MESA+ Annual report 2013

ANNUAL REPORT 2013

MESA+ AnnuAl REpoRt 2013

General

Preface..... ............................................................................................ 5About MESA+, in a nutshell ...................................................................6MESA+ Strategic Research Orientations ..........................................8Commercialization..................................................................................17The Nano-landscape .............................................................................19International Networks.........................................................................19National NanoLab facilities ................................................................21Education ...................................................................................................23Awards, honours and appointments ...............................................24

HiGHliGHts

BES Biomolecular Electronic Structure ................................ 30BIOS BIOS Lab-on-a-Chip .............................................................. 31BNT Biomolecular NanoTechnology ........................................ 32CBP Computational BioPhysics .................................................. 33CMS Computational Materials Science .................................... 34COPS Complex Photonic Systems ................................................ 35CPM Catalytic Processes and Materials ................................. 36ICE Interfaces and Correlated Electron systems............... 37IHNC Inorganic & Hybrid Nanomaterials Chemistry ...........38IM Inorganic Membranes.......................................................... 39IMS Inorganic Materials Science .............................................. 40IOMS Integrated Optical MicroSystems .....................................41LPNO Laser Physics and Nonlinear Optics ............................. 42MCS Mesoscale Chemical Systems ..........................................43MMS Multiscale Modeling and Simulation ..............................44MnF Molecular nanoFabrication ................................................ 45MSM Multi Scale Mechanics ........................................................ 46MST Membrane Science and Technology .............................. 47MTP Materials Science and Technology of Polymers ............48MaCS Mathematics of Computational Science ............................ 49NBP Nanobiophysics ..................................................................... 50NE NanoElectronics .................................................................... 51NI NanoIonics ............................................................................... 52NLCA Nanofluidics for Lab on a Chip Applications ..................53OS Optical Sciences .................................................................... 54PSP Philosophy of Science in Practice .................................. 55PCF Physics of Complex Fluids ................................................. 56PCS Photocatalytic Synthesis .................................................... 57PIN Physics of Interfaces and Nanomaterials ....................58PNS Programmable NanoSystems ........................................... 59PoF Physics of Fluids ................................................................... 60PGMF Physics of Granular Matter and Interstitial Fluids ....61QTM Quantum Transport in Matter ........................................... 62SC Semiconductor Components ............................................. 63SFI Soft matter, Fluidics and Interfaces ...............................64ST PS Science, Technology and Policy Studies ...................... 65TST Transducers Science and Technology .......................... 66

Publications

MESA+ Scientific Publications 2013 ...........................................70

about Mesa+

MESA+ Governance Structure .....................................................76Contact details .................................................................................76

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[PREFACE]

MESA+ at its bestStill the impression sometimes persists that university research is a solitary practice, a bit like in an ancient

fairy tale. How different reality is!

MESA+ attracts a lot of visitors motivated to learn more about nanotechnology and eager to see the NanoLab

cleanroom facilities. Guided around by young students, they become fascinated by both outlooks for future

mind-boggling possibilities and applications usable in the short-term. That fascination is in a way similar to

what moves researchers within the institute, exploring the world of nanotechnology, amazed at what they find, wishing to

understand and to find new ways to apply their findings in inventions applicable in daily life.

When people visit, they’re always surprised and impressed by the number and variety in collaborations. Collaborations

between research groups, in scientific projects, resulting in joint publications. Collaborations in exploring new research

themes, fading borders between disciplines. Collaborations in the lab. Collaborations with companies. This is so common

for us that it’s difficult to remain aware that it actually is quite special. The eyes of visitors alert us to this fact once again.

MESA+ team spirit is precious, and best experienced and enjoyed at events like the annual MESA+ meeting. This is not

something you can catch in a performance indicator; it goes far beyond that, something to value and build upon.

MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology provides an environment of excellent science for its researchers as well as a high level

infrastructure supported by technicians. After all, new developments often depend on advances in science. Our strategic

Research Orientations are an important instrument to directly respond to these new developments. Furthermore, they are

important in bringing the researchers together, and stimulate interactions.

Over 50 companies have had their start at the institute already. MESA+ stimulates its spin-off companies in developing

towards high-volume production. High Tech Factory provides production facilities to SMEs, and provides access to an

operational lease equipment fund. In 2013 the High Tech Factory celebrated its festive opening, giving the floor to the first

twelve resident companies.

In NanoLabNL, the Dutch facility for research and innovation in nanotechnology, we work on realizing a joint investment

programme and opening the labs to others. In 2013 NanoLabNL drafted a large investment programme, focusing on

quantum, materials and energy. Support for this plan would provide further scientific steps to be taken and will create

opportunities for new applications and new businesses.

In the near future our international collaborations, worldwide and within Europe, will become increasingly important.

Existing partnerships will have to be strengthened, new collaborations will be established. Together our Horizon will be

the grand challenges of 2020.

Ir. Miriam Luizink, Technical Commercial Director, Prof. dr. ing. Dave H.A. Blank, Scientific Director,

MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology

“MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology is one

of the largest nanotechnology research institutes in the world”

MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology is one of the largest nanotechnology research institutes in the world, delivering competitive and

successful high quality research. MESA+ is part of the University of Twente, and cooperates closely with various research groups

within the university. The institute employs 525 people of whom 300 are PhD candidates or postdocs. With its NanoLab facilities the

institute holds 1250 m2 of cleanroom space and state of the art research equipment. MESA+ has an integral turnover of approximately

50 million euros per year of which 60% is acquired in competition from external sources (National Science Foundation, European

Union, industry, etc.).

MESA+ supports and facilitates researchers and actively stimulates cooperation. MESA+ combines the disciplines of physics,

electrical engineering, chemistry and mathematics. Currently 33 research groups participate in MESA+. MESA+ introduced Strategic

Research Orientations, headed by a scientific researcher, that bridge the research topics of a number of research groups working

in common interest fields. The SROs’ research topics are an addition to the research topics of the chairs. Their task is to develop

these interdisciplinary research areas which could result in new independent chairs. Internationally attractive research is achieved

through this multidisciplinary approach. MESA+ uses a unique structure, which unites scientific disciplines, and builds fruitful

international cooperation to excel in science and education.

MESA+ has been the breeding ground for more than 50 MESA+ high-tech start-ups to date. A targeted program for cooperation

with small and medium-sized enterprises has been specially created for start-ups. MESA+ offers the use of its extensive NanoLab

facilities and cleanroom space under hospitable conditions. Start-ups and MESA+ work together intensively to promote the transfer

of knowledge. MESA+ has created a perfect habitat for start-ups in the micro and nano-industry to establish and to mature.

MESA+ is a Research School, designated by the Royal Dutch Academy of Science. All MESA+ PhD’s are member of the MESA+ School

for Nanotechnology, part of the Twente Graduate School.

About MESA+, in a nut shell

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[RESEARCH]

Mission and strategyMESA+ conducts research in the strongly multidisciplinary field of nanotechnology and nanoscience.

The mission of MESA+ is:

n to excel in its research field;

n to explore (new) research themes;

n to educate researchers and engineers in its field;

n to commercialize research results;

n to initiate and participate in fruitful (inter)national cooperation.

MESA+ has defined the following key performance indicators for achieving its mission:

n scientific papers in high ranked jounals like Science or Nature;

n 1:1 balance between university funding and externally acquired funds;

n sizable spin-off activities.

MESA+ focuses on three issues to pursue its mission:

n to create a top environment for international scientific talent;

n to create strong multidisciplinary cohesion within the institute;

n to be a national leader and international key player in nanotechnology.

Organizational structure

MESA+ is an institute of the University of Twente and falls under the responsibility of the board of the university. The scientific

advisory board assists the MESA+ management in matters concerning the research conducted at the institute and gives feedback

on the scientific results of MESA+. The governing board advises the MESA+ management in organizational matters. The scientific

director accepts responsibility for the institute and the scientific output. The managing director is responsible for commercialization,

central laboratories, finance, communications and the internal organization. The participating research groups and SRO program

directors form the MESA+ advisory board.

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[RESEARCH]

university board

advisory board:• strategic research orientations

• research Groups

scientific Director/technical commercial Director

scientific advisory board Governing board

nanolabManagement support

Dr. Pepijn W.H. Pinkse:

"Applied NanoPhotonics:

seeing tomorrow in a new light"

Applied NanoPhotonicsOptics has revolutionized fields as various as data storage and long-distance communication. Optical systems have a chance

to become even more ubiquitous in other areas, like today’s smart devices, but this step requires further miniaturization. The

example of electronics shows us that miniaturization will sooner or later hit physical limitations. In the case of optics this will be

in the nanodomain. Working with optics on this scale requires new concepts to be developed and many questions to be answered:

How can we shrink the dimensions of optical structures to, or even below, the wavelength limit? To what extend can we

nanostructure waveguides, beam splitters, antennas and resonators to make the optical equivalent of electronic integrated

circuits? How can we miniaturize lasers and increase their yield? How can one make high-sensitivity optical detectors, e.g. for

medical applications, and integrate them in low-cost labs on a chip? Can we use nanophotonics to study complex (molecular)

systems and can we tailor light to efficiently steer their behavior? Can we improve existing imaging systems or construct

entirely new ones by cleverly taking the scattering of light on nanometer sized scatterers into account? And on the more

fundamental side: Can single emitters be controlled efficiently and embedded into nanophotonic structures? How can we exploit

the quantum character of light for new functionality?

The goal of our Strategic Research Orientation is to address these questions exploiting the expertise in MESA+ groups. Building

adaptivity into nanophotonic systems is becoming a common paradigm in answering these questions. Adaptivity allows

optimizing properties or processes with clever learning algorithms. Adaptive systems can react on an external stimulus, can

compensate for fluctuations and inevitable randomness in nanophotonic structures. Adaptive Quantum Optics goes one step

further and merges adaptive control with quantum optical tools such as single-photon detectors and non-classical light sources

[1]. The example of a beam splitter made from a multiple scattering medium is illustrated in the figure on the right. We are

currently exploring other intriguing applications in, e.g., cryptography [2].

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[StRAtEgiC RESEARCH oRiEntAtionS]

Applied Nanophotonics (ANP) started in October 2009 and has become a very active Strategic Research Orientation.

ANP fosters new research and develops new expertise in a few key areas. ANP scientists meet on monthly basis in ANP

meetings to lively debate the latest nanophotonic developments. By means of these ANP group meetings, ANP colloquia

and workshops, ANP stimulates cooperation between the research groups at MESA+ that have a strong optics focus

including COPS, IOMS, LPNO, NBP, and OS. In 2013 the mathematics group MaCS joined ANP in the understanding that

mathematics is indispensable for the understanding of optics and that at the same time optics offers an ideal testbed

for new mathematical tools, in particular efficient and reliable numerical methods. The latest addition to ANP is the new

industrial focus group XUV that specializes in multilayer mirrors for extreme ultraviolet light (“XUV”). These high-tech

mirrors are true masterpieces of nanostructured optical elements delivering XUV light for the chip industry of tomorrow.

Program director: Dr. P.W.H. Pinkse, phone +31 53 489 2537, [email protected], www.utwente.nl/mesaplus/nanophotonics

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Experimental false-color images of two foci (yellow spots)

created behind an opaque screen by wavefront shaping. Two

beams illuminate the screen’s front side. The optical phase of

one of the input beams is varied, as indicated by the numbers

that indicate the offset; A value of 255 corresponds to a phase

shift of 2. The results shows the beam-splitter-like behavior of

the multiple scattering medium.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS: [1] T.J. Huisman, S.R. Huisman, A.P. Mosk, P.W.H. Pinkse, Controlling single-photon Fock-state propagation through opaque scattering

materials, Appl. Phys. B. Advanced online publication, Dec. 2013; DOI: 10.1007/s00340-013-5742-5; arXiv:1210.8388. [2] B. Škoric, A.P. Mosk, P.W.H. Pinkse, Security of

Quantum-Readout PUFs against quadrature based challenge estimation attacks, Int. J. Q. Inf. 11 (2013) 135401: 1-15.

´

Dr. Peter M. Schön:

"What makes Nanotechnology possible?

There are many important driving

forces to mention, but for sure one of the

most influential was the development

of scanning probe microscopies”

The Strategic Research Orientation (SRO) Enabling Technologies is a multidisciplinary program aiming at bundling the research

activities of MESA+ in a very important enabling area in nanotechnology, that is Scanning Probe Microscopy.

Mechanical Imaging at molecular resolution with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)

In recent years there has grown a great interest to obtain mechanical property maps in concert with the correlated topography at

nanoscale resolution at typical AFM imaging speeds. Despite the tremendous progress in AFM technology development this has

remained a notoriously difficult task to obtain quantitative mechanical maps of biological systems, like lipid bilayers or protein

membranes with high resolution. Tapping mode imaging was a pivotal development in AFM technology and became a routinely

used imaging mode to study biological specimen, allowing gentle scanning with significantly reduced lateral forces. However, it

does not provide quantitative mechanical maps because the phase signal is related to the energy dissipation of the tapping tip.

There is an ongoing effort in academic research and industrial instrumental development aiming at improved or fundamentally

new imaging modes enabling quantitative high resolution mechanical imaging by AFM.

Lysozyme is a globular enzyme with a molecular mass of 14.4 kDa. It damages bacterial cell walls by hydrolyzing (14) glucosidic

bonds in the peptidoglycan layer of bacteria. In our studies the enzyme was adsorbed from solution to a freshly cleaved mica surface

due to electrostatic interaction. Mechanical maps of lysozyme monolayers were obtained in physiological buffered environment,

both on (diluted) monolayers as well as single enzymes providing DMT modulus and deformation maps. Peak Force TappingTM AFM

was utilized to measure mechanical maps of lysozyme monolayers on mica at molecular resolution [2].

Enabling Technologies

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The hollow cantilever of an AFM (tip is not shown now)

is filled with mercury. The drop at the end is a chemical

sensor (artwork: Nolux Media).

Lysozyme molecules adsorbed to mica imaged by Peak Force Tapping TM AFM at

molecular resolution in physiological buffer. (A): height (z-scale: 5 nm); (B): deformation

(z-scale: 1.8 nm); (C): DMT modulus (z-scale: 1 GPa); scan size: 250x250 nm.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS: [1] P. Schön, J. Geerlings, N. Tas, E. Sarajlic, AFM Cantilever with in Situ Renewable Mercury Micro-

electrode, Analytical Chemistry 85 (2013) 8937-8942. [2] P. Schön, M. Gosa, G.J. Vancso, Nanoscale mechanical properties of single

biomolecules by AFM, Rev. Roum. Chim. 58(7-8) (2013) 577-583.

Microscopic fountain pen to be used as a chemical sensor

The results obtained on a novel, in situ renewable mercury microelectrode integrated into an atomic force microscopy (AFM)

cantilever have been published in Analytical Chemistry and received remarkable public media attention (incl. Volkskrant). This

is an ongoing collaboration between TST, MTP and SmartTip of the University of Twente.

Program director: Dr. Peter M. Schön, phone +31 53 489 6228, [email protected], www.utwente.nl/mesaplus/

enablingtechnologies

Nanomedicine While populations are generally ageing and life expectancy continues to increase in developed countries, healthcare is facing

new challenges. New classes of diseases related to ageing must be addressed, and tissue/organ failure is becoming more

recurrent. Subsequently, a new paradigm of “healthy ageing” has been identified as a priority by the EU. This paradigm includes

the development of policies towards more effective disease prevention as well as fundamental studies to understand biological

factors playing a key-role in disease onset. Next, novel approaches must be developed for early disease detection, personalized

treatment, and tissue repair. Finally, the healthcare system must become more competitive, and drastically reduce its overall

expenses.

Nanotechnology is to play a decisive role in this revolution in the field of medicine. Nanoparticles and nanodrugs allow targeted

and localized treatment and imaging. Nanosensors hold great promises for early disease detection and the development of point-

of-care and home therapy monitoring devices. Nanostructured materials are drawing much interest for regenerative medicine.

Finally, nanometer-sized tools are taking prominent places in the investigation of molecular processes, allowing for more insightful

understanding of what causes a disease.

The goal of the Strategic Research Orientation (SRO) Nanomedicine is to explore the potential of nanotechnology to develop

innovative strategies to solve the aforementioned issues linked to ageing of the society. To foster multidisciplinary research, the

SRO Nanomedicine further works to strengthen collaborations within MESA+, as well as with research groups at MIRA and IGS

Institutes at the University of Twente, through the organization of monthly meetings.

Microfluidic platform for the culture of mammalian pre-implantation embryos

Researchers in the BIOS group, and in close collaboration with MPI for Molecular Biomedicine and CeRA (Center for Reproductive

Medicine and Andrology) in Muenster (Germany), have developed a microfluidic platform for the pre-implantation culture of

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[StRAtEgiC RESEARCH oRiEntAtionS]Dr. ir. Séverine Le Gac:

"Nanotechnology is

to play a decisive role in

this revolution in the

field of medicine”

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mammalian embryos, in a highly controlled environment. Culture experiments performed on mouse embryos

have revealed that nanoliter-sized culture chambers are highly advantageous for the growth of individual

embryos, yielding normal morphology and normal birth rates when transferred to pseudo-pregnant mice.

These promising results have been published in RSC Adv. in 2013. The same platform is tested at the

VUMC on day 4 frozen donated embryos, showing that microfluidics can successfully support the in vitro

pre-implantation development of human embryos. In a next step, sensors will be integrated to monitor the

embryo development, assess their viability, and identify embryos with high developmental competency for

their transfer. With this integrated microfluidic platform, we aim at enhancing the success rate in assisted

reproductive technologies.

Program director: Dr. ir. Séverine Le Gac, phone +31 53 489 2722, [email protected],

www.utwente.nl/mesaplus/nanomedicine

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: T. C. Esteves, F. van Rossem, V. Nordhoff, S.Schlatt, M. Boiani,S. Le Gac, Microfluidic system supports single mouse embryo culture leading to full-term development, RSC

Adv. 3 (2013) 26451-26458.

Experimental design for testing of microdevices for the pre-implantation culture of

mouse embryos: naturally fertilized embryos are cultured as groups or individually

in nl chambers and droplets (control), and assessed in terms of pre-implantation and

full-term development, after transfer in pseudo-pregnant mice (Sketch @ Nymus 3D).

Individual mouse embryo grown in

a 30-nl chamber at 3.5 dpc (day post

coitum).

NanoMaterials for Energy The worldwide energy demand is continuously growing and it becomes clear that future energy supply can only be guaranteed

through increased use of renewable energy sources. With energy recovery through renewable sources like sun, wind, water, tides,

geothermal or biomass the global energy demand could be met many times over; currently however it is still inefficient and too

expensive in many cases to take over significant parts of the energy supply. Innovation and increases in efficiency in conjunction

with a general reduction of energy consumption are urgently needed. Nanotechnology exhibits the unique potential for decisive

technological breakthroughs in the energy sector, thus making substantial contributions to sustainable energy supply.

The goal of the Strategic Research Orientation (SRO) NanoMaterials for Energy is to exploit and expand the present expertise of the

MESA+ groups in the field of nano-related energy research. Through multidisciplinary collaboration between various research groups

new materials with novel advanced properties will be developed in which the functionality is controlled by the nanoscale structures

leading to improved energy applications. The range of new research projects for nano-applications in the energy sector comprises

gradual short and medium-term improvements for a more efficient use of conventional and renewable energy sources as well as

completely new long-term approaches for energy recovery and utilization.

Magnetoelectric coupling for low power devices

The ability to create atomically perfect, lattice-matched heterostructures of complex perovskite oxides using state-of-the-art thin

film growth techniques has generated new physical phenomena at engineered interfaces. The emergence of interesting behavior at

interfaces between materials with coupled spin and charge degrees of freedom is fascinating from a fundamental perspective as well

as for applications. In particular, the control of ferromagnetism with an electric field could lead to new applications in magnetic data

storage, spintronics, and high-frequency magnetic devices which do not require large currents and magnetic fields for operation. In

turn, such modalities of operation may pave a pathway for lower power/energy devices and smaller feature sizes.

Multiferroics, such as BiFeO3, which simultaneously exhibit multiple order parameters such as magnetism and ferroelectricity, offer an

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[StRAtEgiC RESEARCH oRiEntAtionS]Dr. ir. Mark Huijben:

Breakthroughs in energy

applications can only be

accomplished by creation

of novel materials on the

nano scale”

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exciting way of coupling phenomena by utilizing the intrinsic magnetoelectric coupling. Another pathway

to magnetoelectric control is the combination of intrinsic magnetoelectric coupling in a multiferroic

material for electrical control of antiferromagnetism, to gether with extrinsic exchange coupling between

this antiferromagnet and an adjacent ferro magnetic material. Such exchange anisotropy, or bias, describes

the phenomena associated with the exchange interactions at the interface and creates new functionalities

We have used the concept of oxide heteroepitaxy for creating such artificially engineered interfaces to

determine the critical limit of the individual multiferroic and ferromagnetic materials for generating

interfacial exchange bias coupling. Aided by in situ monitoring of the growth, high-quality, atomically

precise heterointerfaces have been produced with unit cell control of the respective multiferroic and

ferromagnet layer thicknesses. Systematic analysis of the magnetic hysteresis loops allowed us to detect

exchange bias coupling down to 5 unit cells (2.0 nm) in epitaxial BiFeO3 films.

