/en/thesis/2006/topic_86.shtml

• Resistivity dipoles in nanostructures
  http://www.imec.be/wwwinter/student/en/thesis/2006/topic_99.shtml

• Nanogranular films composed of clusters of superconducting materials: study of structural and physical properties
  
  Section Solid State Physics and Magnetism, group Clusters en Laser Spectroscopy
  Contact: Prof. P. Lievens
  Tel: +32 16 327207

• Controlling nanostructure formation on Si (111) using surfactants
  
  Section Nuclear and Radiation Physics, group Nuclear Solid State Physics
  Contact: Prof. A. Vantomme
  Tel: +32 16 327514

• Mechanical and electromechanical properties of carbon nanotubes
  
  Section Solid State Physics and Magnetism, group Nanophysics with scanning probes
  Contact: Prof. C. Van Haesendonck
  Tel: +32 16 327501

• Ratchet effects in nanostructured superconductors
  Superconductor/Ferromagnet hybrid nanostructures
  Confinement effects in superconducting nanostructures
  
  Section Solid State Physics and Magnetism, group Nanoscale superconductivity
  and Magnetism & Pulsed Fields
  Contact: Prof. V. Moshchalkov
  Tel: +32 16 327618

• <Electron spectroscopy of defects in two dimensional semiconductor/insulator structures
  Section Semiconductor Physics, group Semiconductor Electron Spectroscopy
  Contact: Prof. A. Stesmans, Prof. V. Afanasiev
  Tel: +32 16 327179 or +32 16 327167

• Supramolecular patterning of molecules at surfaces at a controlled potential
  
  Laboratory for Photochemistry and Spectroscopy
  Contact: Prof. S. De Feyter, Prof. M. Van der Auweraer
  Tel: +32 16 327921 or +32 16 327496
  

  Surface chemistry and physics play an important role in nanoscience and nanotechnology. One of the challenges in this field is the controlled structuring of a surface e.g. by self-assembly of molecules at surfaces. Self-organization supposes on one hand that the molecule can explore unhindered the complete conformational space to form the thermodynamically most stable supramolecular structure. On the other hand the molecule substrate interactions should be strong enough to give the structures formed the necessary stability. An elegant way to influence the latter interaction strength is based on potential control. In a combined electrochemical cell - scanning tunneling microscope (EC-STM) the potential induced structuring of functional compounds will be studied.

• Theoretical study of carbon nanomaterials using quantumchemical models of electronic structure and phonons and computational packages
  
  Quantum Chemistry Group
  Contact: Prof. A. Ceulemans and L. Chibotaru (QCG), W. Magnus (IMEC)
  Tel: +32 16 327363
  • Systems: carbon nanomaterials: nanotubes, nanohorns, graphitic planes
  • Methods:
    • quantum-chemical models of electronic structure and phonons
    • computational packages, such as TRANSIESTA, for finite size systems
  • Properties: conductivity and electron phonon coupling magnetism, interaction with strong magnetic fields optical properties (excitonic phenomena).
  
  
• Design of a microfluidic lab-on-a-chip for food safety and quality analysis

  Driven by the increased awareness for food functionality, quality and safety, new technologies are required for fast and cheap analysis of food components. Biosensors have been demonstrated to provide sensitive, specific and cost-friendly tools for detection of chemical species. Multi-component multi-analysis platforms are however required to reduce analysis time and improve user-friendliness. The objective of this work is to combine biosensor technology and microfluidics to develop a lab-on-a-chip device that fulfills the above requirements for food component analysis.
  Microfluidics allows integrating sample injection, mixing, reaction and detection of the above analysis on a single device, restricting human intervention. A miniaturized flow system will be designed to simulate transport and mixing of the sample and reagents for different food components and predict the biosensor response. For optimization of the system, an existing model will be further developed for the microfluidic flow including electro-osmotic transport, binding kinetics and mass transfer of the different species involved in the analysis. The optimized lab-on-a-chip will be manufactured and validated in a practical food diagnostic application.