Program director: Dr. ir. Mark Huijben, phone +31 53 489 4710, [email protected], www.utwente.nl/

mesaplus/nme

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: M. Huijben, P. Yu, L. W. Martin, H. J. A. Molegraaf, Y.-H. Chu, M. B. Holcomb, N. Balke, G. Rijnders, R. Ramesh, Ultrathin limit of exchange bias coupling at oxide multiferroic/

ferromagnetic interfaces, Advanced Materials 25 (2013) 4739-4745.

Figure: (a) Schematic of a BFO/LSMO/STO(001) heterostructure.

(b) In-plane and out-of- plane PFM images (top and bottom panel,

respectively) showing the ferroelectric domain structure.

(c) X-ray diffraction analysis of heterostructures with varying BFO

thicknesses from 2 to 50 nm.

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Impression of COMS 2013

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Nanotechnology offers chances for new business. Around knowledge institutions, stimulated by a dynamic entrepreneurial

environment, nuclei of spin-off companies arise. The number of new businesses based on nanotechnology is growing rapidly. MESA+

plays an important role nationwide, being at the start of more than 50 spin-offs. Access to state-of-the-art nanotech infrastructure,

shared facilities functioning in an open innovation model, is of crucial importance for both creation and further development of spin-off

companies. These spin-off companies are important for the national and regional economy; SMEs will become increasingly important

for employment and turnover. MESA+ intensifies and strengthens its commercialization activities to further increase the number of

patents, the number and size of spin-offs and, consequently, its national and international reputation.

High Tech FactoryMESA+ established High Tech Factory, a shared production facility for products based on micro- and nanotechnology. High Tech

Factory is designed to ensure that companies involved can concentrate on business operations and focus their energies on growth

rather than on realizing basic production infrastructure required for achieving that growth. In 2013 13 parties of which 12 companies

are located here and use the production area of cleanrooms and labs, and offices.

High Tech FundThe technical infrastructure fund High Tech Fund offers an operational lease facility for companies in micro- and nanotechnology.

Equipment is located in production facility High Tech Factory. The 9 M€ fund, supported by ministry of Economic Affairs, province of

Overijssel and region of Twente, was launched successfully in June 2010. In 2013 investments have been realized for the companies

Medimate and Medspray.

MESA+ Technology AcceleratorWith the MESA+ Technology Accelerator, organized in UT international ventures (UTIV), MESA+ invests in early stage scouting of

knowledge and expertise with a potential interest from the market. The first phase of technology and market development is organized

in so-called stealth projects. A successful stealth project is continued as a spin-off or license. Through the initiative Kennispark, the

UT is applying the UTIV model more widely at the University.

Kennispark TwenteCommercialization of nanotechnology research is one of the very strong drivers of MESA+. As illustrated in the topics above, key

aspects of the MESA+ agenda encompass business development, facility sharing, area development, and growth towards a production

facility. With these key commercialization projects MESA+ contributes strongly to the Kennispark agenda and the provincial and

regional innovation systems.

Commercialization

[CoMMERCiAlizAtion]

The Nano-landscape The Nano-landscape The Nano-landscape The Nano-landscape

The Nano-landscape The Nano-landscape

The Nano-landscape The Nano-landscape The Nano-landscape

The Nano-landscape The Nano-landscape

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International Networks International Networks International Networks International Networks

International Networks International Networks



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the nano-landscapeNetherlands Nano InitiativeThe nanotechnology research area is comprehensive and still extending. The Netherlands continually makes choices based on

existing strengths supplemented with arising opportunities, as is described in the NNI business plan ‘Towards a Sustainable Open

InnovationEcosystem’ (2009) in micro and nanotechnology. Generic themes in which the Netherlands excel are beyond Moore and

nanoelectronics, nanomaterials, bionanotechnology and instrumentation, while application lies within the areas of water, energy, food,

and health and nanomedicine. These generic and application areas are, when applicable, covered by risk analyses and technology

assessment of nanotechnology. NanoLabNL provides the infrastructure for the implementation of the NNI strategic research agenda.

Topsector High Tech Systems & MaterialsSince 2012 the Nanotechnology roadmap is hosted by the topsector HTSM, part of the innovation policy of the Dutch government.

The roadmap, which is updated each year, forms the basis for additional grants based on cash industrial investments.

NanoNextNLNanoNextNL, the 250 M€ innovation program has started in 2011. NanoNextNL, a collaboration of 120 partners, proposes to apply

micro- and nanotechnologies to strengthen both the technology base and competitiveness of the high tech and materials industry

and to apply them in support of a variety of societal needs in food, energy, healthcare, clean water and the societal risk of certain

nanotechnologies. The main economic and societal issues addressed in this initiative are:

n the societal need for risk analysis of nanotechnology;

n the need for new materials;

n ageing society and healthcare cost;

n more healthy foods;

n need for clean tech to reduce energy consumption, waste production and provide clean water;

n advanced equipment to process and manufacture products that address these issues.

NanoNextNL covers all relevant generic, application and social themes.

International Networks(Inter)national position and collaborationsMESA+ has a strong international position, several strategic collaborations and is active in international networks and platforms.

There are many and intensive collaborations between MESA+ research groups and national and international partners, resulting

in – among others – a high number of joint publications. MESA+ has strategic collaborations with: NINT (Canada), Ohio State,

Materials Science Nano Lab (US), Stanford, Geballe Lab of Advanced Materials (US), Berkeley, Nanoscience lab Ramesh group (US),

California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA (US), JNCASR (India), NIMS (Japan), University of Singapore, and the Chinese Academy

of Science CAS, and in Europe with: Cambridge, IMEC, Karlsruhe, Muenster, Aarhus and Chalmers University.

In 2013 MESA+ started a strategic collaboration with the University of Pécs, Hungary.

[tHE nAno-lAndSCAPE]

National NanoLab facilities National NanoLab facilities National NanoLab facilities National NanoLab facilities

National NanoLab facilities National NanoLab facilities



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National NanoLab facilitiesNanoLabNLNanoLabNL is listed on the ’The Netherlands’ Roadmap for Large-Scale Research Facilities’ as one of 29 large-scale research facilities

whose construction or operation is important for the robustness and innovativeness of the Dutch science system.

NanoLabNL provides access to a coherent, high-level, state-of-the-art infrastructure for nanotechnology research and innovation in

the Netherlands. The NanoLab facilities are open to researchers from universities as well as employees from companies. NanoLabNL

seeks to bring about coherence in national infrastructure, access, and tariff structure. Since its establishment in 2004 the NanoLabNL

partners invested about 110 M€ in nanotech facilities through their own funding and additional public funding.

The partners in NanoLabNL are:

n Twente: MESA+ Institute of Nanotechnology at University of Twente;

n Delft: Kavli Institute of Nanoscience at Delft University of Technology and TNO Science & Industry;

n Groningen: Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials at Groningen University;

n Eindhoven, Technical University Eindhoven and Philips Research Laboratories (associate partner).

Together, these four locations cover most of the country and offer the widest possible spectrum of nanotechnology facilities for

researchers in the Netherlands to use.

MESA+ NanoLabMESA+ NanoLab has extensive laboratory facilities at its disposal, offering a wide spectrum of opportunities for researchers in the

Netherlands and abroad:

n a 1250 m2 fully equipped cleanroom, with a focus on microsystems technology, nanotechnology, CMOS and materials and process

engineering;

n a fully equipped central materials analysis laboratory;

n a number of specialized laboratories for chemical synthesis and analysis, materials research and analysis, and device characterization.

In 2013 MESA+ has invested largely in realizing its new BioNanoLab, part of the MESA+ NanoLab, for research in bionanotechnology,

nanomedicine and risk analysis.

The MESA+ NanoLab facilities play a crucial role in the research programs and in collaborations with industry. MESA+ has a

strong relationship with industry, both through joint research projects with the larger multinational companies, and through a

commercialization policy focused on small and medium sized enterprises. In 2013 MESA+ NanoLab welcomed 15 companies as new

users of the facilities.

[nAtionAl nAnolAb FACilitiES]

Impression of MESA+ meeting

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EducationTwente Graduate School/ MESA+ School for NanotechnologyMESA+ is a research school, designated by the Royal Dutch Academy of Science. All PhD students are member of the MESA+ School

for Nanotechnology which is part of the University of Twente’s Twente Graduate School. The Graduate School is aiming to strengthen

education and improve the skills of PhD students.

Master of Science NanotechnologyAccess to the best research students worldwide is critical to the success of MESA+. In 2005 a master track nanotechnology was

started as the first accredited master’s training at the University of Twente. MESA+ invests in information to students of appropriate

bachelor’s courses, and brings the master’s nanotechnology to the attention of its international cooperation partners. The master

Nanotechnology is incorporated into the MESA+ School for Nanotechnology.

Fundamentals of NanotechnologyNanotechnology is a multidisciplinary research field, and requires expertise from the field of electrical engineering, applied physics,

chemical technology and life sciences. The course ‘Fundamentals of Nanotechnology’ is annually organized by MESA+ and provides

an initial introduction to the complete scope of what nanotechnology is about. The course is set up for graduate students and

postdoctoral fellows that are starting to work or are currently working in the field of nanotechnology. The workshop is given in an

intensive one-week format; participants attend about 20 lectures and labtours on different subfields of nanotechnology. Each year

about 25 students participate.

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european consolidator Grant The ERC Consolidator Grants are awarded annually to

scientists by the European Research Council. It is the third

major individual European research grant from the ERC, in

addition to the Starting Grant and the Advanced Grant. The

Consolidator Grant is intended for talented, outstanding

researchers with 7 to 12 years of experience since the

completion of their PhD research.

Three scientists from MESA+ have received a European

Consolidator Grant of m€ 2 for their outstanding and fundamental

research. Prof.dr. Jeroen Cornelissen of the group Biomolecular

NanoTechnology received the grant for his research into

protein cages as mimics of bacterial nano compartments,

Prof.dr.ir. Alexander Brinkman of the Quantum Transport in

Matter group for his research on quantum mechanics and Dr.

Jacco Snoeijer of the Physics of Fluids group will examine at

the molecular level how the surface tension of water droplets

affects soft materials and how this influences the fluid flow on

a macroscopic scale.

Vici grantDr. Pepijn Pinkse, program director of the Strategic Research

Orientation Applied Nano Photonics is the recipient of a

Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO Ver-

nieuwings impuls VICI grant of m€ 1,5 on a project ‘Quantum

Credit Card’. Introducing “Adaptive Quantum Optics”, Pepijn

Pinkse wants to show that advanced optical methods can

counteract disorder even at the level of single quantum particles.

An elegant application is tentatively called the “Quantum Credit

Card”, featuring an unclonable nanophotonic material. Beyond

fundamental interest, the Quantum Credit Card has the potential

to become the 2nd every-day-life application of quantum optics

after the laser.

VIDI grantDr. Pascal Jonkheijm of the group Molecular NanoFabrication

received a VIDI grant from the Netherlands Organization for

Scientific Research (NWO) for his research on the ‘fingerprints’

of cells. This grant of up to K€ 800 is intended for talented

scientists to give them the opportunity to develop their own

line of research and to build a research team.

VENI grantTwo researchers of MESA+ have obtained a VENI grant of

NWO. Dr.ir. Saskia Lindhoud with her project called Complex

Coacervates as Novel Molecular Crowding Agents and dr.ir.

Loes Segerink for her research on sperm cells on a chip. With

this prestigious grant of K€ 250 both can develop their research

ideas for a further three years.

Valorization Grant phase 2Prof. Frieder Mugele of the Physics of Complex Fluids received

a Valorization Grant – Phase 2 of max. K€ 200 from STW to

develop the proprietary electrowetting-based technology for

the suppression of coffee stains further into a commercial

product for improving MALDI-mass spectrometry for biological

molecules. Scientific and technological developments will be

carried out in collaboration between the PCF group and eMALDI

BV, the company found to commercialize the technology.

Valorization Grants phase 1Dr. David Fernandez Rivas and Dr. Bram Verhaagen of the

Mesoscale Chemical Systems group are awarded an STW

Valorisation Grant Phase 1 of K€ 25 for their innovative ultra-

sonic cleaning technique BµBclean.

Prof.dr.ir. Wilfred van der Wiel of the NanoElectronics group

and prof.dr.ir. Guido Mul of the PhotoCatalytic Synthesis group

received the grant for their project HydroSolix, concerning

photocatalytic water splitting.

Marina van Damme-grantDr. Susan Roelofs of the BIOS Lab-on-a-chip group has received

the Marina van Damme-grant. This grant for female top talent

is worth € 9,000,-. Susan Roelofs will use the grant for her visit

to the MIT in Boston to broad her PhD research on desalination

of water on microscale. She will also research the possibilities

for a start-up.

Dr. Jacco Snoeijer

Awards, honours and appointments

Dr. Pepijn Pinkse

Dr. Pascal Jonkheijm

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Overijssel PhD AwardDuring the University of Twente Dies Natalis celebrations, the

Overijssel PhD Award for the best doctoral thesis of the last

year was presented to Dr. Menno Veldhorst of the Interfaces

and Correlated Electron Systems group for his thesis ‘Super-

conducting and topological hybrids’. The Overijssel PhD Award

is a prize of € 5,000 for a doctoral thesis of out standing scientific

quality, which can be regarded as the start of a promising

scientific career.

Rubicon-grantElif Karatay, a graduated PhD student of the Soft Matter Fluidics

and Interfaces group has obtained a STW Rubicon grant for

her project ‘chaotic movements in salts solutions’. If a current

passes through salt solutions, ion polarisation occurs. At very

high current densities the polarisation behaves like a shock

and that results in chaotic movements. It will be investigated

why this polarisation influences movement in salt solutions

and how this can be controlled. Karatay will do two years of

research at Stanford University in the Department of Mechanical

Engineering.

Twente Graduate School Award 2013The TGS Research Honours PhD Award of € 2,500 for Twente's

graduate student Top Talent has been awarded for the first time

in 2013 and has gone to Rindia Putri, MSc student in Chemical

Engineering (MESA+). She can spend the money on a doctoral

course or research conference in her field.

NWO subsidy for MESA+ research into carbon-neutral fuelsResearchers of MESA+ have been granted a total of more

than 1 m€ in subsidy for research into the clean production of

carbon-neutral fuels. Professors Han Gardeniers and Jurriaan

Huskens have received a research subsidy of K€ 712 from the

Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), the

Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM) and

Shell. An amount of K€ 750 has been made available for a project

by Prof.dr.ir. Leon Lefferts, in cooperation with researchers of

the FOM institute DIFFER.

FOM subsidyThe Dutch Foundation for Fundamental Research on

Matter FOM has awarded m€ 2,9 to the research program

‘conducting interfaces in insolating oxides’ of prof.dr.ir. Hans

Hilgenkamp. This programme is a national collaboration

with the following MESA+ researchers: prof.dr.ing. Guus

Rijnders, prof.dr.ir. Wilfred van der Wiel, prof.dr.ir. Alexander

Brinkman, prof.dr.ing. Dave Blank, dr.ir. Gertjan Koster and

dr.ir. Mark Huijben.

European Innovation prizeOstendum, a spin-off-company of MESA+ which was set up with

venture capital from the UT International Ventures incubator

fund, has managed to win a prestigious Technology Innovation

Leadership Award of Frost & Sullivan in the category Lab-

on-a-Chip-Nanodevices. The American advice bureau, which

operates worldwide, awarded this best practice award because,

among other things, the portable laboratories being developed

by Ostendum can make significant contributions to medical

diagnostics. This is due to their speed, efficiency, low costs

and ease of use.

STW 'Demonstrator' projectDr.ir. Remco Wiegerink of the Transducers Science and

Technology Group has received an amount of K€ 100 for the

STW project Power Sensor – Power Glove in which a miniature

multi-axis force sensor has been realized to accurately measure

the forces at the interface of the hand.

Cum laude distinctionIn 2013 two PhD students of MESA+ received a cum laude

distinction for their work. Hanneke Gelderblom for her PhD

thesis ‘Fluid flow in drying drops’ and Joost Weijs for his thesis

‘Nanobubbles and nanodrops’. Both were PhD students of the

group Physics of Fluids.

MESA+ meeting 2013 The MESA+ meeting 2013 was held in Cinestar on September 16.

The best scientific poster was won by dr. Benjamin Matt et al.

of the group Biomolecular NanoTechnology, the 2nd prize was

for Xiao Renshaw Wang et al. of the Interfaces and Correlated

Electron Systems group and the 3rd prize for Erwin Berenschot

et al. of the Transducers Science and Technology group. During

the annual meeting MESA+ scientists exchange their scientific

work by poster presentations and lectures.

Dr. Bram Verhaagen and Dr. David Fernandez Rivas

Ostendum: Dr. Aurel Ymeti, Dr. Alma Dudia, Mr.dr.

Paul Nederkoorn

Dr.ir. Saskia Lindhoud and Dr.ir. Loes Segerink

Prof.dr.ir. Guido Mul and Prof.dr.ir. Wilfred van der

Wiel

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AppointmentsSince March 20, 2013 dr. Nathalie Katsonis of the Biomolecular

NanoTechnology group is a new member of the Young Academy

of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).

It is an independent platform of leading young researchers that

organises activities focusing on interdisciplinarity, science

policy, and the interface between science and society.

As of September 2013 prof.dr. Vinod Subramaniam of the

NanoBiophysics group will fulfill the role of Scientific Director of

the prestigious FOM Institute AMOLF.

From January 1, 2014 dr.ir. Roy Kolkman, IP advisor at MESA+

will be the successor of ir. Miriam Luizink as director High

Tech Facilities. In this function he will be responsible for the

exploitation and organization of the production facility High Tech

Factory.

.

Dr.ir. Roy Kolkman

Mesa+ annual rePort 2013

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Prof. dr. Claudia Filippi“Electronic-structure theory has dramatically

expanded the role of computational modeling,

enabling a detailed atomistic understanding of

real materials. Our research focuses on the

challenge to further enhance the predictive

power of these approaches while bridging to the

length-scales of complex (bio)systems.”

Rhodopsin Absorption from First Principles: The Right Answer for the Right Reason

Bovine rhodopsin is the most extensively studied retinal protein and is considered the prototype of this important class of photosensitive

biosystems involved in the process of vision. Many theoretical investigations have attempted to elucidate the role of the protein matrix

in modulating the absorption of retinal chromophore in rhodopsin but, while generally agreeing in predicting the correct location of

the absorption maximum, they often reached contradicting conclusions on how the environment tunes the spectrum.

To address this controversial issue, we combine a thorough structural and dynamical characterization of rhodopsin with a validation

of its spectral properties via the use of a variety of state-of-the-art first-principle approaches. Through multi-scale molecular dynamics

simulations, we obtain a comprehensive structural description of the chromophore-protein system and sample a large range of

thermally accessible configurations. Using this realistic structural model, we show that the spectrum of rhodopsin can be accurately

predicted if one adopts an enhanced quantum description of the protein environment to properly account for polarization effects on

the chromophore.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: O. Valsson, P. Campomanes, I. Tavernelli, U. Rothlisberger, C. Filippi, J. Chem. Theory Comput. 9 (2013) 2441.

biomolecular Electronic Structure

The Biomolecular Electronic Structure (BES) group is a computational group

in the field of electronic structure theory and focuses on the methodological

development of novel and more effective approaches for investigating the

electronic properties of materials. Our current research centers on the problem

of describing light-induced phenomena in biological systems, where available

compu tational techniques have limited applicability. Deepening our physical

understanding of the primary excitation processes in photo biological systems

is important both from a fundamental point of view and because of existing and

potential applications in biology, biotechnology, and artificial photosynthetic

devices.

Figure: An enhanced theoretical description of rhodopsin.

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Rhodopsin absorption

Structural model

Temperature sampling

Quantum environment

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Prof. dr. ir. Albert van den Berg“We try to do do top-level research

on micro- and nanofluidics, micro-

analytical chemical systems and

new nanosensing principles, and

to integrate that into real-life Lab-

on-Chip systems for biomedical

and sustainable applications.”

In the BIOS/Lab on a Chip group fundamental and applied aspects of miniaturized laboratories

are studied. With the use of advanced and newly developed micro- and nanotechnologies,

enabled by our Nanolab facilities, micro- and nanodevices for biomedical and environmental

applications as well as for sustainable energy are studied and realized, such as chips for

monitoring medication, counting and analyzing sperm cells, mimicking organs on chip,

discovery of new biomarkers and ultrasensitive detection thereof, and research on new

catalyst materials using micro-chemical systems. To realize this, we work closely together

with colleagues within MESA+, physicists and chemists from UU and TU/e in the MCEC

gravitation program, (bio)medical experts from our sister-institute MIRA, various academic

hospitals in the Netherlands and colleagues from the Wyss institute at Harvard.

bioS lab-on-a-ChipAtherosclerotic geometries spatially confine and exacerbate pathological thrombus formation in a vWF-dependent manner

Atherosclerotic plaque rupture precipitates diseases such as acute myocardial infarction and stroke. In addition to the thrombogenic

contents of ruptured plaques, the local hemodynamic environment plays a major role in thrombus formation. In this study, we show that

atherosclerotic geometries provoke rheological conditions that promote spatially confined thrombus formation due to alterations in the

blood and the vessel wall. In vitro studies using microfluidic channels with eccentric stenotic segments (A and B) showed exacerbated

platelet aggregation over a range of input shear rates in the stenotic outlet regions of channels with 60% to 80% occlusion (C). The local

thrombus formation was critically dependent on blood-borne von Willebrand factor (vWF) and autocrine platelet stimulation. In stenotic

channels with cultured endothelial cells, the blood-borne response synergized with elevated vWF secretion by the endothelium in the

stenosis outlet region, inducing robust local platelet aggregation (C, t=2 min). Together, these results demonstrate a major role of vWF

in spatially confined pathological thrombus formation downstream of atherosclerotic geometries. These blood-borne and vascular

consequences of hemodynamic shear alterations induced by atherosclerotic plaque progression increase the risk of thrombotic

complications. This risk can be lowered by normalizing plaque geometries or by targeting their downstream effects on vWF. Moreover,

the reported microfluidic model offers a promising alternative for in vivo evaluation of anti-thrombotic treatments.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: E. Westein, A.D. van der Meer, M.J. Kuijpers, J.P. Frimat, A. van den Berg, J.W. Heemskerk, Atherosclerotic geometries exacerbate pathological

thrombus formation poststenosis in a von Willebrand factor-dependent manner, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 110(4) (2013) 1357-62.

Figure: Wall shear rate patterns in microfluidic PDMS

channels with a stenotic shape showing live platelet

aggregation. (A) Drawing of microchannel with width of 300

μm, eccentric circular stenotic indentation (600- or 1,000-μm

Ø), and lumen restriction of 20–80%. (B) Computational fluid

dynamics analysis displaying the wall shear rate (WSR) near

the channel bottom in a microchannel with 20–80% stenosis

(600-μm Ø) at 1,000 s−1 inlet WSR (0.5 mL/h). (C) Whole blood

perfusion through the HUVECs seeded microchannels (top 2

panels) leads to substantial platelet aggregation specifically

in the stenosis deceleration region (bottom 2 panels, t=1min

and t=2min. Scale bar 100 μm).

A

B

C

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HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: W.F. Rurup, J. Snijder, M.S.T. Koay, A.J.R. Heck, J.J.L.M. Cornelissen, Self-sorting of foreign proteins in a bacterial nanocompartment, J. Am. Chem.

Soc., 136 (2014) 3828-3832.

Prof. dr. Jeroen J.l.M. cornelissen“Using the building blocks from

Nature to make and understand

new technologies.”

self-sorting proteins for nanotechnology

Nature uses bottom-up approaches for the controlled assembly of highly-ordered hierarchical structures with defined functionality,

such as organelles, molecular motors and transmembrane pumps. The field of bionanotechnology draws inspiration from nature by

utilizing biomolecular building blocks such as DNA, proteins and lipids, for the (self-) assembly of new structures for applications in

biomedicine, optics or electronics. Amongst the toolbox of available building blocks, proteins that form cage-like structures, such as

viruses and virus-like particles, have been of particular interest since they form highly symmetrical assemblies and can be readily

modified genetically or chemically both on the outer or inner surface. Bacterial encapsulins are an emerging class of non-viral protein

cages that self assemble in vivo into stable icosahedral structures (see Fig.). Using teal fluorescent proteins (TFP) engineered with a

specific native C-terminal docking sequence, we reported for the first time the molecular self-sorting and selective packaging of TFP

cargo into bacterial encapsulins during in vivo assembly. Using native mass spectrometry techniques, we show that loading of either

monomeric or dimeric TFP cargo occurs with unprecedented high fidelity and exceptional loading accuracy. Such self-assembling

systems equipped with self-sorting capabilities would open up exciting opportunities in nanotechnology, as artificial organelles (for

molecular storage or detoxification) or as artificial cell factories for in situ biocatalysis.

Biomolecular NanoTechnology

The Biomolecular NanoTechnology (BNT) group is founded in 2009 by the appointment

of it’s chair prof. Jeroen Cornelissen and acts on the interface of biology, physics

and materials science coming from a strong chemical back ground. The research of

the group centers around the use of biomolecules as building blocks for (functional)

nanostructures, relying on principles from Supramolecular and Macromolecular

Chemistry. Current research lines involve the use of well-defined nanometer-sized

protein cages as reactors and as scaffolds for new materials, while new directions in

the field of liquid crystalline materials are explored. The success of the multidisciplinary

work of the group partly relies on intense interactions within MESA+ and with other

(inter)national collaborators.

Figure: Bacterial encapsulins are an emerging class of

non-viral protein cages that self assemble in vivo into stable

icosahedral structures.

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Prof. dr. Wim J. Briels“There's plenty of room in the middle.”

Gelation of photovoltaic polymer solutions

Organic photo-voltaic cells have the advantage over conventional solid state solar cells that they can potentially be mass-produced

by standard roll-to-roll printing techniques, thereby drastically reducing the production costs. Understanding the thermodynamic and

rheological behavior of the printing solution, with semi-rigid polymers and buckyballs as the active ingredients, is a prerequisite for the

reliable production of efficient solar cells. Interestingly, the nanoscopic process of polymer aggregation gives rise to large changes on

the macroscopic scale when the solution traverses the gelation temperature. We have developed a coarse-grained model that captures

the basis aspects of this phenomenon, using just one energetic parameter. The polymers are represented as slender laths, with

interactions that depend on their distances and relative orientations. In Brownian Dynamics simulations below the critical temperature,

the laths self-assemble into the long 'whiskers' that transport the current in operational solar cells, see figure. Simultaneously, the

rheology of the solution evolves from liquid-like to visco-elastic, in good agreement with experiments.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: G. Villalobos, W. den Otter,W. Briels, Simulated gel transition in stiff pi-stacking polymers, to be submitted.

Computational bioPhysics

The Computational BioPhysics (CBP) group investigates how the thermo-

dynamic and rheological properties of a complex fluid emerge from its

molecular constitution. Our computational studies focus on the mesoscopic

level, i.e. the time and length scales of the macro-molecules determining

the macroscopic behaviour, while the atomic details of these molecules

are reduced to their bare essentials. By developing equations of motions

and force fields that capture only the crucial molecular features, a complex

molecule like a polymer or a protein can be modeled as a single particle.

This approach proves very successful in studying the emerging macroscopic

properties of biological and non-biological soft condensed matter.

Figure: The growth of whiskers from an initially homogenous

solution of lath-shaped polymers below the gelation

transition. Free laths are coloured blue, other colours mark

the whiskers.

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Figure 1 caption: (a) Work function ORG|SUB of NTCDA (yellow)

and Alq3 (bluegreen) layers as a function of the work function

of the substrate SUB. The pinning levels for electrons in NTCDA

(EICT−) and for holes in Alq3 (EICT+) are indicated. The dashed

line gives the Schottky-Mott limit of vacuum level alignment.

The displacement of the Alq3 line with respect to this limit

is interpreted in terms of an ordering of Alq3 molecules at

the interface, leading to a dipole layer and a potential step, as

shown schematically in (b).

Prof. dr. Paul J. Kelly”Computational Materials Science:

taking the guesswork out of

NanoScience and Technology.”

Understanding the magnetic, optical, electrical and structural properties

of solids in terms of their chemical composition and atomic structure by

numerically solving the quantum mechanical equations describing the motion

of the electrons is the central research activity of the group Computational

Materials Science. These first-principles equations contain no input from

experiment other than the fundamental physical constants, making it possible

to analyze the properties of systems which are difficult to characterize

experimentally or to predict the physical properties of materials which have

not yet been made. This is especially important when experimentalists attempt

to make hybrid structures approaching the nanoscale.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: L. Lindell, D. Çakır, G. Brocks, M. Fahman, S. Braun, Role of intrinsic molecular dipole in energy level alignment at organic interfaces, Applied

Physics Letters 102 (2013) 223301.

Pinning the energy levels at organic interfaces

Organic electronic devices like light emitting diodes or photovoltaic cells comprise multiple thin layers of organic molecules or polymers

with interfaces that facilitate different functionalities such as charge injection, transport, or charge separation/recombination. It then

comes as no surprise that interface properties have been the subject of extensive research, with the alignment of energy levels at

all-organic and organic-inorganic interfaces being the most prominent topic. In recent years we have developed a model for the

formation of interface potential steps based upon electron transfer across interfaces between donors and acceptors and global charge

equilibration across a multilayer. The model explains hitherto puzzling observations, such as why a potential step at a particular

organic-organic interface sometimes seem to depend on the order of the individual layers in the multilayer, or why it depends on the

substrate on which the multilayer is deposited.

The parameters in the model are obtained from first-principles calculations and the calculated potential profiles are in quantitative

agreement with the results obtained from photo-electron spectroscopy. At metal-organic interfaces, two regimes can generally be

distinguished. In the absence of electron transfer across the interface, the vacuum levels line up which yields the Schottky-Mott limit.

If electron transfer occurs, the Fermi level is pinned by the organic layer at energy levels for holes or electrons that are characteristic

of the particular organic material. Computational modeling provides a microscopic understanding of these regimes. For instance,

ordering of molecules and their corresponding dipoles at the interface gives a displacement with respect to the Schottky-Mott limit.

Computational Materials Science[A]

[B]

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Switching a cavity at the fastest clock rate in the universe

Switches are omnipresent in information technology to manipulate data. Scientists from COPS with colleagues from France (CEA/INAC)

have succeeded to repeatedly and reproducibly switch-on and switch-off an optical cavity at a world-record clock rate of 1.4 THz, or

350 times faster than an electronic switch operating at 4 GHz. Switching at a THz clock rate is achieved by avoiding absorption that

leads to record-low energy loss per switch event.

Microcavities allow to selectively transmit or store certain colors of light and are therefore widely used in optical communication

systems. To route or steer information in optical pulses, it is essential to have light-steering devices whose properties can be changed

in time, that is: switched. To date, the properties of a microcavity were switched by electrical current in the semiconductor materials.

These processes are relatively slow and therefore do not take full advantage of the unrivalled speed of light. The new method works

as follows. A signal pulse is sent to a nanofabricated semiconductor microcavity. A trigger laser pulse instantaneously changes its

properties by using the so-called electronic Kerr effect. This avoids loss and takes advantage of the extremely fast motion of electrons

that literally dance to the beat of the laser light. Therefore, the new switch brings within reach on-chip beyond-terahertz switching

rates for data communication [1].

Prof. dr. Willem l. Vos“COPS strives to catch light with

nanostructures. But beware dear

colleagues, since Shakespeare once

said: ‘Light, seeking light, doth light of

light beguile’. In other words: the eye in

seeking truth deprives itself of vision.”

Complex Photonic Systems

The Complex Photonic Systems (COPS) group studies light propagation in ordered

and disordered nanophotonic materials. We investigate photonic bandgap materials,

random lasers, diffusion and Anderson localization of light. We have recently

pioneered the control of spontaneous emission in photonic bandgaps and the active

control of the propagation of light in disordered photonic materials. Novel photonic

nanostructures are fabricated and characterized in the MESA+ cleanroom. Optical

experiments are an essential aspect of our research, which COPS combines with a

theoretical understanding of the properties of light. Our curiosity driven research

is of interest to various industrial partners, and to applications in medical and

biophysical imaging.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS: [1] E. Yüce, G. Ctistis, J. Claudon, E. Dupuy, R. D. Buijs, B. de Ronde, A. P. Mosk, J. M. Gérard, W. L. Vos, All-optical switching of a microcavity

repeated at terahertz rates, Opt. Lett. 38 (2013) 374-376. [2] B. Gjonaj, J. Aulbach, P. M. Johnson, A. P. Mosk, L. Kuipers, A. Lagendijk, Focusing and scanning microscopy

with propagating surface plasmons, Phys. Rev. Lett. 110 (2013) 266804: 1-5. [3] W. L. Vos, T. W. Tukker, A. P. Mosk, A. Lagendijk, W. L. IJzerman, Broadband mean free path

of diffuse light in polydisperse ensembles of scatterers for white LED lighting, Appl. Opt. 52 (2013) 2602-2609.

Figure: (Upper panel): Cartoon of ultrafast all-optical modulation

with a cavity. The beam shown in blue enters the modulator

carrying no information at first (left port). The information

carried by the red beam, responsible for switching, is encoded

on the blue beam and transferred (right port). In this way

information can be transferred from one color to another. (Lower

panel): A scanning electron microscope image of the optical

cavity and the schematic of the experimental setup. The probe

beam (at telecom frequency) is shown in blue and trigger beam

in red. Similar to the upper panel, by switching the cavity with the

trigger pulse we can modulate the probe light, which is stored

in the cavity.

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HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS: [1] S. Agarwal, L. Lefferts, B.L. Mojet, Ceria Nanocatalysts: Shape Dependent Reactivity and Formation of OH. ChemCatChem, 5 (2) (2013)

479-489. ISSN 1867-3880. [2] S. Agarwal, L. Lefferts, B.L. Mojet, D.A.J. Ligthart, E.J.M. Hensen, D.R.G. Mitchell, W.J. Erasmus, B.G. Anderson, E.J. Olivier, J.H. Neethling,

A.K. Datye, Exposed Surfaces on Shape-Controlled Ceria Nanoparticles Revealed through AC-TEM and Water-Gas Shift Reactivity, ChemSusChem, 6 (10) (2013) 1898-

1906. ISSN 1864-5631.

Prof. dr. ir. Leon Lefferts“One of the most valuable

applications of nanotechnology

is in the area of heterogeneous

catalysis. The challenges are to

improve the level of control over the

active nanoparticles as well as the

local conditions at those particles,

and to understand the molecular

mechanism at the surface.”

Shape of ceria nanocrystals does matter

Ceria nanoshapes (octahedra, wires, and cubes) were investigated for CO adsorption and subsequent reaction with water. Surprisingly,

the reactivity of specific -OH groups was explicitly determined by the ceria nanoshape, based on IR and Raman spectroscopy studies.

The nanoshapes showed different levels of carbonates and formates after exposure to CO, the amount of carbonates increasing from

octahedral<wires<cubes. Subsequent reaction with water at 200oC was also found to be shape dependent. Furthermore, identification

of the exposed surfaces in these nanoshaped partocles was revisited and adjusted. The molecular insight in the interaction of CeO2

surfaces is important in order to understand and optimize activation of water in CeO2-supported reforming and WGS catalyst.

Catalytic Processes and Materials

The aim of the Catalytic Processes and Materials group is to understand heterogeneous catalysis

by investigation of catalytic reactions and materials on a fundamental level in combination with

their application in practical processes. Our research focuses on three themes:

1. Sustainable processes for fuels and chemicals, like catalytic conversion of biomass to fuels.

2. Heterogeneous catalysis in liquid phase.

3. High yield selective oxidation.

The fundamental study of surface reactions in liquid phase requires the development of new

analysis techniques for which CPM is in the forefront of leading catalysis groups in the world.

Moreover, we explore preparation and application of new highly porous, micro-structured support

materials as well as micro-reactors and micro-fluidic devices, using the information obtained from

in-situ spectroscopy studies.

Figure: TEM and HRSEM (inset; scale bars=100 nm) images of

the CeO2 a) nanooctahedra, b) nanowires, and c) nanocubes.

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(Superconducting) field effect transistors based on top-gated all-oxide 2-dimensional electron gasses

Interfaces between certain combinations of insulating oxides can show conductivity, with a remarkably rich phenomenology [1].

The most prominent example is the 2-dimensional electron gas that forms between the perovskite oxides SrTiO3 and LaAlO3. These

interfaces are not only conducting, they can also exhibit magnetism and become superconducting at low temperatures. It is of great

interest for fundamental studies and for device applications to controllably modify the electronic properties of these interfaces locally

by the application of an electric field, in a field-effect-transistor configuration. We have succeeded in achieving this in a top-gated

geometry. Both the conductivity at room temperature as well as the superconductivity at ultra-low temperatures (35mK) could be

completely switched on/off at will underneath a structured Au-gate electrode. Within the scope of a new FOM program, granted in

2013 with the UT as the coordinating university, a national consortium of research groups will now further explore the device potential

of these promising oxide interface systems.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS: [1] H. Hilgenkamp, Novel transport phenomena at complex oxide interfaces, MRS Bulletin 38 (2013) 1026. [2] P.D. Eerkes, W.G. van der Wiel,

H. Hilgenkamp, Modulation of the conductance and superconductivity by top-gating in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 two-dimensional electron systems, Applied Physics Letters 103

(2013) 201603.

Prof. dr. ir. Hans Hilgenkamp"Electronic correlations and aspects of

topology add rich phenomenology to the

properties of materials and interfaces.

Advanced control - down to the atomic

level - in materials fabrication creates

exciting possibilities for the further

exploration of these phenomena and

their use in practical applications."

Interfaces and Correlated Electron systems

Materials with exceptional, well-tailored properties are at the heart of many new applica-

tions. In the electronic/magnetic domains, powerful means to create such properties are

nano structuring, as well as the use of compounds in which the intrinsic physics involves

‘special effects’. These can arise from intricate interactions of the mobile charge carriers

mutually (‘electronic correlations’) and/or with the crystal lattice.

In the ICE group, the fabrication and basic properties of such nano-structured novel mate-

rials are studied, and their potential for applications is explored. Current research involves

superconductors, p- and n-doped Mott compounds, topological insulators, electronically

active interfaces between oxide insulators and novel electronic materials and device con-

cepts for low power electronics and neuromorphic circuitry.

Figure 2: Superconducting field effect transistor (SuFET)

based on a top-gated 2-dimensional electron gas between the

insulating oxides SrTiO3 and LaAlO3. (from [2]).

Figure 1: (left) Artist’ impression of the interface between

SrTiO3 and LaAlO3. (right) The different orbital states that can

be occupied by the mobile electrons residing at the interface.

Figure courtesy of X. Renshaw Wang (from [1]).

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(38)HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: A. George, S. Mathew, R. van Gastel, M. Nijland, K. Gopinadhan, P. Brinks, T. Venkatesan, J.E. ten Elshof, Large Area Resist-Free Soft

Lithographic Patterning of Graphene, Small 9 (2013) 711-715.

Prof. dr. ir. André ten Elshof“Development of new

functional materials is key

to solving many of the

technological challenges

of the 21st century.”

Large area micropatterning of graphene

Graphene is a two-dimensional carbon material with superior electrical, optical and mechanical properties. Many interesting

applications, including electrodes for transparent electronics, transistors, sensors, energy harvesters, wide band dipole antennas and

electrodes for organic electronics have been demonstrated using graphene. However, to enable development of practical graphene-

based devices and interconnects, there is a need for controlled, cost effective patterning of large areas of graphene while retaining

the beneficial electronic properties.

We developed a soft lithography-based approach to micropattern graphene. First, a graphene film was grown on Cu foils using the

chemical vapor deposition method. This method provides good control over film quality and the number of graphene layers. Then a

polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp with protruding micrometer scale features was brought into conformal contact with the film. We

used PDMS stamps with 3-5 µm wide features, but smaller feature sizes should also be possible. Finally, all regions on the film that

were not protected by the protruding parts of the PDMS stamp were removed in an oxygen plasma chamber. This method is simple,

cost effective and scalable to large areas and can be employed on any arbitrary substrate. Besides Cu, we also patterned graphene

films after transfer to silicon and polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) substrates.

Since the method is resist free, it avoids the damage and contaminations caused by resist patterning and removal when conventional

lithographic methods are used. The estimated charged impurity concentration was estimated to be only ~1013 cm-2, which corresponds

with an electron scattering length of ~1000 nm.

inorganic & Hybrid nanomaterials Chemistry

Research in the Inorganic & Hybrid Nanomaterials Chemistry (IHNC) group focuses

on the development and understanding of novel processing routes for hybrid

and inorganic nanomaterials, with emphasis on micro/nanopatterns and low-

dimensional nanostructures for energy, electronic and biomedical applications.

Starting from colloidal solutions of nanoparticles, complexes, nanowires or nano-

sheets, new functional nano materials are assembled. The use of low temperature,

energy and environmentally friendly resource efficient processing routes is central

to our strategy.

Figure 2: Variation of electrical resistance of patterned

graphene ribbons at 2–50 K as a function of magnetic field H

applied perpendicular to the graphene plane. The derivative of

the resistance with respect to H is shown in the inset; B) Weak

localization fit of patterned graphene magnetoconductivity

Δ (B ) = (H ) − (H = 0). The elastic and inelastic

scattering lengths estimated from the data fitting at various

temperatures are given in the inset.

Figure 1: Examples of patterned graphene films.

Top: microarray of hexagonal cells on Cu substrate;

Middle: Microarray of squares on silicon substrate;

Bottom: Complex line pattern on silicon substrate.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: M.J.T. Raaijmakers, M.A. Hempenius, P.M. Schön, G.J. Vancso, A. Nijmeijer, M. Wessling, N.E. Benes, Sieving of Hot Gases by Hyper-Cross-Linked

Nanoscale-Hybrid Membranes, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 131216134951006 (2013). doi:10.1021/ja410047u (featured in JACS Spotlights).

Prof. dr. ir. Arian Nijmeijer“Material science on the Ångstrom

scale to make hybrid and inorganic

membranes that can be applied

under demanding conditions, in

large-scale industrial separation

processes.”