  Promotor: Prof. Jeroen Lammertyn
  Daily coordination: Dr. Pieter Verboven
  Department of Biosystems, Division Mechatronics, Biostatistics and Sensors (MeBioS),
  Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Heverlee
  Tel: +32 16 32 14 59
  e-mail: jeroen.lammertyn@biw.kuleuven.be

• Nanoparticles as colorimetric indicators in aptamer biosensors

Biosensors are a subgroup of chemical sensors for which the detection of a target molecule is based on a specific interaction of this target molecule with a biorecognition element (e.g., enzyme, antibody, aptamer, micro-organism or cells). A wide range of transducers is available to detect the interaction between the target and the biorecognition molecule and convert it into an electronic signal.
Biosensor technology has many applications in food quality and safety control, biodiagnostics and environmental monitoring.
In this study we will assess the potential of nanoparticles as colorimetric indicators in biomolecular detection for the development of miniaturized aptamer based biosensors. Aptamers are oligonucleotides which can be selected with high selectivity against almost any target molecule. The aptamer-target interaction will be visualized using the concept of nanoparticle aggregation through DNA hybridization: aggregated nanoparticles display a blue colour whereas separated nanoparticles appear red in colour. If time permits, the potential of aptamer-labeled quantum dots will be explored as an alternative detection method.

Promotor: Prof. Jeroen Lammertyn
Daily coordination: Ir. Steven Vermeir
Department of Biosystems, Division Mechatronics, Biostatistics and Sensors,
Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Heverlee
Tel: +32 16 32 14 59
e-mail: jeroen.lammertyn@biw.kuleuven.be

• Water transport at the nanoscale in fruit tissue

Moisture loss of fruit is a major concern. It causes direct economic loss in addition to affecting fruit quality. Among other factors, moisture loss is controlled by internal moisture transport and is determined by micro- and nano-scale structures of the tissue. Plasmodesmata are nanoscale channels that connect neighbouring cells. The plasmalemma is a nanoscale semi-permeable membrane covering the cell. The aim of this thesis is to measure, calculate the moisture transport from cells and relate this to the nanoscale structures. Transmission electron microscopy is used to measure the structure of plasmodesmata. A geometrical model of plasmodesmata is then developed. The water transport through the plasmodesmata is then calculated by a numerical model. The moisture transport through artificial cell membranes is measured. A global water transport model of a cell is then developed. All programming and modelling in performed in Matlab and Comsol.

Promotor: Bart Nicolaï
Supervisor: Pieter Verboven
Contact: Pieter.verboven@biw.kuleuven.be

• Molecular motor modelling in striated skeletal muscles

When we think of machines, we think of moving parts powered by some type of motor. Quite naturally, many of the speculative designs from molecular nanotechnology mimic our macroscale machines, with turning wheels and gears and nanoscale motors to turn them. Powered motion is appealing, because it provides a level of direct control that is not available with other methods.
Looking at cells, we find that several different approaches are used to power linear motion along a fixed track. One of the best studied examples is myosin, moving along actin filaments. Each myosin molecule performs one “powerstroke” at a time: it binds to actin, pulls on it, and then dissociates. The force generated by one myosin molecule is about 1pN. To do any real work, plenty of those molecules are working in concert. By this, myosin is found in large arrays for moving along actin filaments: each myosin molecule must perform its power stroke and then get out of the way to allow neighbouring molecules to do their jobs.
These motors are brought in larger tasks of motion at the micro- or even meter level. Examples are the contraction of our skeletal muscles. Traditionally, in biomechanics, functioning and performance of striated skeletal muscles of the human body are studied at a relatively macro level. These macro models often fail due to of a lack of insight in the underlying processes that take place at a lower level, i.e. cellular or even molecular scale.
The objective of this thesis is the study and adaptation of existing dynamic models of myosin such that those models can be used in a multiscale approach for the development of more accurate macroscopic models of striated muscles.