Sieving of Hot Gases by Hyper-Cross-Linked Nanoscale-Hybrid Membranes

Separation of hot gases by membranes is a potential key enabling technique for many large-scale chemical processes and advanced

energy production technologies. At present, there are no commercially produced membranes that can separate hot small gas molecules

on a large scale. Effective molecular sieving requires that the chains of organic polymer membranes are sufficiently rigid. At elevated

temperatures the macromolecular dynamics of state-of-the-art organic polymers increase and the sieving abilities of these materials

break down. For inorganic membranes tremendous efforts are required to allow defect-free processing at the scale of industrially

relevant applications.

Recently, in a collaborative effort of our group and the group Materials Science and Technology of Polymers (MTP), we have presented

a method for the facile synthesis of novel hyper-cross-linked organic-inorganic hybrid membranes. The method is based on the

interfacial polymerization reaction between amine functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes and aromatic dianhydrides,

followed by thermal imidization (Fig. 1).

The resulting ultrathin membranes consist of giant molecular networks of alternating inorganic cages and aromatic imide bridges.

The hybrid characteristics of these membrane are manifested in excellent gas separation performance at elevated temperatures;

selective sieving of small hydrogen molecules from a mixture with nitrogen molecules persists up to 300 °C. Unlike the syntheses of

other nano-engineered materials for high-temperature separations, the simple and reliable two-step synthetic process for generating

the hybrid films is suitable for large-scale and defect-free production. The presented method is versatile and allows the use of a large

variety of cross-linkers, to synthesis a large variety of hybrid materials. Current and future activities are aimed further exploring this

versatility, to further broaden the application landscape of these hybrid membranes.

inorganic Membranes

Activities of the Inorganic Membranes (IM) group evolve around

energy efficient molecular separations under extreme conditions,

for instance high temperature, elevated pressure, and chemically

demanding environments, using hybrid and inorganic membranes.

The group combines Materials Science in the Ångstrom range length

scale with Process Technology on macroscopic scale. Particular

topics include hyper-cross-linked nanoscale-hybrid membranes,

sol-gel derived nano-porous membranes, dense ion conducting

membranes, inorganic porous hollow fiber membranes and inorganic

porous scaffolds.

Figure 1: Schematic presentation of two-step synthesis

method of Hyper-Cross-Linked Nanoscale-Hybrid

Membranes.

Figure 2: Artist impression of a thin hybrid membrane on

a ceramic support with molecular selectivity persisting at

temperatures up to 300 °C.

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Defect Engineering in Oxide Heterostructures by Enhanced Oxygen Surface Exchange

The synthesis of materials with well-controlled composition and structure improves our understanding of their intrinsic electrical

transport properties. Recent developments in atomically controlled growth have been shown to be crucial in enabling the study of

new physical phenomena in epitaxial oxide heterostructures. Nevertheless, these phenomena can be influenced by the presence of

defects that act as extrinsic sources of both doping and impurity scattering. Control over the nature and density of such defects is

therefore necessary to fully understand the intrinsic materials properties and exploit them in future device technologies. Within a close

collaboration with several group within MESA+, we have shown that incorporation of a strontium copper oxidenano-layer (see Fig. 1),

strongly reduces the impurity scattering at conducting interfaces in oxide LaAlO3–SrTiO3(001) heterostructures, opening the door to

high carrier mobility materials (see Fig. 2). It is proposed that this remote cuprate layer facilitates enhanced suppression of oxygen

defects by reducing the kinetic barrier for oxygen exchange in the hetero-interfacial film system. This design concept of controlled

defect engineering can be of significant importance in applications in which enhanced oxygen surface exchange plays a crucial role.

This work was supported by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), and by the Dutch Foundation for Fundamental

Research on Matter (FOM) through the InterPhase program.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS: [1] M. Huijben, G. Koster, M.K. Kruize, S. Wenderich, J. Verbeeck, S. Bals, E. Slooten, Bo Shi, H.J.A. Molegraaf, J.E. Kleibeuker, S. van Aert, J.B.

Goedkoop, A. Brinkman, D.H.A. Blank, M.S. Golden, G. van Tendeloo, H. Hilgenkamp, G. Rijnders, Defect Engineering in Oxide Heterostructures by Enhanced Oxygen Surface

Exchange, Adv. Funct. Mater. 23 (2013) 5240-5248 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201203355. [2] F. Miletto Granozio, G. Koster, G. Rijnders, Functional oxide interfaces, MRS Bulletin 38

(2013) 1017-1023.

Prof. dr. ing. Guus Rijnders“Recent developments in controlled

synthesis and characterization tools has

increased the applicability of inorganic

nanoscale materials enormously.

This holds especially for complex and

functional oxide materials, enabling the

development of new materials and devices

with novel functionalities. Our aim is to

consolidate our leading role in this field.”

inorganic Materials Science

The Inorganic Materials Science (IMS) group works at the international forefront

of materials science research on complex metal oxides and hybrids, and

provides an environment where young researchers and students are stimulated

to excel. The research is focused on establishing a fundamental understanding

of the relationship between composition, structure and solid-state physical and

chemical properties of inorganic materials, especially oxides. Insights into these

relationships enable us to design new materials with improved and yet unknown

properties that are of interest for fundamental studies as well as for industrial

applications. With the possibility to design and construct artificial materials on

demand, new opportunities become available for novel device concepts.

Figure 2: Mobility enhancement by defect engineering over a

wide oxygen pressure regime. Temperature dependence of

a) −1/RHe, indicating the carrier density, and b) Hall mobility μH

for SrTiO3–(SrCuO2)–LaAlO3–SrTiO3(001) heterostructures with

(group I: closed symbols) and without (group II: open symbols)

a SrCuO2 layer for various oxygen growth pressures. The

corresponding Hall resistance versus magnetic field exhibits

linear dependence for the complete temperature range (2–300

K), indicating the presence of a single type of carrier.

Figure 1: Quantitative scanning transmission electron

microscopy analysis, performed at the EMAT facilities,

University of Antwerp, of the atomic stacking sequences in

SrTiO3–SrCuO2–LaAlO3–SrTiO3(001) heterostructures. a)

HAADF-STEM image of the heterostructure along the [001]

zone axis, together with the schematic representation of the

individual layers. b) EELS analysis of the conducting LaAlO3–

SrTiO3(001) interface within the heterostructure showing

normalized core-loss signals for La M4,5 (red), Ti L2,3 (green),

and O K (black) edges.

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HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS: [1] S. Aravazhi, D. Geskus, K. van Dalfsen, S. A. Vázquez-Córdova, C. Grivas, U. Griebner, S. M. García-Blanco,

M, Pollnau, Engineering lattice matching, doping level, and optical properties of KY(WO4)2:Gd, Lu, Yb layers for a cladding-side-pumped

channel waveguide laser, Appl. Phys. B (111) (2013) 433-446. [2] M. A. Sefunc, M. Pollnau, S. M. García-Blanco, Low-loss sharp bends in

polymer waveguides enabled by the introduction of a thin metal layer, Opt. Express (21) 29808-29817 (2013).

Prof. dr. Markus Pollnau“Guiding light into the

future!"

thulium channel waveguide laser with 1.6 W of output power and ~80% slope efficiency

Potassium double tungstates doped with rare-earth ions are materials largely utilized in the realization of bulk solid state lasers

that present high performance characteristics such as high output power, high efficiency and very narrow linewidth. Doping the

host material with Tm3+ ions, permits the realization of amplifiers and lasers around 2 μm wavelength, which find very interesting

applications in trace gas analysis, environmental monitoring, laser ranging and medical applications. By codoping with the

optically inert Gd3+ and Lu3+ ions, the refractive index of the material can be engineered on thin waveguide layers lattice matched

with the undoped-KY(WO4)2 substrate. A very efficient (>80%) waveguide laser exhibiting a high output power of 1.6 W at 1.84 μm

has been recently demonstrated. This represents the most efficient 2 μm laser reported to date.

low-loss sharp bends in polymer waveguides enabled by the introduction of thin metal layers

Plasmonic waveguides are very promising candidates for the very-high-scale integration of photonic devices owing to the high light

confinement that they can provide. However, high propagation losses hinder their mainstream use in real applications. In this work,

we have found that the introduction of thin metal layers underneath the core of a polymer waveguide, not only does not increase but

actually reduces the total losses of sharp bends. When a gold layer was placed underneath the core of a SU8 waveguide, a total loss

as low as ~0.02 dB/90° for the quasi-TE modes was calculated for radii between 6 and 13 μm at the telecommunication wavelength.

The radii range exhibiting such low loss can be tuned by appropriately selecting the waveguide parameters.

The Integrated Optical MicroSystems (IOMS) group performs research on highly compact,

potentially low-cost and mass-producible optical waveguide devices with novel functionalities.

After careful design using dedicated computational tools, optical chips are realized in

the MESA+ clean-room facilities by standard lithographic tools as well as high-resolution

techniques for nano-structuring, such as focused ion beam milling and laser interference

lithography. From January 2014, most of the activities in integrated optics joined the Optical

Sciences group, forming the Integrated Optical Systems (IOS) subgroup. The integration of

novel active devices (i.e., amplifiers and lasers) with advanced functionalities onto passive

photonic platforms, plasmonic waveguides and integrated optical sensors based on field

enhancement by metallic nanostructures are the main research interests of the new subgroup.

Figure 1: Calculated 2-D mode profiles for the quasi-TE mode

(showing the real part of the dominant electrical field component)

at = 1.55 μm, R = 6 μm for the non-metallic structures (top) with

the parameters of wridge = 2 μm, hridge = 2 μm and for the metallic

structures (bottom) with the parameters of wridge = 2 μm, hridge = 2

μm, and thickness of metal is 100 nm.

Figure 2: Comparison of total losses (in dB/90°) for the plasmonic

and non-plasmonic bends. For radii below 30 μm, a large reduction

of the total losses is observed for the plasmonic structures.

Integrated Optical MicroSystems

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Figure: Cross-section of a laser produced plasma from

a LaAlO3 target, in (A) 0.1 mbar Ar and (B) 0.1 mbar O2 ,

recorded with LIF, 10μs after target irradiation. During

propagating from the target (left) to the sample (right,) atomic

Al (green) reacts into AlO (red) if oxygen is present .

Prof. dr. Klaus J. boller"Light displays the

beauty of nature.

We put light to work,

for knowledge and

applications."

spectral analysis of spatiotemporal and chemical dynamics in transient laser plasmas

The generation of coherent light pulses over wide spectral ranges, especially through nonlinear frequency conversion into to the UV, can

provide powerful diagnostics for transient plasmas. In particular, these methods are suited to follow the propagation of multiple plasma

constituents on the nanosecond time scale and with micrometer resolution, while simultaneously unraveling chemical processes. After

excitation with at characteristic wavelengths, the plasma particles show fluorescence at other characteristic wavelengths. Thereby this

detection method, called Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF), provides a highly specific way to identify and quantify the concentrations of

the present species. In addition, the method allows measuring absolute particle densities as well as particle velocity and temperature.

As an application, we demonstrate for the first time the spatiotemporal mapping of chemical reactions that govern the composition of

complex transient plasmas on which Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) is based upon. The latter allows the growth of thin films of complex,

functional materials in stoichiometric composition and with atomic precision. However, a sufficient understanding of the corresponding

plasmas is still lacking, specifically, why only certain deposition parameters yield the desired crystalline structure. We have developed a

LIF spectroscopic setup that allows us to perform a spatiotemporal mapping of plasma species in the propagating towards the substrate.

This enables relating the plasma composition to the growth of thin films. One example is the mapping of the oxidation state of Al in

LaAlO3 (LAO) plasmas. Here it is known empirically that a highly conductive two dimensional electron gas can be formed by deposition

on atomically flat SrTiO3, however, this occurs only within a certain window of conditions. For the first time, we show that despite the

presence of oxygen in the plasma from the target material, no oxidized Al reaches the sample, when ablating in an Ar background gas.

Only with a suitable O2 background we clearly observe oxidation of Al to AlO (singly oxidized), and that this occurs only at the edges of

the plasma plume where there is a direct contact with the background gas. Such observations help to understand whether stoichiometric

growth of LaAlO3 requires certain stages of oxidation near the sample, and why this occurs only in the presence of an appropriate gas

background. Using LIF, we investigate also other relevant systems, such as Pb[ZrxTi1-x]O3, La1-xSrxMnO3, with the goal to understand, monitor

and control the growth of high-quality thin films.

Laser Physics and Nonlinear Optics

The Laser Physics and Nonlinear Optics (LPNO) group explores the generation and manipulation

of coherent light in improved and novel ways. This includes new concepts for lasers and nonlinear

optical interactions. Research comprises wide ranges of intensities, time scales and light frequencies.

Regarding laser concepts we investigate novel types of laser such as based on slow light in photonic

structures or based on phase-locked diode arrays. Nonlinear generation of light with large spectral

bandwidth is investigated, as required for sensitive and specific detection of molecules. We devise

methods to implement such nonlinear generation in waveguides for use in integrated photonics.

Nonlinear generation at extreme intensities is investigated, which generates ultra-short pulses in

the XUV wavelength range. Such radiation in combination with nano-structured optics can enable

improved spectral control, microscopy and XUV lithography on the nano-scale.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: K. Orsel, H.M.J. Bastiaens, R. Groenen, G. Koster, A.J.H.M. Rijnders, K.-J. Boller, Temporal and spatial mapping of oxidized species in pulsed

laser deposition plasmas, Journal of Instrumentation 8 (2013) C10021.

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Micromachined columns for liquid chromatography

Two major events in the year 2013 have been the PhD graduations of Sertan Sukas and Selm De Bruyne. Within a long-term collaboration

with the Vrije Universiteit of Brussels, both students have performed research on micromachining of high-aspect-ratio structures in

single-crystal silicon and fused silica, and applying these structures as a stationary phase support in analytical separations by high-

performance liquid chromatography. To sustain the high electric fields that are needed in the electrokinetic method studied by Sukas

in his thesis "Microchip capillary electrochromatography with pillar columns", good insulating materials are needed to surround the

microfluidic channels. For that purpose a new fabrication procedure was developed, based on anodization of silicon followed by

thermal oxidation of the resulting porous silicon. Depending on the original pore size, a completely solid layer, or a mesoporous glass

with pores of few nm's wide is obtained. These pores are relevant for the separation process, because they increase the surface area

of the column, and therefore the loading capacity. This work was published in the RSC journal Lab on a Chip. The porous glass will

be used in future projects related to solar water splitting.

In an attempt to push the limit of chromatographic channel miniaturization to the limit, in De Bruyne's thesis "Design and characterization

of microfabricated on-chip HPLC columns" shear-driven nanochannels with a depth of only 40nm and 80nm were produced, with

novel micro-structured spacers to enhance the mechanical stability and an ultrathin uniform mesoporous silicon layer to enhance the

chromatographic retention and selectivity. Experiments with these nanochannels demonstrated that due to the extremely fast mass

transfer kinetics the C-term contribution to band broadening could be completely eliminated up to the highest attainable mobile phase

velocity of 7mm/s, leading to an unprecedented separation performance of 50.000 to 100.000 theoretical plates within 1 to 1.5 seconds,

more than 2 orders of magnitude faster than state-of-the-art commercial UHPLC-systems. This work was published in The Analyst.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS: [1] S. Sukas, R. Tiggelaar, G. Desmet, H.J.G.E. Gardeniers, Fabrication of integrated porous glass for microfluidic applications, Lab on a Chip 13

(2013) 3061-3069; DOI: 10.1039/C3LC41311J. [2]. S. De Bruyne, W. De Malsche, V. Fekete, H. Thienpont, H. Ottevaere, H. Gardeniers, G. Desmet, Exploring The Speed Limits of

Liquid Chromatography Using Shear-driven Flows Through 45 and 85 nm Deep Nano-Channels, Analyst 138 (2013) 6127-6133; DOI: 10.1039/C3AN01325A.

Prof. dr. Han J.G.e. Gardeniers"Research on electricity-driven activation

mechanisms, using electricity from

renewable energy sources, is a core activity.

Combined with downscaling and integration

of unit chemical operations, enhanced yield

and selectivity of chemical reactions and

product purification, and improved analysis

of mass-limited (bio)chemical samples is

achieved."

Mesoscale Chemical Systems

The research focuses on two main themes:

n Alternative activation mechanisms for chemical process

control and process intensification. Examples are: electrostatic

control of surface processes and reactions in liquids, photo-

chemical microreactors for solar-to-fuel conversion, sono -

chemical microreactors and microreactors with integrated work-

up functionality;

n Miniaturization of chemical analysis systems. Examples

are: liquid chromatography on a chip, microscale NMR, nano-

structured gas sensors, micro optical absorption cells (UV, IR).

Figure 1: SEM pictures of a thermally oxidized porous silicon

layer. (b) is a zoom-in of (a). From thesis Sukas.

Figure 2: Stitched CCD-camera images of the dispersion of

a fluorescent zone of an uncaged dye, in (a) an ordered pillar

bed (pillar diameter 73 μm, porosity 40 %, 40 X magnification),

and (b) a disordered bed (pillar diameter 81 μm, porosity 40

%, 20 X magnification). From thesis De Bruyne.

(44)HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: J. Mikhal, B.J. Geurts, Development and application of a volume penalization immersed boundary method for the computation of blood flow

and shear stresses in cerebral vessels and aneurysms, Journal of mathematical biology, 1-29 (2012).

Prof. dr. ir. Bernard J. Geurts"Mathematical analysis,

physics and numerical

methods come together to

build consistent multiscale

simulation models for the

key problems in science and

technology."

Flow of blood in small aneurysms in the human brainsurfaces in space and time

There is a growing medical interest in the prediction of flow and forces inside milimeter-scale cerebral aneurysms with the ultimate goal

of supporting medical procedures and decisions by presenting viable scenarios for intervention. These days, with the development of

high-precision medical imaging techniques, the geometry and structure of blood vessels and possible aneurysms that have formed,

can be determined for individual patients. An example is shown in Fig. 1. We focus on the role of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

for identifying and classifying therapeutic options in the treatment of aneurysms. This allows to add qualitative and quantitative

characteristics of blood flow inside the aneurysm to the complex process of medical decision making. We contribute to this by

developing an immersed boundary method for computing the precise patient-specific pulsatile flow in all spatial and temporal details.

We predict high and low stress regions, indicative of possible growth of an aneurysm in the course of time. We also visualize the

structure of the flow indicating the quality of local blood circulation as illustrated in Fig. 2. As the size of the aneurysm increases,

qualitative changes in the flow behavior can arise, which express themselves as high-frequency variations in the flow and shear

stresses. These rapid variations could be used to quantify the level of risk associated with the growing aneurysm. Such computational

modeling may lead to a better understanding of the progressive weakening of the vessel wall and its possible rupture.

Multiscale Modeling and Simulation

The Multiscale Modeling and Simulation group (MMS) focuses on the

mathematical development and application of computational models

for complex physics acting simultaneously at micro- and macro scales.

We develop numerical methods and compatible model reduction tech-

ni ques for partial differential equations from a fundamental and an

applied perspective. Main application areas are in (a) multi-phase flows

and phase transitions, (b) biomedical flows and tissue engineering, (c)

self-organizing nano systems, supported by research in (i) space-time

parallel simulation, (ii) immersed boundary methods, (iii) compatible

finite volume and spectral element discretization.

Figure 2: Velocity streamlines inside the aneurysm geometry

obtained using a grid resolution of 128 x 64 x 128.

Figure 1: Segmented geometry of an actual cerebral aneurysm

obtained from 3D rotational angiography. The aneurysm

bulge is about 1 cm in length, while the vessel diameters are

approximately 5 mm.

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HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: S. O. Krabbenborg, C. Nicosia, P. Chen, J. Huskens, Reactivity Mapping: Electrochemical Gradients for Monitoring Reactivity at Surfaces in

Space and Time, Nature Communications 4 [2013] 1667 (1-7).

Prof. dr. ir. Jurriaan Huskens"Molecular

nanoFabrication:

assembling the future of

molecular matter!"

Reactivity mapping with electrochemical gradients for monitoring reactivity at surfaces in space and time

In many chemical and biological reactions, it is important to know how readily and rapidly the substances involved react with one

another. For instance, it is vital to have a detailed understanding of the ideal conditions for reactions used in industrial processes.

However, measuring this reactivity can often pose considerable challenges. We have now developed a system that allows to easily

measure the reaction kinetics of reactions that take place on surfaces.

The system consists of a reaction surface on a small glass plate, above which (in the liquid phase) the reaction can take place. The

small glass plate is fitted with two electrodes, one hundred micrometres apart (Fig. 1). By setting up an electrical potential difference

(voltage) between these electrodes, a chemical gradient (such as a pH gradient) can be created above the surface. Gradients are

gradual transitions in specific properties, such as acidity. The tiny chip makes it easy to create micrometre scale gradients. One can

then determine the reaction kinetics of the reaction by measuring the speed of the reaction at various points between the electrodes

(Fig. 2). This kinetic data can be conveniently visualized in a reactivity map.

In the past, it was necessary to perform a reaction many times, under a variety of conditions. This chip allows you to test a wide

range of conditions all at once. This newly developed system can be used to efficiently measure the reaction kinetics of various

chemical or biological reactions.