Promotors: Prof. Jan Anthonis and Prof. Herman Ramon
Daily supervisor: Prof. Jan Anthonis

• Early warning sensor to measure bio-signals in real time

Magnetic biosensors have recently received a lot of interest as a suitable candidate for the realization of highly sensitive biosensors. In this approach, the classical label (e.g. fluorescent) is replaced by a super-paramagnetic bead, which can be detected using e.g. magneto-resistive sensors. Apart from an increased sensitivity, magnetic biosensors also show the unique ability of manipulating these labels by applying controlled magnetic forces.
The main idea of this study is to use magnetic labels to fish the target molecules of interest out of the sample being investigated, as such enabling real-time and on-line bio-sensing for applications like for example patients in intensive care.

Promotor and daily coordination: Prof. Daniel Berckmans and Dr. Wim Laureyn (IMEC)

• Miniaturized sensor for real-time measurement of athlete’s performance

Today the heart rate and activity of athletes is measured in an on-line way to develop a real time sensor for performance. Commercial measuring systems are used so far but they are not miniaturized. The objective of this thesis is to define how existing systems can be miniaturized to have real time measurement and analysis of the data. This means that the real time analysis algorithm also should be implemented in the sensor. The result of the thesis should be a blue print on how this sensor can be developed/

Promotor and daily coordination: Prof. Daniel Berckmans and Dr X (Imec)

• Nanoparticles in zeolite synthesis

Zeolites are microporous materials finding application as catalysts and adsorbents. A new approach for making zeolites is via the targeted synthesis of precursor species in solution. These precursors are created with the help of organic template molecules. The zeolite is obtainede by self-assembly of these building units. The following experimental techniques will be used: dynamic light scattering; thermogravimetric analysis, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, solid and liquid state NMR, XRD and SAXS (small angle X-ray Scattering). High throughput approaches are used for the screening of synthesis conditions.

Supervisor : Pieter.Verlooy@biw.kuleuven.be; Tom.Caremans@biw.kuleuven.be
Promotor: Prof. Johan Martens

• Supported heteropolyacids for alkane skeletal isomerization

In order to increase the economical value of oil, the heavy fractions are transformed into more valuable iso paraffin through a hydrocraking process that usually requires high temperatures. Unfortunately, high reaction temperatures favor the formation of normal paraffins that require a second isomerization step to obtain the branched isomers. Therefore it is of great interest to develop a hydrocraking catalyst that is active at low temperatures in order to minimize the energy consumption and also increase the isomer yield.
The first part of the thesis will require learning how to use a liquid handling robot and employ it in the development of a catalyst library using as variables: catalyst support, noble metal (type and wt.%) and heteropoly acid (type and wt.%).
The catalyst library will then be screened using a test hydrocraking reaction with the help of a fully atomized system composed of a high throughput reactor equipped with 16 parallel tubes, on-line Ultra Fast GC for product analysis and a computer for data management.
The library will also be characterized through combinatorial means by XRD, N2 physisorbtion, TGA and DSC along with traditional methods such FT-IR, SEM or TEM.
Both characterization and activity data will be used to understand the catalyst behavior and help improve it by designing a new library.
The final goal of the thesis is to test the best catalyst compositions in the hydrocraking of very large molecules in both liquid and gas phase reactions and compare the results with other catalysts.

Supervisor: Bogdan.Gage@biw.kuleuven.be
Promotor: Prof. Johan Martens

Chalmers University of Technology

Chalmers University of Technology has compiled an overview of master thesis projectsat Chalmers related to micro/nanotechnology 2006. You can contact the programme coordinator of the Nanotechnology programme at Chalmers for further information.

E-mail: per.rudquist@mc2.chalmers.se

Delft University of Technology & Leiden University

The universities of Leiden and Delft in The Netherlands have compiled a research guide with the descriptions of most research-groups working in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology at Delft University of Technology and at Leiden University. It includes the website of each group so that one can easily find more information. You might want to contact one of the staff members for an appointment for a visit, or just join one of the group meetings or one of the regular tours through the groups. These tours are usually announced on the website. The staff as well as their collaborators will be happy to explain to you what they are doing and why.

You can also contact the programme coordinator of the NanoScience programme in Delft/Leiden for further questions.

E-mail: leidendelft@nanoscience.nl
Tel: +31 15 278 61 44

Research Guide MSc NanoScience 2005/2006

T.U. Dresden (Nanoscience)