Molecular nanoFabrication

The Molecular nanoFabrication (MnF) group, headed by Prof. Jurriaan Huskens, focuses on nano-

chemis try and self-assembly. Key research elements are: supramolecular and monolayer chemistry

at interfaces, multivalency, supramolecular materials, biomolecule assembly and cell patterning,

nanoparticle assembly, soft and imprint lithography, chemistry in microfluidic devices, and multistep

integrated nanofabrication schemes. Application areas are: chemical and biosensing, tissue engineering,

heavy metal waste handling, catalysis and synthesis, solar-2-fuel devices, and nano-, spin- and flexible

electronic devices. The group has several collaborations within MESA+, e.g. on the assembly of proteins

and cells on patterned surfaces (with the DBE group) and on nanoelectronic and spintronic devices (with

the NE group). Furthermore, the group actively participates in the Twente Graduate School program

Novel NanoMaterials, and in the national programs NanoNext, BMM and Towards BioSolar Cells.

Figure 1: Device layout (top) and electrochemical click method

(bottom) to create micron-sized surface gradients.

Figure 2: Example of a surface gradient made with the method

shown in Figure 1 (top left), fluorescence intensity profiles

along the gradient as a function of reaction time (top right),

and reactivity map showing the rate constants as a function of

position along the surface (bottom).

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Multiscale Mechanics with strongly different particle sizes

How many state-variables are needed to predict the equation of state and the jamming density of highly polydisperse mixtures in

colloidoal, granular, or glassy, non-equilibrium compressed states? We propose to define equivalent and maximally equivalent systems

as those that match three and five moments of a given polydisperse size distribution, respectively. Fluids can be represented well

by an equivalent system with only s = 2 components (bidisperse). As little as s = 3 components (tridisperse) are found to be enough

to achieve a maximally equivalent system. Those match macroscopic properties in solid-like, high-density glassy states, but also

the volume fraction of rattlers, suggesting strong microstructural equivalency too. For many soft and granular systems, tridisperse,

maximally equivalent systems allow for a closed analytical treatment and well-controlled industrial applications. Our proposal waits

for experimental validation, e.g. from colloidal systems or other soft matter, also including shear deformations.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: V. Ogarko, S. Luding, Prediction of polydisperse hard-sphere mixture behavior using tridisperse systems, Soft Matter 9 (2013) 9530.

Prof. dr. stefan luding“How does contact mechanics at the

nano-scale determine macroscopic flow

properties of granular matter?”

Multi Scale Mechanics

The group Multi Scale Mechanics (MSM) studies fluids and solids, as well as granular

systems, where various physical phenomena with different characteristic time- and

length-scales are taking place simultaneously. At each length scale, the question

arises how the mechanics and physics at that level are determined by the properties

of the underlying level, and how, in turn, the current level affects the next level.

Micro-Macro theory is one way to predict and describe this hierarchy, and advanced

numerical simulations supported by experiments and theory help us understand the

various levels and their couplings and solve many application problems in industry

and environment, as e.g. related to segregation and mixing in the presence of strongly

different sized particles.

Figure 2: Polydisperse, periodic, 3-dimensional particle

system in a cube, where colors blue (large), green (medium)

and red (small) indicate the various particle sizes. In order to

understand the system, it is sufficient to know the first five

moments of the size distribution on the macro-scale, instead

of having to specify all different particles and their sizes on

the micro-scale.

Figure 1: Simulation of polydisperse particulate flow and

segregation in a rotating drum, with every particle of a

different size (colored with red the smallest and blue the

largest, with size ratio 1 to 10. A strong segregation pattern

can be observed with the small particles located at the centre

of the drum.

The figure comes from this paper:

Shaping Segregation: Convexity versus concavity,

S. Gonzalez, S. Luding, and A.R. Thornton, Publication

under Review.

Prof. dr. ir. Kitty nijmeijer“Molecular membrane design to

control mass transport.”

A solvent-shrinkage method for producing polymeric microsieves with sub- micron size pores

This paper presents a thorough investigation of a simple method to decrease the dimensions of polymeric microsieves. Microsieves

are membranes that are characterized by straight-through, uniform and well-ordered pores between 0.5 µm and 10 µm in diameter.

These characteristics lead to a high flux and excellent separation behavior. Pore sizes of microsieves are usually in the micrometer

scale, but need to be reduced to below 1 µm to make the microsieves attractive for aqueous filtration applications. In this work

polyethersulfone/polyvinylpyrrolidone microsieves were prepared using solution casting on a microstructured mold resulting in

polymeric microsieves with perforated pores with diameters in the range of 2-8 µm and a very open internal structure containing

many voids. Subsequently, size reduction in terms of pore size and periodicity of the perforated pores was performed by immersing

microsieves in mixtures of acetone and N-methylpyrrolidone. Microsieves shrunk because of swelling and weakening of the polymers,

and subsequent collapse of the open internal structure. Shrinking typically occurred in two stages: first, a stage where both the

perforated pores and periodicity shrink, and second, a stage where the perforated pores continue to shrink while the periodicity

remains constant. Microsieves with initial pore diameters of 2.6 µm were reduced down to only 0.2 µm. The maximum isotropic

shrinkage was ~35%, which was determined by the amount of voids in the polymer matrix (Fig. 2). In order to come to higher (nearly)

isotropic shrinkage, the amount of voids should be further increased.

Membrane Science and Technology

The research group Membrane Science & Technology (MST) focuses on the multi-

disciplinary topic of membrane science and technology for the separation of

molecular mixtures and selective mass transport. We aim at designing polymer

membrane chemistry, morphology and structure on a molecular level to control mass

transport phenomena in macroscopic applications. We consider our expertise as a

multidisciplinary knowledge chain ranging from molecule to process. The research

program is divided into three application clusters: Energy, Water and Life Sciences.

The group consists of two separate entities: the academic research group Membrane

Science and Technology (MST) and the European Membrane Institute Twente (EMI),

which performs confidential contract research directly with the industry.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: E. Vriezekolk, A. Kemperman, W. de Vos, K. Nijmeijer, Downscaling dimensions of polymeric microsieves by solvent-shrinking, Journal of

Membrane Science 446 (2013) 10-18.

Figure 2: Shrinking of periodicity as function of shrinkage

of pore diameter. The dotted diagonal line represents ideal

isotropic shrinkage.

Figure 1: SEM images of microsieves fabricated with a relative

humidity of 20% (A) and 83% (B), magnifications x 2500.

A B

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Smart soft matter: The next generation of polymers

Responding to stimuli drives adoptive biological organisms. When looking at such biological systems, it becomes clear that science

and technology of man-made smart materials are in its infancy. Focus in research of smart polymers has been traditionally placed

on studying the effects of one stimulus, such as temperature or variation of the chemical environment. Smart soft matter has been

used for drug release, sensing or actuation. If however progress is to be made in biomimetic smart materials, then design, synthesis,

characterization and applications of complex, integrated materials systems that respond to multiple stimuli must be pursued.

Additionally, with growing demand for miniaturization, nanotechnology-compatible physical stimuli must receive a lot more attention.

For example, addressing a polymeric material at the nanoscale is impossible by variation of the ensemble temperature, but it is very

well possible by using nanoscale wires as electrodes and changing the oxidation state of redox responsive macromolecules. A focal

area in the research of the MTP group is to utilize electrochemically responsive polymers, design structures which are responsive

to a multitude of stimuli, and integrate these molecules in functional devices. Dr. Xiaofeng Sui [1] defended his PhD Thesis in 2012

in this area with a “cum laude” distinction. In his Thesis Dr. Sui described for example a novel polymer gel, which shows a dual-

responsive behavior. The hydrogels are composed of thermo-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and redox-responsive

poly(ferrocenylsilane) (PFS) macromolecules (Fig. 1.). While at room temperature PNIPAM is water soluble, above body temperature

it precipitates and becomes insoluble. And by changing the oxidation state of Fe in PFS, this component changes color, charge and

polarity in a reversible fashion. Such hydrogels can be used for example to load a certain molecule by varying one stimulus and

release the molecular payload by varying the other. Additionally, due to the redox activity of PFS, when the hydrogels are put in Ag

salt solutions, Ag metallic nanoparticles form, which exhibit antibacterial activity.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: X. Sui, X. Feng, A. Di Luca, C.A. Van Blitterswijk, L. Moroni, M.A. Hempenius, G.J. Vancso, Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-poly(ferrocenylsilane)

dual-responsive hydrogels: Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial applications, Polymer Chemistry 4 (2), (2013) 337-342.

Prof. dr. G. Julius Vancso “Natural polymers, such as DNA,

proteins and polysaccharides enable

life. Without synthetic polymers

industrialized societies could not

exist. Soft matter nanoscience

and materials chemistry form the

scientific basis for these fields,

and provide exiting research

opportunities for our group.”

Materials Science and Technology of Polymers

Current efforts in the Materials Science and Technology of Polymers (MTP) group revolve around

platform level research in macromolecular nanotechnology and polymer materials chemistry.

The applications are realized in collaborations with specialized teams. Ongoing projects aim at

controlled synthesis of stimulus responsive, “smart” polymers and novel organometallic poly-

mers, as well as fabrication of complex macromolecular architectures in combination with nano-

particles, and semiconductor nanocrystals. Smart, designer surfaces are obtained by surface

initiated polymerizations and by electrostatic assembly. The structures obtained are used in tissue

engineering scaffolds for regenerative medicine, at interfaces that exhibit low protein adhesion to

prevent marine biofouling, in fluidic devices as pumps, valves, sensors, and in catalysis. Sensing

and delivery of molecules are pursued by intelligent nano-hydrogels. The development of enabling

tools such as scanning probe microscopes, complement this effort.

Figure: Schematic representation of the PNIPAM-PFS

hydrogel formation by photopolymerization and photographs

of the gels formed.

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Prof. dr. ir. Jaap J.W. van der Vegt“Mathematical analysis of

multigrid algorithms is the key

to obtain excellent convergence

rates.”

Novel local Discontinuous Galerkin method for the accurate computation of phase transitions

The propagation of phase transition in solids and fluids is important in many physics applications. Examples are solid–solid

transformations in elastic materials and a homogeneous compressible fluid with liquid and vapor phases with a van der Waals

equation of state. These models contain a rich mathematical structure since the strain-stress relation can have both a positive and

negative slope. This results in a mixed type hyperbolic-elliptic system of partial differential equations, which require additional

conditions to ensure a unique solution. We have considered therefore the viscosity-capillarity model, which adds dissipative and

dispersive terms to obtain meaningful solutions. The resulting system of partial differential equations also admits non-classical shock

waves next to phase transitions. We have developed a novel local discontinuous Galerkin (LDG) finite element discretization to solve

this model numerically, which is non-trivial due to the mixed-type behavior of the partial differential equations. A nice feature of the

LDG method is that it exactly satisfies a discrete energy relation, which we used to obtain a detailed a priori error analysis of the

discrete equations. In order to obtain accurate reference solutions for the testing of the numerical algorithms also exact solutions of a

Riemann problem for a tri-linear strain-stress relation, in combination with a kinetic relation to select the unique admissible solution,

were derived. An important feature of these solutions is that they exhibit oscillations around discontinuities at phase boundaries.

Extensive numerical tests of several Riemann problems, resulting in shock waves and phase transitions, show that the LDG results

compare well with the analytical solutions. They also highlight that the solution in the elliptic regime are physically unstable and

rapidly move to the hyperbolic region.

Mathematics of Computational Science

The Mathematics of Computational Science (MACS) group focuses on the mathe-

matical aspects of advanced scientific computing. The two main research areas are

the development, analysis and application of numerical algorithms for the (adaptive)

solution of partial differential equations and the mathematical modeling of multi-

scale problems making these accessible for computation. Special emphasis is put

on the development and analysis of discontinuous Galerkin finite element methods

and efficient (parallel) solution algorithms for large algebraic systems. Important

applications are in the fields of computational electromagnetics (nanophotonics), free

surface flows (water waves, inkjet printing), (dispersed) two-phase flows and phase

transition, and granular flows.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: L. Tian, Y. Xu, J.G.M. Kuerten, J.J.W. van der Vegt, A local discontinuous Galerkin method for the propagation of phase transition in solid and

fluids, Journal of Scientific Computing, DOI 10.1007/s10915-013-9778-9 (2013).

Figure 2: Trace of the numerical solution in phase space

for phase transitions in an elastic solid model with trilinear

strain-stress relation.

Figure 1: Phase transitions and shocks in an elastic solid

model with trilinear stress–strain relation, Number of

elements 800, 1,600 and 3,200.

B

A

Strain

Velocity .

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Quantum dot blinking is independent of excitation wavelength

Fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy techniques have facilitated quantitative research in the life sciences. The recent

development of fluorescence based super-resolution microscopies has opened a new window to study the architecture and dynamics

of subcellular structures at the nanoscale. With the increasing complexity of the applications of fluorophores, a detailed understanding

of their photophysical properties has become necessary. To obtain this insight we are studying the photophysics of various classes

of emitters at the single molecule level.

When single emitters are studied they are observed to blink; they switch between emitting and non-emitting states. In imaging

applications blinking is an ambiguous phenomenon. Although unwanted in quantitative imaging, blinking is essential for single

molecule localization based super-resolution microscopy techniques. Quantum dots are popular fluorophores in the life sciences. There

have been indications that the duration of the emitting state in blinking quantum dots strongly depends on the excitation wavelength.

Such wavelength dependent blinking would have considerable consequences even for conventional imaging. We recorded single

quantum dot intensity traces for different excitation wavelengths and determined for each excitation wavelength the probability to find

short- and long-lasting emitting states. We were able to quantitatively show that blinking does not change with excitation wavelength

and that the effect of blinking as a function of excitation wavelength is not a salient parameter in imaging applications.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: M. H. W. Stopel, J. C. Prangsma, C. Blum, V. Subramaniam, Blinking statistics of colloidal quantum dots at different excitation wavelengths,

RSC Advances 3 (38) (2013) 17440-17445.

Prof. dr. M.M.A.E. Claessens“Understanding the physical

principles underlying the organization,

dynamics and physicochemical

properties of complex biological

materials will give us insight into

disease mechanisms, and inspire

the rational design of bio-based

materials.”

nanobiophysics

The Nanobiophysics group (NBP) aims at understanding the physical principles underlying

the organization and dynamics of complex biological materials such as cells. This approach

does not only give us insight into disease mechanisms, it also inspires the design of bio-

based materials. Our current research focuses on the self-assembly of proteins into fibrils and

networks. We are intrigued by the use of amyloid fibrils in biological materials and by the role

of amyloids in neurodegenerative diseases. To get insight into functional and disease related

protein aggregation we develop cutting-edge technologies that enable us to visualize and

manipulate molecules at the nanoscale. We use the toolbox of nanophotonics to manipulate

biological fluorophores. Functional imaging, involving quantitative measurements of dynamic

processes at high resolution is an integral part of our work.

Figure 1: Continuous excitation of a single quantum dot results

in blinking; in time the quantum dot switches between emitting

and non-emitting states. It had been suggested that blinking

depends on the excitation wavelengths used.

Figure 2: We analyzed the blinking of single quantum dots

using 14 different excitation wavelengths. Our results show

that the excitation wavelengths neither have an significant

effect on the occurrence of short emitting state periods

between 20ms and 0.5s (pshort, black) nor on the occurrence of

long emitting state periods between 0.5s and 3s (plong, red).

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[HigHligHtS]Prof. dr. ir. Wilfred G. van der Wiel“Nanoelectronics

is where electrical

engineering,

physics, chemistry,

materials science

and nanotechnology

inevitably meet.”

Ultrahigh Magnetoresistance at Room Temperature in Molecular Wires

We have created 1D molecular wires of which the electrical conductivity can almost entirely be suppressed by a weak magnetic

field at room temperature. The underlying mechanism is possibly closely related to the biological compass used by some birds. This

discovery may lead to radically new magnetic field sensors.

We have made use of DXP, the organic molecule which is a red dye of the same type as once used by Ferrari for their famous

Testarossa. In order to thread the molecules so that they form 1D chains of 30 to 100 nm in length, we locked the molecules in zeolite

crystals. Zeolites are porous minerals composed of silicon, aluminum and oxygen atoms with narrow channels. The diameter of the

channels in the zeolites is only 1 nm, just a little wider than the molecule’s diameter. This enabled us to create chains of aligned

molecules inside the zeolite channel, which are only 1 molecule wide.

The zeolites containing the molecular wires were then placed on a conductive substrate. By placing the tip of an atomic force

microscope (AFM), on top of a zeolite crystal, we were able to measure the conductivity in the wires. Measuring the electrical

conductivity is a unique result in itself, but the behavior of these wires is simply spectacular when applying a magnetic field. This

is because electrical conductivity nearly completely breaks down in a magnetic field of just a few milliteslas.

The change in electrical resistance through a magnetic field is called magnetoresistance and is very important in technology. Usually,

magnetic materials are indispensable for creating magnetoresistance. However, the ultrahigh magnetoresistance here was achieved

without any magnetic materials. This is ascribed to the interaction between the electrons carrying electricity and the magnetic

field which is generated by the surrounding atomic nuclei in the organic molecules. Current suppression in a small magnetic field

can ultimately be traced back to the Pauli exclusion principle, the quantum mechanical principle that states that no two electrons

(fermions) may have identical quantum numbers. Since the electric wires are essentially 1D, the effect of the Pauli exclusion principle

is dramatic. This interpretation is supported by calculations.

nanoElectronics

The Chair NanoElectronics (NE) performs research and provides education in the field of nano-

electronics. Our research involves hybrid inorganic-organic electronics, spin electronics and

quantum electronics. The research goes above and beyond the boundaries of traditional disciplines,

synergetically combining aspects of Electrical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, and

Nanotechnology. NE consists of more than 30 group members and is actively looking for people to join.

The field of nanoelectronics comprises a mix of intriguing physical phenomena and revolutionary

novel concepts for devices and systems with improved performance and/or entirely new functionality.

NE has some dedicated infrastructure including MBE deposition, scanning tunneling microscopy,

cryogenic measurement systems down to temperatures of 10 mK in combination with magnetic fields

up to 10 tesla.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: R.N. Mahato, H. Lülf, M.H. Siekman, S.P. Kersten, P.A. Bobbert, M.P. de Jong, L. De Cola, W.G. van der Wiel, Ultrahigh Magnetoresistance

at Room Temperature in Molecular Wires, Science 341 (2013) 257.

Figure 2: Zeolite with DXP molecules (top view). Zeolite L is

an electrically insulating aluminosilicate crystalline system,

which consists of many channels running through the whole

crystal and oriented parallel to the cylinder axis. The geo-

metrical constraints of the zeolite host structure allow for

the formation of one-dimensional chains of highly uniaxially

oriented molecules.

Figure 3: Zeolite with DXP molecules (side view). The zeolite

channels are almost completely filled with DXP molecules.

Each molecule occupies three unit cells of the zeolite channel.

Electrons hop from molecule to molecule, giving rise to

electrical current.

Figure 1: Experimental Setup. A conducting-probe atomic force

microscope (CP-AFM) measures the electrical conduction

of aromatic molecules, DXP, aligned within the channels of a

zeolite crystal on top of a conducting substrate. The channels

have a maximum diameter of 1.26 nm and an entrance diameter

of only 0.71 nm; the DXP molecules have the same width as

the channel entrances and a length of 2.2 nm. Therefore, the

entrapped molecules are all aligned along the zeolite channel

axis, forming perfectly one-dimensional molecular wires. The

zoom-in shows a DXP molecule confined in a zeolite channel.

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the ultimate limit of electrochemical detection

Electrochemical detection of individual molecular tags in nanochannels may enable cost effective, massively parallel analysis

and diagnostics platforms. We demonstrated for the first time single-molecule detection of prototypical analytes in aqueous

solution at physiological salt concentrations. Our technique is based on redox cycling, in which target molecules repeatedly

react at two closely spaced electrodes imbedded in a nanochannel so as to yield a measurable current. The nanofluidic devices

are fabricated using standard microfabrication techniques combined with a self-aligned approach that minimizes gap size and

dead volume.

Prof. dr. serge J.G. lemay"The physics of ions in liquid are directly

relevant to a surprisingly wide array of

research areas of current scientific and

societal interest. These include nanoscience

(the ‘natural’ length scale for ions), energy

(fuel cells, supercapacitors), neuroscience

(signal transduction, new experimental

tools), and health and environment

monitoring (new and better sensors)."

NanoIonics

The goals of the group NanoIonics (NI) are to add to the fundamental under-

standing of electrostatics and electron transfer in liquid, and to explore concepts

for new fluidic devices based on this understanding. Our experimental tools,

which are largely dictated by the intrinsic nanometer scale of the systems that

we study, include scanning probes, sensitive electronics, and lithography-based

microfabrication. Through its focus on nanoscience and its multidisciplinary

nature, this research is a natural fit for MESA+.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: S. Kang, A. F. Nieuwenhuis, K. Mathwig, D. Mampallil, S. G. Lemay, Electrochemical Single-Molecule Detection in Aqueous Solution using Self-

Aligned Nanogap Transducers, ACS Nano 7 (2013) 10931-10937.

Figure 2: Current-time traces simultaneously obtained at

the top (blue) and bottom (red) electrodes. Discrete, anti-

correlated current steps with amplitude ~7 femtoamperes

are generated each time that an individual analyte molecule

enters and subsequently exits the nanogap. Here two events

are observed during a 120 s period.

Figure 1: Optical microscope image (top view) of a self-

aligned nanogap device consisting of a nanochannel whose

floor and ceiling are two separately addressable electrodes.

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Nanofluidics for Lab on a Chip Applications

Prof. dr. Jan Eijkel"The Nanofluidics for Lab on a Chip Applications

group aims to perform innovative fluidic research for

biomedical and energy applications."

Fluid flow on the nanoscale is fundamentally different from

fluid flow on the microscale because the extreme confinement

causes another set of forces to become dominant. In the

Nanofluidics for Lab on a Chip Applications group we explore

the fundamentals of nanoscale fluid behaviour and apply the

knowledge gained to subjects ranging from green energy

generation to single-molecule research and from innovative

separation methods to point of care diagnostics.

in search of limits: single enzyme studies in femtoliter droplets

With increasing system downscaling, volumes finally become so small that they only contain single molecules of analyte. In the

study of enzymes, such small volumes will enable us to investigate single enzyme molecules, finding information on molecular

heterogeneity and on changes in enzyme activity over time for a single molecule.

In a recent study extreme confinement enabled us to determine the kinetic activity of individual enzyme molecules. A suspension of

highly monodisperse and stable aqueous droplets of 2.5–3 μm diameter in oil was generated in a glass system by the use of a micro-

and nanochannel structure (Fig. 1). Droplets were filled with a solution of the enzyme -glucosidase and its substrate fluorescein-

b-D-glucopyranoside. The fluorescent enzyme product fluorescein remained contained in the femtoliter droplet volumes, locally

generating high concentrations with low background noise. Figure 1 shows the chip layout used and figure 2 the increase in

fluorescence as observed in parallel in hundreds of droplets. The chip contained an outlet channel that allowed us to observe the

development of fluorescence large numbers of individual droplets in parallel over time. The microchip device is very suited for

practical applications, since the instrumental requirements are modest. The low background noise due to the small droplet size

allows the use of a standard microscope and standard Pyrex glass chips. Furthermore the ultrasmall droplet size allows the use of

relatively high enzyme concentrations (nM range) while still obtaining single molecule encapsulation.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: R. Arayanarakool, L. Shui, S.W. M. Kengen, A. van den Berg, J.C. T. Eijkel, Single-enzyme analysis in a droplet-based micro- and nanofluidic

system, Lab Chip 13 (2013) 1955-1962.

Figure 2: The increase of fluorescent product in single droplets

at enzyme concentrations of 0.1 nM (A) and 0.2 nM (B). The

observed distribution peaks were found to obey a Poisson

distribution and are interpreted as indicating droplet occupancy

by 0, 1, 2 or 3 enzyme molecules. The continuous phase was

silicone oil with 4% Span80 and the aqueous phase was FDGlu

(enzyme substrate, 200 mM) and -glucosidase (0.1 nM)in PBS

solution.

Figure 1: (A) Schematic of the droplet generator. Silicone oil

(orange) and enzyme and substrate solution (green) are loaded

into microchannels at 1 and 2, and the input flows split at 3 and

4. (B) Zoom-in view. At the T-junction, femtoliter droplets of

aqueous solution are formed. Droplets are stored in the outlet

microchannel where time-resolved fluorescent measurements

are performed. Arrows indicate the direction of fluid flow.

Microchannel and nanochannel depths were 3μm and 500 nm.

A

B

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Prof. dr. Jennifer l. Herek“Fundamental research in

spectroscopy and imaging

shines light on innovation and

technology.”

CARS microscopy driving the future of pharmaceutical imaging

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy is a powerful nonlinear imaging technique providing rapid chemically

selective images for a wide range of applications. CARS microscopy provides chemical selectivity by imaging light scattered from

molecular vibrations. Our recent development in the area of hyperspectral CARS has further extended the imaging capabilities [1].

Traditional CARS microscopy images only one molecular vibration while hyperspectral CARS employs rapid spectral scanning to

enable imaging from a number of molecular vibrations. Figure 1 shows a hyperspectral CARS image of a complex heterogeneous

mixture of seven amino acids, distinguished by their unique vibrational spectral signatures.

CARS imaging can play an important role in pharmaceutical development. Dissolution testing is a critical aspect of the pharmaceutical

development process with strict regulations governing the rate at which tablets and capsules must dissolve. There is considerable

interest in the pharmaceutical industry for a more in-depth understanding of the dissolution process. Our group designed and

implemented in situ dissolution imaging by combining CARS and hyperspectral CARS analysis with flow-through UV absorption

spectroscopy [2]. Combining these two techniques allowed chemically specific monitoring of the surface of a dissolving tablet while

simultaneously recording the dissolution rate. It was found that in the case of the model drug theophylline, a crystalline conversion

from anhydrous to hydrous form occurs during dissolution (Fig. 2) and that this conversion process leads to a significant reduction in

dissolution rate of the drug. In situ dissolution imaging using CARS has the potential to greatly aid in the pharmaceutical development

process, providing insight in situations where tablets fail traditional dissolution tests.

Optical Sciences

Optical Sciences (OS) is a dynamic and multidisciplinary research group, whose

infrastructure and expertise ranges from near-field probing of (single) molecules

and materials through nonlinear spectroscopy and imaging to nanostructure

fabrication and ultrafast laser spectroscopy. The addition of integrated optics

research extends fundamental science to new techniques and devices for health,

energy, and water. Applications include improving the efficiency of solar-driven

photovoltaic and photocatalytic devices, chemically-selective imaging in biololgy,

medicine and pharmacology, and novel optical antennas based on strongly

coupled plasmonic nanostructures.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS: [1] E.T. Garbacik, J.L. Herek, C. Otto, H.L. Offerhaus, Rapid identification of heterogeneous mixture components with hyperspectral

coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering imaging, Journal of Raman spectroscopy 43 (2012) 651-655. [2] A.L. Fussell, E.T. Garbacik, H.L Offerhaus, P. Kleinebudde, C.

Strachan, In situ dissolution analysis using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) and hyperspectral CARS microscopy, European Journal of Pharmaceutics

and Biopharmaceutics 85 (2013) 1141-1147.

Figure 2: Frames of a real-time CARS video show needles of

theophylline hydrate crystals growing like starbursts on the

surface of a theophylline anhydrate tablet as it undergoes

dissolution by water.

Figure 1: Hyperspectral CARS projection of a mixture of

seven amino acids (A), and color-coded regions of interest

selected for CARS spectra extraction (B).

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Philosophy of Science in Practice

Prof. dr. ir. Mieke Boon"Understanding the role of measurements in the

production of scientific knowledge of physical

properties and phenomena holds the key to

understanding how scientific research enables

technological design."

The group Philosophy of Science in Practice aims at an integrated

and workable account of how techno-scientific research produces

technology and scientific knowledge that facilitates critical reflection

on methodological issues. Textbooks by scientists usually repeat

an inappropriate traditional picture of science that concurs with a

traditional philosophical view of science. A more refined philosophical

understanding is crucial for dealing with methodological difficulties

that result from increasing scientific fragmentation and technological

complexity, and for coping with the societal importance of techno-

scientific research.

a Pragmatic Perspective on Measurements in the engineering sciences

When looking at the earliest uses of measurements, their well-known role was in trade, where the ability of using rudimentary

measures of weight enabled bartering food and raw materials, but also in manufacturing. Already the plain ability to measure the

length of things by means of specific units, together with some elementary arithmetic and geometry enabled craftsmen to design

and construct things, such as cathedrals, churches, castles, bridges, houses, musical instruments, furniture, tools, and cloths.

When reflecting upon this situation, it occurs to us that the ability of humans to measure and apply basic mathematics firstly makes

designing possible. Designers can find out on paper or by means of computer simulations how to build something that does not

exist as yet: how to make a construction such as a building or a ship of which the sizes agree to our needs, and which is stable and

strong enough, but also meets esthetic ideals. Furthermore, our ability to measure and calculate makes possible the subsequent

epistemic uses of a design. In the actual fabrication, epistemic uses of a design are, for instance, calculating the quantity of

materials and the dimensions of the pieces, and finding out how parts are to be prepared and fitted together. This perspective on

the role of measurements and mathematics in the design of artifacts is generalized to the design of more advanced technologies,

such as those developed in chemical engineering, biomedical engineering and nanotechnology.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: M. Boon, A Pragmatic Perspective on Measurements in the Engineering Sciences. Presented at the conference Dimensions of Measurement

(ZIF, Bielefeld, 2013), and to be published in: The Epistemology of Measurements. Alfred Nordmann et al. (eds.) (2013).

Figure 3: Replica of the National Prototype Kilogram standard no.

K20 kept by the US government National Institute of Standards and

Technology (NIST), shown as it is normally stored, inside two glass

bell jars. This is the primary standard defining all units of mass

and weight in the US. It is a polished cylinder made of 90% platinum

- 10% iridium alloy, 39 mm (1.5 inches) in diameter and 39 mm

high. After the International Prototype Kilogram had been found to

vary in mass over time, the International Committee for Weights

and Measures (CIPM) recommended in 2005 that the kilogram be

redefined in terms of a fundamental constant of nature.

Figure 2: Close-up of National Prototype Meter Bar, made in 1889

by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM)

and given to the United States, which served as the standard for

defining all units of length in the US from 1893 to 1960. Since 1983,

the meter has been defined as "the length of the path travelled by

light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second.”

Figure 1: What is measured in a measurement? Supposedly, we measure physical properties

and phenomena. However, most of these properties and phenomena are not somehow

observed in a measurement. Instead, they only become known to us by means of measurement

procedures that eventually lead back to the measurement of the seven SI base quantities,

which are cast in base units. These quantities and base units result from conventions. The

meter and the kilogram are examples of such conventions. So, do we really understand what is

measured in a measurement?

base Quantity base unit

name symbol name symbol

Length l,h,r meter m

Mass m kilogram kg

Time t second s

Electric current I, i ampere A

Temperature T kelvin K

Amount of substance N mole mol

Luminous intensity Iv candela cd

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Prof. dr. Frieder Mugele“Nanoscience and -technology are

characterized by large surface-to-volume

ratios. At PCF, we develop strategies to

understand and manipulate complex fluid

flows on the micro- and nanometer scale

using various controls of wetting behavior

including in particular electrowetting.”

trapping of drops by tunable wetting defects

Controlling the motion of drops on solid surfaces is crucial in many natural phenomena and technological processes including the

collection and removal of rain drops (for example from plants or car windows), cleaning technology, heat exchangers, and microfluidic

devices. Wetting defects such as topographic patterns and chemical patches of variable wettability give rise to pinning forces that

can capture and steer drops in certain directions.

To study the physical principles controlling whether or not a wetting defect is strong enough to capture a passing drop we introduce

wetting defects with an electrically tunable strength based on electrowetting. This flexible tool allows us to study the trapping

process in detail. We find that drop trapping is not only controlled by the trapping strength (relative of the driving force), but also by

the balance between inertia and viscous dissipation. A rather generic model identifies conditions of trapping in a multidimensional

parameter space involving all relevant parameters and is validated for various driving forces (gravity, viscous oil drag, air drag) and

defects (electrical, topographic, chemical), see figure 1.

The concept of electrically tunable wetting defects can be readily implemented into microfluidic systems. We demonstrated that the

approach can be used to sort drops, steer them in desired directions in a microfluidic channel and trap and release them on demand

as illustrated in figure 2. This technology is currently being incorporated into a complex microfluidic device for the detection and

analysis of circulating tumor cells in collaboration with Prof. L. Terstappen (MCBP – MIRA institute).

Physics of Complex Fluids

Manipulating fluids and interfaces from the nano- to the microscale

The goal of the Physics of Complex Fluids (PCF) group is to understand and control

the physical properties of liquids and solid-liquid interfaces from molecular scales

up to the micrometer range. We are particularly interested in i) (electro)wetting

& microfluidics, ii) nanoscale properties of confined fluids, and iii) soft matter

mechanics. Our research connects fundamental physical and physico-chemical

phenomena in interface science, nanofluidics, microfluidic two-phase flow, static

and dynamic wetting, superhydrophobicity, drop impact, and drop evaporation to

practically relevant applications including enhanced oil recovery, lab-on-a-chip

systems, optofluidics, inkjet printing, and immersion lithography.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS: [1] D.J.C.M. 't Mannetje, A.G. Banpurkar, H. Koppelman, M.H.G. Duits, D. Van Den Ende, F. Mugele, Electrically tunable wetting defects

characterized by a simple capillary force sensor, Langmuir 29 (2013) 9944–9949. [2] R. de Ruiter, A.M. Pit, V. Martins de Oliveira, M.H.G. Duits, H.T.M. van den Ende, F. Mugele,

Electrostatic potential wells for on-demand drop manipulation in microchannels, Lab on a Chip 15 (2014) 883-891. [3] D.J.C.M. ‘t Mannetje, S. Ghosh, R. Lagraauw, S. Otten,

A.M. Pit, C. Berendsen, J. Zeegers, H.T.M. van den Ende, F. Mugele, Trapping of drops by wetting defects, Nature Communications 5:3559, DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4559 (2014).

Figure 1: Drop trapping at an electrically tunable wetting

defect on an inclined plane. (A) Top view of sliding drop. For

voltages below a critical threshold value drops pass the

defect (dashed line in top graph), while for larger voltages

the drop gets trapped (bottom). (B) Schematic of the setup.

(C) Potential energy landscape versus drop position for zero

voltage (red line) and a finite voltage (black).

Figure 2: Electrostatic potential wells can also be used for

precise control of individual drops in microfluidic channels,

for on-demand drop trapping and release, guiding, and high-

speed sorting [2].

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Prof. dr. Guido Mul“We strive to significantly

contribute to energy and

environmental science

and engineering, making

use of the expertise and

outstanding facilities of the

MESA+ institute to construct

nanostructured catalysts

and devices.“

Creation of Photoelectrochemically Effective Pt/WO3 Interfaces

Photocatalytic splitting of H2O into hydrogen and oxygen is an ideal reaction to store solar energy in the form of chemical energy.

The PCS and NE groups of the institute have joined forces to develop a device (the ‘Hydrosolix’ concept) which would allow to store a

significant amount of the UV/visible part of the solar spectrum in the form of hydrogen. This concept is based on the use of two light

sensitive catalysts, one which is active in water oxidation and the other in the reduction of protons (Fig. 1). To sustain the activity

of the device, electron transfer between the two catalysts is necessary, established by immobilizing these on opposite sides of an

ultrathin metallic devider.

In a recent publication we have focused on the immobilization of the water oxidation catalyst (WO3) on (patterned) Pt surfaces

supported on Si, and evaluated its potential for water oxidation. WO3 growth is highly selective for Pt when present on silicon

in a patterned arrangement (Fig. 2). Moreover, Pt/WO3 interfaces obtained by our synthesis method yield high photo-currents of

1.1 mA/cm2 in photoelectrochemical water splitting when illuminated by a solar simulator. The photo-currents are significantly higher

than most previously reported values for hydrothermally grown layers on indium-tin oxide and fluorine-tin oxide glasses. The selective

growth method thus provides new options to effectively implement WO3 in photoelectrochemical devices.

Photocatalytic Synthesis

The Photocatalytic synthesis group develops materials, devices, and processes for light and/

or electricity induced chemical conversion. We specialize among others in: i) in silico design

of innovative semiconductor compositions, ii) (hydrothermal) solution based synthesis of

semiconductors contacting conductive surfaces, as well as their functionalization with (plasmonic)

metal nanoparticles, iii) Transient (ATR) Infrared spectroscopy to study kinetically relevant steps in

photo- and/or electrocatalytic transformations, iv) high temperature, high pressure electrochemistry,

and v) development of dedicated reactors and devices connected to micro GC methodology to study

photocatalytic activity. Fields of application we target are: i) solar energy storage by overall water

splitting (producing hydrogen and oxygen), ii) conversion of CO2 and H2O producing hydrocarbons, iii)

methane activation, and iv) purification or utilization of waste streams (contaminated air and water).

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: M.G.C. Zoontjes, M. Huijben, J. Baltrusaitis, W.G. van der Wiel, G. Mul, Selective Hydrothermal Method To Create Patterned and

Photoelectrochemically Effective Pt/WO3 Interfaces, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, volume 5(24) (2013) 13050-13054.

Figure 2: Illustration of the selective growth of WO3 on Pt

dots, as analyzed by SEM combined with elemental mapping

by EDX. (a)SEM images of 50-μm-diameter Pt/WO3 dots

and (b) the corresponding EDX map of Si, Pt, W, and O. (c)

SEM images of 10-μm-diameter Pt/WO3 dots and (d) the

corresponding EDX map of Si, Pt, W, and O.

Figure 1: Overview of the aimed device under construction

to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen. Yellow dots

represent WO3 crystals, catalyzing water oxidation, and

gray dots crystals of a hydrogen evolution catalyst such as

Rh-doped SrTiO3. Both catalytic materials need to be grown

on opposite sides of a thin film of electron conducting metal,

such as Pt.

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Electronically stabilized nanowire growth

Metallic nanowires show unique physical properties owing to their one-dimensional nature. Many of these unique properties are

intimately related to electron–electron interactions, which have a much more prominent role in one dimension than in two or three

dimensions. We have directly visualization quantum size effects that are responsible for preferred lengths of self-assembled metallic

iridium nanowires grown on a germanium (001) surface. The nanowire length distribution shows a strong preference for nanowire

lengths that are an integer multiple of half of the Fermi wavelength (i.e. 4.8 nm). Spatially resolved scanning tunneling spectroscopic

measurements reveal the presence of electron standing waves patterns in the nanowires [1]. These standing waves are caused by

conduction electrons, that is the electrons near the Fermi level, which are scattered at the ends of the nanowire.

The instability of silicene on Ag(111)

Low energy electron microscopy (LEEM) has been used to directly visualize the formation and stability of silicene layers on a silver

(Ag) (111) substrate [2]. Theoretical calculations call into question the stability of this graphene-like analog of silicon. We find that

silicene layers are intrinsically unstable against the formation of an “sp3-like" hybridized, bulk-like silicon structure. The irreversible

formation of this bulk-like structure is triggered by thermal Si adatoms that are created by the silicene layer itself. To add injury to

insult, this same instability prevents the formation of a fully closed silicene layer or a thicker bilayer, rendering the future large-scale

fabrication of silicene layers on Ag substrates unlikely.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS: [1] T.F. Mocking, P. Bampoulis, N. Oncel, B. Poelsema, H.J.W. Zandvliet, Electronically stabilized nanowire growth, Nature Communications

4 (2013) 2387. [2] A. Acun, B. Poelsema, H.J.W. Zandvliet, R. van Gastel, The instability of silicene on Ag(111), Appl. Phys. Lett. 103 (2013) 263119.

Prof. dr. ir. Harold J.W. Zandvliet"The properties of electron systems

become increasingly exotic as one

progresses from the three-dimensional

case into lower dimensions."

Physics of Interfaces and Nanomaterials

The research field of the Physics of Interfaces and Nanomaterials (PIN) group

involves controlled preparation and understanding of interfaces, low-dimensional

(nano)structures and nanomaterials. We focus on systems that (1) rely on state-

of-the art applications or (2) can potentially lead to future applications. Our

research interest is driven by the fact that on a nanometer length scale the

material properties depend on size, shape and dimensionality. A key challenge of

our research activities is to obtain control over the properties in such a way that

we are able to tailor the properties for (device) applications, ranging from nano/

micro-electronics, nano-electromechanical systems and wettability to sustainable

energy related issues.

Figure 2: Series of LEEM images of the growth of silicene on

Ag(111). (a) clean Ag(111) substrate (b) 0.5 monolayer silicene

(c) 0.75 monolayer silicene (d) 0.9 monolayer of silicene (e) 1.0

monolayer of silicene and (f) 1.3 monolayer of silicene. Field

of view (a) 6.7 μm (b)-(f) 1.3 μm. Black/dark areas: silicene/

silicon nanocrystals and bright areas: bare Ag(111). (e)-(f)

the first layer of silicene is consumed by the second layer of

silicon that is deposited. The black features in image (f) are

sp3 hybridized silicon nanocrystals.

Figure 1: Spatial variation of the differential conductivity

(dI/dV) at the Fermi level for a Ir nanowire with a length of

4.8 nm (A) and 9.6 nm (B). r=0 refers to one of the ends of

the nanowire. The solid line serves as a guide to the eye.

Scanning tunneling microscopy images of the Ir nanowires

are shown at the top of both graphs.

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Prof. dr. ir. Hajo Broersma"We are turning the world

upside down. Starting with

self-assembled nanosystems

we try to evolve them

into functional units. We

already managed to do this

successfully for universal

logic gates."

NASCENCE

In the FP7 project "NASCENCE: Nanoscale Engineering for Novel Computation using Evolution" that started on November 1, 2012, the

aim is to model, understand and exploit the behaviour of evolving nanosystems (e.g. networks of nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes or

films of graphene) with the long term goal to build information processing devices exploiting these architectures without reproducing

individual components. With an interface to a conventional digital computer we will use computer controlled manipulation of physical

systems to evolve them towards doing useful computation. See www.nascence.eu for more details on progress.

During the project our target is to lay the technological and theoretical foundations for this new kind of information processing

technology, inspired by the success of natural evolution and the advancement of nanotechnology, and the expectation that we soon

reach the limits of miniaturisation in digital circuitry (Moore's Law). The mathematical modelling of the configuration of networks

of nanoscale particles combined with the embodied realisation of such systems through computer controlled stochastic search

can strengthen the theoretical foundations of the field while keeping a strong focus on their potential application in future devices.

Members of the consortium have already demonstrated proof of principle by the evolution of liquid crystal computational processors

for simple tasks, but these earlier studies have only scraped the surface of what such systems may be capable of achieving.

With this project we want to develop alternative approaches for situations or problems that are challenging or impossible to solve with

conventional methods and models of computation. Achieving our objectives fully would provide not only a major disruptive technology

for the electronics industry but probably the foundations of the next industrial revolution.

Overall, we consider that this is to be a highly adventurous, high risk project with an enormous potential impact on society and the

quality of life in general. Apart from the Programmable NanoSystems group, other UT groups involved are NanoElectronics, Multiscale

Modeling and Simulation, Formal Methods and Tools, and Computer Architectures for Embedded Systems. The other EU consortium

partners involved in the NASCENCE project are located in Durham, Lugano, Trondheim and York.

Programmable nanoSystems

Using a top-down approach, ever tinier transistors have

been designed, built and integrated on chips in ever larger

quantities. This production method will face its limits soon,

and we have to prepare ourselves for the future by looking

at different concepts.

One alternative is a bottom-up method offered and inspired

by nature itself. Within PNS we explore the theoretical and

experimental possibilities of mimicking evolution in order to

(re)configure the computational properties of different nano-

materials. First results look very promising.

Figure 1: The logo of the NASCENCE project (www.nascence.eu).

Figure 3: The experimental setup at York with the interface

hardware and the sample.

Figure 2: A sample with thin films of carbon nanotubes produced

at Durham.

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Stability of surface nanobubbles

Surface nanobubbles are nanoscopic gaseous domains on immersed substrates which can survive for days. They were discovered

about 15 years ago through atomic force microscopy (AFM). While in the early years it was speculated that they may be an artefact

caused by the AFM, meanwhile their existence has been confirmed with various other methods. Their existence seems to be paradoxical,

as a simple classical estimate suggests that they should dissolved in microseconds, due to the large Laplace pressure inside these

nanoscopic objects. Yet, they are known to survive for days.

Surface nanobubbles have attracted major attention from the scientific and even general media, as they are not only interesting from

a fundamental point of view, but as they have major application potential, e.g. in (photo)catalysis, in surface cleaning, in providing

enhanced slippage in nanochannels, and in flotation.

We succeeded to develop a theoretical model for the exceptionally long lifetime of surface nanobubbles. The key ideas are that the

limited gas diffusion through the water in the far field, the cooperative effect of nanobubble clusters, and the pinned contact line of the

nanobubbles lead to the slow dissolution rate [see reference [1]].

Prof. dr. Detlef lohse“The physics of fluids

is very different on the

nano- and micro-scale

as compared to the

macro-scale and offers

various challenges of both

fundamental and applied

character.”

Physics of Fluids

The Physics of Fluids (PoF) group is studying various flow phenomenona,

both on a micro- and macro-scale. We use both experimental, theoretical, and

numerical techniques and we do both fundamental and applied research.

Our main research areas are n Turbulence and Two-Phase Flow n Granular

Flow n Biomedical Application of Bubbles n Micro- and Nanofluidics.

In the context of micro- and nanofluidics, present main subjects are surface

nanobubbles, wetting and impact phenomena, chemical microreactors, and

inkjet printing. We closely collaborate with various other Mesa+ groups, in

particular with the Zandvliet, Lefferts, Garderniers, Lammertink, Wessling,

and van der Berg groups.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS: [1] J.H. Weijst, D. Lohse, Why surface nanobubbles live for hours, Phys. Rev. Lett. 110 (2013) 054501; see also: Editor’s Suggestion of that issue, Physics Synopsis: Can’t burst this bubble, by Matteo

Rini, 31.1.2013, RSC Chemistry World: Why don’t nano bubbles go pop?, by Philip Ball, 8.2.2013, Physics World: Hamish Johnston: Why tiny bubbles don’t burst, 20.2.2013 [2] S.G. Huisman, S. Scharnowski, C. Cierpka, C.J. Kaehler,

D. Lohse, C. Sun, Logarithmic boundary layers in highly turbulent Taylor-Couette flow, Phys. Rev. Lett. 110 (2013) 264501 [5 pages]. [3] H. Lhuissier, C. Sun, A. Prosperetti, D. Lohse, Drop impact onto immiscible liquid, Phys. Rev.

Lett. 110 (2013) 264503 [5 pages]. [4] R. Lakkaraju, R.J.A.M. Stevens, P. Oresta, R. Verzicco, D. Lohse,A. Prosperetti, Heat transport in bubbling turbulent convection, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 110, No. 23 (2013) 9237-9242.

Figure 1: AFM image of surface nanobubbles, taken by

Xuehua Zhang.

Figure 2: Results of our theoretical model: (a) Snapshots of the

concentration profile at 1 h intervals. Because the bubbles are

pinned, the radius of the curvature increases as the bubble drains,

lowering the concentration at the bubble side. (b) Evolution of the

number N of molecules inside the nanobubble (black curve) and

the radius of curvature of the liquid-gas interface R [red curve] as

a function of time.

0 2 4 6 8 100

1

2

3

4 x 1024

0

6

12

x 104

0 10 20 30 012345

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Bubbles in a supersaturated liquid

Carbonated beverages, such as soft drinks, beer or champagne are examples of supersaturated liquids. At the moment you open

a bottle of champagne, for example, the pressure in the bottle drops and the liquid changes from saturated to supersaturated. The

dissolved carbon dioxide gas escapes and forms bubbles that move to the surface. If you open the bottle carelessly then so many

bubbles form that the champagne bursts out of the bottle.

Supersaturated liquids occur in nature if a saturated liquid moves to a location with a lower pressure, for example magma that escapes

during a volcanic eruption or crude oil during the exploitation of an oilfield. Crude oil is often located in porous rock or sand. Whether

or not it is feasible to extract the crude oil from the ground partly depends on how bubble growth takes place in rock.

We use a high-tech soda machine to study bubble growth under such conditions. In this machine we produce a saturated carbon

dioxide solution at a pressure of ten bars and subsequently apply the solution to a silicon chip in which miniscule holes have been

etched. These holes have been made water-repellent. Consequently, as soon as the pressure decreases bubbles will develop from inside

these holes. With this setup we can study how bubbles in the vicinity of walls grow and how growing bubbles influence each other.

We compare, for example, the growth rate of a bubble in three situations: Above the chip the bubble grows fastest, due to natural

convection caused by the depletion of CO2 in the liquid around the bubble. Below the chip, convection is partly hindered so the bubble

grows less quickly. By letting the bubble grow between two different chips, the convection can be completely suppressed. In that

case the bubble grows the slowest.

The behaviour of three bubbles in a row strongly depends on the distance between them. If this is small enough then two bubbles

will merge, creating enough space for the third bubble to carry on growing. Conversely, bubbles at a larger distance from each other

have the tendency to synchronize their growth.

Prof. dr. Devaraj van der Meer"In nature, granular materials are

seldomly found in isolation. The

combination of grains and interstitial

fluid pose many fascinating questions

that remain largely unexplored."

Granular materials, like sand, flour or iron ore, are among the most frequent

materials in nature and are the most processed substance in industry, second

only to water. Their often-counterintuitive behavior however is distinctly

different from that of molecular matter and remains far from understood. The

Physics of Granular Matter and Interstitial Fluids group employs a combination

of experiments, analysis and numerical techniques to attain to a profound

understanding of the physics of granular flow. Special attention is given to

unraveling the intricate role of the interstitial fluid, the gas or liquid that

resides within the pores between the grains. The group is embedded into the

Physics of Fluids group.

Physics of Granular Matter and Interstitial Fluids

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS: [1] O.R. Enríquez, C. Sun, D. Lohse, A. Prosperetti, D. van der Meer, The quasi-static growth of a CO2 bubble, J. Fluid Mech. 741 (2014) R1.

[2] O.R. Enríquez, C. Hummelink, G. Bruggert, D. Lohse, A. Prosperetti, D. van der Meer, C. Sun, Growing bubbles in a slightly supersaturated liquid solution, Rev. Sci. Instr.

84 (2013) 065111.

Figure: [top] The setup with the mixing vessel in the background

and the measuring vessel in the foreground. [center] A bubble that

grows above the chip clearly grows faster due to convection than

a bubble on the underside or between two chips. [bottom] Three

bubbles in a row just before they merge. Their reflections in the

chip as well as the water repelling holes from which the bubbles

grow are also clearly visible.

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Figure 1: (a) When two bosons are interchanged the joint

wave function for these particles stays unchanged. (b) For

two fermions, the wave function picks up a minus sign since

fermions have anti-symmetric wave functions upon exchange

of two particles. (c) When two anyons are interchanged the

joint wave function picks up any phase 0 , depending

on the system used. Hence the name anyons.

Figure 2: Operator U1 interchanges anyon particles 1 and 2

whereas U2 interchanges particles 2 and 3. When the order

of interchanging provides different final states, then the

anyon exchange is non-Abelian. The implication is that the

wave function cannot any longer be described by a phase

change but the state has changed completely. Ground state

manipulation by interchanging particles is called topological

quantum computation.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS: [1] M. Snelder, M. Veldhorst, A.A. Golubov, A. Brinkman, Andreev bound states and current-phase periodicity in three-dimensional

topological insulators, Phys. Rev. B 87 (2013) 104507. [2] M. Veldhorst, M. Snelder, M. Hoek, C.G. Molenaar, D.P. Leusink, A.A. Golubov, H. Hilgenkamp, A. Brinkman,

Magnetotransport and induced superconductivity in Bi based three-dimensional topological insulators, Phys. Status Solidi RRL 7 (2013) 26.

Quantum Transport in Matter

Prof. dr. ir. Alexander Brinkman“It is fascinating to exploit quantum

interactions in order to engineer new

materials having quasiparticles with

unprecedented properties such as

non-Abelian statistics for topological

computation or macroscopic

quantum states for dissipationless

transport.”

Induced superconductivity in Bi based topological insulators

The fundamental difference between fermions and bosons underlies many physical phenomena. Surprisingly, in two-dimensional

systems quasi-particles may exist that are neither fermions nor bosons. When these particles are interchanged, their joint quantum

mechanical wave function is predicted to pick up any phase in between 0 (as for bosons) and π (as for fermions), hence the name

anyons, see figure 1. Even more intriguing is the class of non-Abelian anyons where interchange of particles completely changes

the ground state of the system, see figure 2. At the interface between a topological insulator material and a superconductor [1]

quasiparticles are predicted with special ‘non-Abelian’ properties.

Topological insulators and superconductors are two very special electronic materials. Topological insulators are electrical insulators

in the bulk but conduct at the surface. The surfaces conduction has the special property that the spin of the electrons is coupled to

the direction in which they move. A superconductor conducts electricity without resistance.

The Quantum Transport in Matter group is at the forefront of experimental developments in the field of induced superconductivity

in Bi based three-dimensional topological materials. The current state of the art is summarized in our 2013 review [2]. In 2013 the

Overijssel PhD award was given to Menno Veldhorst for his achievements in this field and an ERC consolidator grant was given to

Alexander Brinkman in order to continue to explore the intriguing properties of non-Abelian anyons. These properties underlay new

concepts of topological quantum computation.

The Quantum Transport in Matter group (QTM) is founded in 2011 by the appointment

of its chair prof. dr. ir. Alexander Brinkman. It is the aim of the group to explore the

electronic transport effects of quantum phenomena in materials and electronic

devices. The research in the group builds on recent nanotechnological and thin film

technological developments within MESA+ and with advanced electronic transport

experiments a quantum mechanical dimension is given to the research.

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Figure 1: Technical drawing of a part of the home-built ALD

system, featuring the hot wire on the left, and the wafer

position (dark blue) to the right.

Figure 2: Photograph of the hot-wire extension before

mounting on the ALD system.

Growing thin films with atomary precision at low temperatures

Atomic Layer Deposition has rapidly become the industry standard for thin film depositions, especially when thickness control

and conformal deposition are important. In a modern integrated circuit, several critical layers are formed with this technique,

including the gate insulator, gate metal and copper barrier layers.

Lower deposition temperatures are pursued in Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), as well as process recipes for a wider range

of materials than currently available. In our group we contribute to this research with home-built ALD equipment as well as a

versatile commercial single-wafer ALD system, commissioned in early 2013.

In the home-built system we can freely experiment with new ideas. One is to employ a hot filament, or hot wire, to crack gaseous

molecules. The reaction products of this cracking are then transported to the sample surface, and due to their intrinsic reactivity,

can bind with the sample at relatively low temperature. The method can be compared to plasma-enhanced ALD, but has particular

advantages over this existing method, such as a reduced directionality and better control over the formation of radicals.

This technique has been patented together with ASM and applied in atomic-hydrogen ALD, with envisaged applications in metal

and metal-nitride deposition.

Prof. dr. Jurriaan Schmitz"Miniaturization of transistors is

reaching an end point; we therefore

study new ways to improve the transistor

performance for the advancement of

integrated electronics."

Semiconductor Components

The group of Semiconductor Components (SC) deals with silicon-based technology

and integrated-circuit devices, in other words: the making of a microchip.

The Nanolab provides an excellent facility to experiment with new materials and

concepts for transistors, diodes and metallization; a close cooperation with semi-

conductor industry paves the way to application. With a focus on new materials for

integrated circuits, we study a variety of devices,spanning from steep-subthreshold

switches and RF MEMS switches to GaN and silicon power transistors.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS: [1] H. Van Bui, A.Y. Kovalgin, A.A.I. Aarnink, R.A.M. Wolters, Hot-Wire Generated Atomic Hydrogen and its Impact on Thermal ALD in

TiCl4/NH3 System, ECS J. Solid State Sci. Technol. Vol. 2, Issue 4 (2013) 149-155. [2] A.Y. Kovalgin, A.A.I. Aarnink, Semiconductor processing apparatus with compact

free radical source, US patent application 2013/0337653 (19 Dec. 2013).

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HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS: E. Karatay, A.S. Haase, C.W. Visser, C. Sun, D. Lohse, P.A. Tsai, R.G.H. Lammertink, Control of slippage with tunable bubble mattresses,

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110 (21) (2013) 8422-8426. [2] A.S. Haase, E. Karatay, P.A. Tsai, P. A., R.G.H. Lammertink, Momentum and mass transport

over a bubble mattress: The influence of interface geometry, Soft Matter 9 (37) (2013) 8949-8957. [3] E. Karatay, P.A. Tsai, R.G.H. Lammertink, Rate of gas absorption on a

slippery bubble mattress, Soft Matter 9 (46) (2013) 11098.

Prof. dr. ir. Rob G.H. Lammertink“Many transport

phenomena are very rich

at the microscale, offering

great opportunities to

exploit them.”

Bubbles and interfacial transport

A classical soft interface is found when gas bubbles are contacted with liquids by means of a stabilizing porous membrane (Fig.

1). Many processes make use of such gas-liquid contacting, including oxygenation of blood and carbonation of soft drinks. At the

microscale, the interface between a gas bubble and liquid presents some interesting characteristics. The low viscosity of the gas

compared to the liquid results in a practically shear free interface, that allows the liquid to slip along the gas-liquid interface. The

exact shape, defined by size and curvature of the bubble interface, controls the near interface fluid dynamics significantly. Depending

on the protrusion angle of the bubble, i.e. the extent to which the bubble is pushed into the liquid phase, the interface can provide

reduced or increased friction towards the liquid flow.

The occurrence of local slip at a gas-liquid bubble interface affects the fluid dynamics near this interface. As such, also the mass

transport is influenced. Classical transport descriptions normally assume homogeneous interfacial characteristics in terms of fluid

flow. At the microscale, the interface is actually far from homogeneous. Depending on the bubble size and protrusion, gas uptake

can be accelerated or decelerated (Fig. 2). The microscopic investigation therefore provides relevant control parameters that also

affect large-scale processes. A further detailed experimental study showed that the equilibrium conditions regarding the interfacial

concentration of gas may not be met when liquid flows along an array of small gas bubbles. In situ measurements gave insight in

the local gas concentration near such a gas-liquid interface. The detailed understanding of transport phenomena at this microscale

indicates the opportunity one has to exploit this.

The Soft matter, Fluidics and Interfaces group (SFI) is addressing soft

matter science utilizing fluidics and interfaces. Careful interfacial

design and fabrication will allow manipulating transport on a (sub)

micrometer level. The microscale level is crucial as it contains the

boundary layers for transport.

Soft matter, Fluidics and interfaces

Figure 1: Illustration of the gas-liquid contacting interface,

represented by a bubble array. The bubbles influence the

near interface dynamics and hence the mass transport for

gas dissolution.

Figure 2: Mass uptake enhancement as a function of bubble

size and protrusion angle.

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Science, Technology and Policy Studies

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATION: Te Kulve, H. & A. Rip, Economic and societal dimensions of nanotechnology-enabled drug delivery. Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery

10 (5) (2013) 611-622.

The department Science, Technology and Policy Studies (ST PS) investigates

the dynamics and governance of science, technology and innovation from an

interdisciplinary social science perspective. Our research covers ongoing dynamics,

historical developments and future-oriented studies. Studying such dynamics is

a goal in itself, but also an important prerequisite for policy recommendations and

exploring strategic implications for innovation actors. In the area of nanotechnologies,

we investigate current innovation dynamics in various domains, such as graphene,

sensors for food and water applications. We study practices and conditions of

responsible innovation, the role of promises and concerns, sectoral implications and

collaboration in science.

Prof. dr. stefan Kuhlmann“For nanotechnologies to move out of

the laboratories, they have to become

embedded into society -in business,

consumer and policy contexts. We

follow processes of embedding and

anticipate on possible (responsible)

ways of embedding.”

economic and societal implications of nanotechnology-enabled drug delivery systems

Nanotechnology-enabled drug delivery systems (NDDS) are expected to have significant impact for health care, but what the exact

impact will be is yet unclear. High expectations fuel investments in R&D, but their indeterminate character may, and occasionally

does, make actors such as pharmaceutical companies reluctant to be the first to innovate in a domain where performance and user

requirements are unclear. Disappointment may set in when expectations do not materialize. This is not unique for NDDS. There actually

is a recurring pattern, a hype-disappointment cycle. This pattern was originally introduced by Gartner Inc. as a tool to locate different

technologies and for advising strategies, and is applied in our paper to NDDS.

Examining future implications of emerging drug delivery systems clearly is important. However, this will often be speculative as there

are few products on the market yet. Our review shows that actors’ assessments of the current and future economic and societal value

of NDDS are still inconclusive, but there is preliminary sorting of which drug delivery systems have a higher chance to be introduced

in the clinic. There is little attention to issues of reliability and liability, and to patient perspectives toward the use of NDDS. Some actors

are concerned about economic and societal implications and want to do better through initiatives promoting translational research, or

‘bench to bedside’ research.

To turn promising nanotechnology-enabled delivery systems into products, more work needs to be done. We suggest that further

development of NDDS should be done in interaction with users and with stakeholders such as health insurers and regulatory agencies.

We recommend that these activities should be augmented with analysis of societal embedding, including scenario analysis of which

a first example is offered in the paper. This allows for including societal and economic considerations at an early stage of technology

development. Figure 2: Nanolipogel administering immunotherapy cargo.

Credit: Nicolle Rager Fuller, National Science Foundation

Figure 1: Position of nano-enabled drug delivery systems on

the Hype Cycle.

Source: Te Kulve & Rip (2013)

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[HigHligHtS]

Prof. dr. ir. Gijs Krijnen “The fabrication of complex 3D micro-

and nano-systems is a main challenge

for the near future. Combinations of

various techniques, e.g. self-assembly,

photo-lithography based technologies

and 3D printing, may form potential

solutions to this challenge.”

Uncovering signals from measurement noise by Electro Mechanical Amplitude Modulation (EMAM)

We presented an electromechanical parametric scheme to improve the low-frequency signal-to-noise ratio of sensors based on energy

buffering type transduction. The method is based on periodic modulation of the mechanical stiffness in the sensory system, which

produces up-converted replicas of the signals of interest at frequencies where measurement is less troubled by noise or other

detrimental effects. This principle was demonstrated by means of capacitive biomimetic hair flow sensors, where the rotational spring

stiffness was modulated by periodic electrostatic spring softening, producing replicas of the original signal around the modulation

frequency. Using this replica 25-fold improvement of the low-frequency signal-to-noise ratio and sensing threshold were obtained. Also

for transient measurements it was demonstrated that tiny signals, which are below the noise-levels in the base-band, are revealed well

when up-converted to higher frequencies. The parametric scheme was theoretically supported by a model based on the Harmonic

Balancing Method, producing accurate results, even for large pump-powers and gains.

transducers Science and technology

At Transducers Science and Technology we specialize in MEMS/NEMS devices

and systems. We invent fabrication processes and acquire fundamental

understanding of the underlying device physics. We demonstrate the techniques

on various devices and develop the science of working principles and design,

with the aim to ultimately transfer this knowledge to industry. We use traditional

and bio-inspired transduction principles and exploit nonlinear, parametric and

stochastic effects. We consider systems aspects and implement these where

essential to show proof of principle of the devices.

HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS: [1] H. Droogendijk, R.G.P. Sanders, G.J.M. Krijnen, Uncovering signals from measurement noise by electro mechanical amplitude modulation, New journal of physics, 15 (2013)

053029. ISSN 1367-2630. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/15/5/053029). [2] N. Burouni, J.W. Berenschot, M.C. Elwenspoek, E. Sarajlic, P.J. Leussink, N.R. Tas, Wafer-scale fabrication of nanoapertures

using corner lithography, Nanotechnology, 24 (2013) 285303. ISSN 0957-4484. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/24/28/285303) [3] B.F. Porter, L. Abelmann, H. Bhaskaran, Design parameters for voltage-

controllable directed assembly of single nanoparticles, Nanotechnology, 24 (2013) 405304. ISSN 0957-4484. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/24/40/405304).

Figure 1: (A) Biomimetic hair-based flow-sensor.

(B) para metric electrostatic spring softening scheme applied

to obtain EMAM with frequency up-conversion (C).

Figure 2: Experimental observation of the advantage of EMAM

for low-frequency flow measurements. The actual signal (red-

line, reconstructed from EMAM signal) is well below the noise

floor of the measurement setup. Application of EMAM with a

pump frequency of 400 Hz, leads to an up-converted spectrum

around 800Hz. At these frequencies the signal to noise ratio is

large enough for the transient air-flow to be clearly detected.

(A)

(B)

(C)

Mesa+ annual rePort 2013

PHD tHeses

Acar, H. (Optical Sciences (OS)) (2013, April 25). Fabrication of plasmonic nanostructures with

electron beam induced deposition. University of Twente. Prom.: prof dr. L. Kuipers.

Akbulut, D. (Complex Photonic Systems (CoPS)) (2013, September 05). Measurements of strong

correlations in the transport of light through strongly scattering materials. University of

Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. A.P. Mosk & prof.dr. W.L. Vos.

Aulbach, J. (Complex Photonic Systems (CoPS)) (2013, September 20). Spatiotemporal control

of light in turbid media. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. A. Lagendijk & A. Tourin.

Bokdam, M. (Computational Materials Science (CMS)) (2013, November 15). Charge transfer

and redistribution at interfaces between metals and 2D materials. University of Twente. Prom./

coprom.: prof.dr. P.J. Kelly & dr. G. Brocks.

Bosgra, J. (Laser Physics and Nonlinear Optics (LPNO)) (2013, July 04). Interlayer thermo-

dynamics in nanoscale layered structures for reflection of EUV radiation. University of

Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. F. Bijkerk & A. Yakshin.

Brasch, M. (Biomolecular Nanotechnology (BNT)) (2013, August 30). Confining functional

materials in protein-based assemblies. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. J.J.L.M.

Cornelissen & dr. M.S.T. Koay.

Bruyne, S. de (Mesoscale Chemical Systems (MCS)) (2013, October 25). Design and

characterization of microfabricated on-chip HPLC columns. University of Twente. Prom./

coprom.: prof.dr. J.G.E. Gardeniers & G. Desmet.

Cabanas Danés, J. (Molecular Nanofabrication (MNF)) (2013, January 31). Reversibly tethering

growth factors to surfaces: guiding cell function at the cell-material interface. University of

Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr.ir. J. Huskens & dr.ir. P. Jonkheijm.

Colak, A. (Physics of Interfaces and Nanomaterials (PIN)) (2013, June 28). Measuring adhesion

forces between hydrophilic surfaces with atomic force microscopy using flat tips. University

of Twente. Prom./coprom.: Prof.dr.ir. B. Poelsema, prof.dr.ir. H.J.W. Zandvliet & dr.ir. H.

Wormeester.

De, A. (BIOS Lab-on-a-chip (BIOS)) (2013, August 30). Electronic DNA detection and diagnostics.

University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr.ir. A. van den Berg & dr. E. Carlen.

Driessen, T.W. (Physics of Fluids (POF)) (2013, December 20). Drop formation from axi-

symmetric fluid jets. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. D. Lohse, Federico Toschi

& ir. R.J.M. Jeurissen.

Gelderblom, H. (Physics of Fluids (POF)) (2013, April 19). Fluid flow in drying drops. University

of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. D. Lohse & dr.ir. J.H. Snoeijer.

Gonzalez Briones, J.S.L. (Multiscale Mechanics (MSM)) (2013, April 19). An investigation into

clustering and segregation in granular materials. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.

dr. S. Luding & dr. A.R. Thornton.

Groot, G.W. de (Materials Science and Technology of Polymers (MTP)) (2013, December 12).

Smart polymer brushes in nanopores: towards controlled molecular transport through pore-

spanning biomembranes. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. G. Julius Vancso & dr.

M. Santonicola.

Hartkamp, R.M. (Multiscale Mechanics (MSM)) (2013, May 15). A molecular dynamics study of

non-Newtonian flows of simple fluids in confined and unconfined geometries. University of

Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. S. Luding & B.D. Todd.

Hemert, T. van (Semiconductor Components (SC)) (2013, December 6). Tailoring Strain in

Microelectronic Devices. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. J. Schmitz & dr.ir. R.

Hueting.

Homan, T.A.M. (Physics of Fluids (POF)) (2013, September 25). Fine sand in motion: the

influence of interstitial air. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. R.M. van der Meer

& prof.dr. D. Lohse.

Huisman, S.R. (Optical Sciences (OS) + Complex Photonic Systems (CoPS)) (2013, September

11). Light control with ordered and disordered nanophotonic media. University of Twente.

Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. J.L. Herek, prof.dr. W.L. Vos & dr. P.W.H. Pinkse.

Kaleli, B. (Semiconductor Components (SC) (2013, November 20). Characterization of strained

silicon FinFETs and the integration of a piezoelectric layer. University of Twente. Prom./

coprom.: prof.dr.ir. R.A.M. Wolters & dr.ir. R. Hueting.

Karatay, E. (Soft Matter, Fluidics and Interfaces (SFI)) (2013, September 27). Microfluidic studies

of interfacial transport. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr.ir. R.G.H. Lammertink &

dr. P.A. Tsai.

MESA+ Scientific Publications 2013

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[SCiEntiFiC PubliCAtionS]

Kattan Readi, O.M. (Membrane Science and Technology (MST)) (2013, March 22). Membranes

in the biobased economy : electrodialysis of amino acids for the production of biochemicals.

University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr.ir. D.C. Nijmeijer.

Kemna, E.W.M. (BIOS Lab-on-a-chip (BIOS)) (2013, November 15). Electrofusion of cells on chip.

From a static, parallel approach to a high-throughput, serial, microdroplet platform. University

of Twente. Prom.: prof.dr.ir. A. van den Berg.

Kumar, A. (Physics of Interfaces and Nanomaterials (PIN)) (2013, September 26). The art

of catching and probing single molecules. University of Twente. Prom.: prof.dr.ir. H.J.W.

Zandvliet.

Kuznetsov, A.S. (Laser Physics and Nonlinear Optics (LPNO)) (2013, October 18). Hydrogen

particle and plasma interactions with heterogeneous structures. University of Twente. Prom.:

prof.dr. F. Bijkerk.

Lakkaraju, R. (Physics of Fluids (POF)) (2013, January 11). Boiling turbulent Rayleigh-

Bénard convection. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. D. Lohse & prof.dr. A.

Prosperetti.

Makhotkin, I.A. (Laser Physics and Nonlinear Optics (LPNO)) (2013, October 31). Structural

and reflective characteristics of multilayers for 6.x nm wavelength. University of Twente.

Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. F. Bijkerk & dr. E. Louis.

Mannetje, D.J.C.M. 't (Physics of Complex Fluids (PCF)) (2013, September 05). Drops, contact

lines, and electrowetting. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. F. Mugele & dr. H.T.M.

van den Ende.

Meer, R. van der (Laser Physics and Nonlinear Optics (LPNO)) (2013, March 22). Single-order

lamellar multilayer gratings. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. F. Bijkerk & prof.

dr. K.J. Boller.

Megen, M.J.J. van (Biomedical and Environmental Sensorssystems (BIOS)) (2013, July 12).

Redox cycling at nanospaced electrodes. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr.ir. A.

van den Berg & dr.ir. W. Olthuis.

Mocking, T.F. (Physics of Interfaces and Nanomaterials (PIN)) (2013, September 19). Properties

of 1D metal-induced structures on semiconductor surfaces. University of Twente. Prom.: prof.

dr.ir. H.J.W. Zandvliet.

Nagendra Prakash, V. (Physics of Fluids (POF)) (2013, September 26). Light particles in

turbulence. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. D. Lohse & dr. C. Sun.

Nicosia, C. (Molecular Nanofabrication (MNF)) (2013, September 19). Reactive monolayers

for surface gradients and biomolecular patterned interfaces. University of Twente. Prom./

coprom.: prof.dr.ir. J. Huskens.

Nikishkin, N. (Molecular Nanofabrication (MNF)) (2013, Januari 24). Functionalized pyrazines

as ligands for minor actinide extraction and catalysis. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.:

prof.dr.ir. J. Huskens & dr. W. Verboom.

Oldenbeuving, R.M. (Laser Physics and Nonlinear Optics (LPNO)) (2013, February 01). Spectral

control of diode lasers using external waveguide circuits. University of Twente. Prom./

coprom.: prof.dr. K.J. Boller & dr.ir. H.L. Offerhaus.

Pinheiro de Melo, A.F. (Inorganic Membranes (IM)) (2013, March 15). Development and

Characterization of Polymer-grafted Ceramic Membranes for Solvent Nanofiltration.

University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr.ir. A. Nijmeijer & prof.dr. A.J.A. Winnubst.

Ploegmakers, Jeroen (Membrane Science and Technology (MST)) (2013, December 13).

Mem branes for ethylene/ethane separation. University of Twente. Prom.: prof.dr.ir. D.C.

Nijmeijer.

Rangarajan, B. (Semiconductor Components (SC)) (2013, November 8). Materials for monolithic

integration of optical functions on CMOS. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. J.

Schmitz & dr. A.Y. Kovalgin.

Rurup, W.F. (Biomolecular Nanotechnology (BNT)) (2013, September 20). Controlling

the loading of protein nanocages. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. J.J.L.M.

Cornelissen & dr. M.S.T. Koay.

Stricker, L. (Physics of Fluids (POF)) (2013, January 16). Acoustic cavitation and sonochemistry.

University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. D. Lohse & prof.dr. A. Prosperetti.

Sukas, S. (Mesoscale Chemical Systems (MCS)) (2013, February 15). Microchip capillary

electrochromatography with pillar columns. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr.

J.G.E. Gardeniers.

Syed Nawazuddin, M.B. (Transducer Systems Technology (TST)) (2013, November 22).

Micromachined parallel plate structures for Casimir force measurement and optical

modulation. University of Twente. Prom.: prof.dr. M.C. Elwenspoek.

Tijs, E.H.G. (Transducers Science and Technology (TST) (2013, April 19). Study and development

of an in situ acoustic absorption measurement method. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.:

prof.dr.ir. G.J.M. Krijnen & prof W.F. Druyvesteyn.

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Tran, T.L.A. (NanoElectronics (NE)) (2013, December 4). Spintronics using C60 fullerenes:

Interfaces and devices. University of Twente. Prom.: prof.dr.ir. W.G. van der Wiel.

Van Hao, B. (Semiconductor Components (SC)) (2013, January 16). Atomic layer deposition of

TiN films : growth and electrical behavior down to sub-nanometer scale. University of Twente.

Prom./coprom.: prof.dr.ir. R.A.M. Wolters & dr. A.Y. Kovalgin.

Vlieger, D.J.M. de (Catalytic Processes and Materials (CPM)) (2013, February 08). Design of

efficient catalysts for gasification of biomass-derived waste streams in hot compressed water.

Towards industrial applicability. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. K. Seshan & prof.

dr.ir. L. Lefferts.

Vries, J. de (Transducers Science and Technology (TST)) (2013, October 10). Titel ontbreekt nog.

University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: dr. L. Abelmann.

Wan, X. (Inorganic Materials Science (IMS)) (2013, May 17). Tailored piezoelectric thin films for

energy harvester. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr.ing. A.J.H.M. Rijnders & dr.ir. G.

Koster.

Weijs, J.H. (Physics of Fluids (POF)) (2013, September 25). Nanobubbles and nanodrops.

University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. D. Lohse & dr.ir. J.H. Snoeijer.

Winkels, K.G. (Physics of Fluids (POF)) (2013, February 14). Fast contact line motion: fundamentals

and applications. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: Prof.dr. D. Lohse & ir. J.H. Snoeijer.

Xie, Y. (BIOS Lab-on-a-chip (BIOS)) (2013, September 26). Microfluidic energy conversion by

application of two phase flow. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr.ir. A. van den Berg

& prof.dr. J.C.T. Eijkel.

Yagubizade, H. (Transducer Science and Technology (TST)) (2013, December 13). PZT-on-

silicon RF-mems lamb wave resonators and filters. University of Twente. Prom.: prof.dr. M.C.

Elwenspoek.

Yuce, E. (Complex Photonic Systems (CoPS)) (2013, September 04). Ultimate-fast all-optical

switching of a microcavity. University of Twente. Prom./coprom.: prof.dr. W.L. Vos & dr. G. Ctistis.

acaDeMic Journal reFereeD (ranKeD bY iMPact Factor › 6)

F.A. Zwanenburg, A.S. Dzurak, A. Morello, M.Y. Simmons, L.C.L. Hollenberg, G. Klimeck, S. Rogge,

S.N. Coppersmith and M.A. Eriksson, Silicon quantum electronics, Reviews Of Modern Physics

85, 961-1019 (2013).

A. Brinkman, OXIDE INTERFACES Streaks of conduction, Nature Materials 12, 1085-1086

(2013).

S. Qu, E.P. Kolodziej, S.A. Long, J.B. Gloer, E.V. Patterson, J. Baltrusaitis, G.D. Jones, P.V.

Benchetler, E.A. Cole, K.C. Kimbrough, M.D. Tarnoff and D.M. Cwiertny, Product-to-Parent

Reversion of Trenbolone: Unrecognized Risks for Endocrine Disruption, Science 342, 347-

351 (2013).

R.N. Mahato, H. Lulf, M.H. Siekman, S.P. Kersten, P.A. Bobbert, M.P. de Jong, L. DeCola and W.G.

van der Wiel, Ultrahigh Magnetoresistance at Room Temperature in Molecular Wires, Science

341, 257-260 (2013).

S.G. Lemay, S. Kang, K. Mathwig and P.S. Singh, Single-Molecule Electrochemistry: Present

Status and Outlook, Accounts Of Chemical Research 46, 369-377 (2013).

M. Huijben, P. Yu, L.W. Martin, H.J.A. Molegraaf, Y.H. Chu, M.B. Holcomb, N. Balke, G. Rijnders

and R. Ramesh, Ultrathin Limit of Exchange Bias Coupling at Oxide Multiferroic/Ferromagnetic

Interfaces, Advanced Materials 25, 4739-4745 (2013).

S.H. Hsu, M.D. Yilmaz, D.N. Reinhoudt, A.H. Velders and J. Huskens, Nonlinear Amplification

of a Supramolecular Complex at a Multivalent Interface, Angewandte Chemie-international

Edition 52, 714-719 (2013).

J.H. Snoeijer, B. Andreotti, S.H. Davis and P. Moin, Moving Contact Lines: Scales, Regimes, and

Dynamical Transitions, Annual Review Of Fluid Mechanics 45, 269-292 (2013).

S. Kang, A. Nieuwenhuis, K. Mathwig, D. Mampallil and S.G. Lemay, Electrochemical Single-

Molecule Detection in Aqueous Solution Using Self-Aligned Nanogap Transducers, Acs Nano

7, 10931-10937 (2013).

S. Mathew, A. Annadi, T.K. Chan, T.C. Asmara, D. Zhan, X.R. Wang, S. Azimi, Z.X. Shen, A.

Rusydi, Ariando, M.B.H. Breese and T. Venkatesan, Tuning the Interface Conductivity of

LaAlO3/SrTiO3 Using Ion Beams: Implications for Patterning, Acs Nano 7, 10572-10581 (2013).

L.L.T. Ngoc, M.L. Jin, J. Wiedemair, A. van den Berg and E.T. Carlen, Large Area Metal Nanowire

Arrays with Tunable Sub-20 nm Nanogaps, Acs Nano 7, 5223-5234 (2013).

X.X. Duan, N.K. Rajan, D.A. Routenberg, J. Huskens and M.A. Reed, Regenerative Electronic

Biosensors Using Supramolecular Approaches, Acs Nano 7, 4014-4021 (2013).

E.V. Kondratenko, G. Mul, J. Baltrusaitis, G.O. Larrazabal and J. Perez-Ramirez, Status and

perspectives of CO2 conversion into fuels and chemicals by catalytic, photocatalytic and

electrocatalytic processes, Energy & Environmental Science 6, 3112-3135 (2013).

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[SCiEntiFiC PubliCAtionS]E. Katelhon, K.J. Krause, P.S. Singh, S.G. Lemay and B. Wolfrum, Noise Characteristics of

Nanoscaled Redox-Cycling Sensors: Investigations Based on Random Walks, Journal Of The

American Chemical Society 135, 8874-8881 (2013).

M.M.J. Smulders, S. Zarra and J.R. Nitschke, Quantitative Understanding of Guest Binding Enables

the Design of Complex Host-Guest Behavior, Journal Of The American Chemical Society 135,

7039-7046 (2013).

D. Wasserberg, C. Nicosia, E.E. Tromp, V. Subramaniam, J. Huskens and P. Jonkheijm, Oriented

Protein Immobilization using Covalent and Noncovalent Chemistry on a Thiol-Reactive Self-

Reporting Surface, Journal Of The American Chemical Society 135, 3104-3111 (2013).

T.F. Mocking, P. Bampoulis, N. Oncel, B. Poelsema and H.J.W. Zandvliet, Electronically stabilized

nanowire growth, Nature Communications 4, 2387- (2013).

A. Annadi, Q. Zhang, X.R. Wang, N. Tuzla, K. Gopinadhan, W.M. Lu, A.R. Barman, Z.Q. Liu, A.

Srivastava, S. Saha, Y.L. Zhao, S.W. Zeng, S. Dhar, E. Olsson, B. Gu, S. Yunoki, S. Maekawa, H.

Hilgenkamp, T. Venkatesan and Ariando, Anisotropic two-dimensional electron gas at the LaAlO3/

SrTiO3 (110) interface, Nature Communications 4, 1838- (2013).

S.O. Krabbenborg, C. Nicosia, P.K. Chen and J. Huskens, Reactivity mapping with electrochemical

gradients for monitoring reactivity at surfaces in space and time, Nature Communications 4,

1667- (2013).

K. van den Dries, M.B.M. Meddens, S. de Keijzer, S. Shekhar, V. Subramaniam, C.G. Figdor

and A. Cambi, Interplay between myosin IIA-mediated contractility and actin network

integrity orchestrates podosome composition and oscillations, Nature Communications 4,

1412- (2013).

M. Huijben, G. Koster, M.K. Kruize, S. Wenderich, J. Verbeeck, S. Bals, E. Slooten, B. Shi,

H.J.A. Molegraaf, J.E. Kleibeuker, S. van Aert, J.B. Goedkoop, A. Brinkman, D.H.A. Blank,

M.S. Golden, G. van Tendeloo, H. Hilgenkamp and G. Rijnders, Defect Engineering in Oxide

Heterostructures by Enhanced Oxygen Surface Exchange, Advanced Functional Materials

23, 5240-5248 (2013).

P.K.J. Wong, E. van Geijn, W. Zhang, A.A. Starikov, T.L.A. Tran, J.G.M. Sanderink, M.H. Siekman,

G. Brocks, P.J. Kelly, W.G. van der Wiel and M.P. de Jong, Crystalline CoFeB/Graphite Interfaces

for Carbon Spintronics Fabricated by Solid Phase Epitaxy, Advanced Functional Materials 23,

4933-4940 (2013).

P.J. Glazer, J. Leuven, H. An, S.G. Lemay and E. Mendes, Multi-Stimuli Responsive Hydrogel Cilia,

Advanced Functional Materials 23, 2964-2970 (2013).

S.O. Krabbenborg, J.G.E. Wilbers, J. Huskens and W.G. van der Wiel, Symmetric Large-Area

Metal-Molecular Monolayer-Metal Junctions by Wedging Transfer, Advanced Functional

Materials 23, 770-776 (2013).

R. Lakkaraju, R.J.A.M. Stevens, P. Oresta, R. Verzicco, D. Lohse and A. Prosperetti, Heat

transport in bubbling turbulent convection, Proceedings Of The National Academy Of

Sciences Of The United States Of America 110, 9237-9242 (2013).

E. Karatay, A.S. Haase, C.W. Visser, C. Sun, D. Lohse, P.A. Tsai and R.G.H. Lammertink, Control

of slippage with tunable bubble mattresses, Proceedings Of The National Academy Of

Sciences Of The United States Of America 110, 8422-8426 (2013).

E. Westein, A.D. van der Meer, M.J.E. Kuijpers, J.P. Frimat, A. van den Berg and J.W.M.

Heemskerk, Atherosclerotic geometries exacerbate pathological thrombus formation

poststenosis in a von Willebrand factor-dependent manner, Proceedings Of The National

Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 110, 1357-1362 (2013).

M. Arjaans, T.H.O. Munnink, S.F. Oosting, A.G.T.T. van Scheltinga, J.A. Gietema, E.T. Garbacik,

H. Timmer-Bosscha, M.N. Lub-deHooge, C.P. Schroder and E.G.E. de Vries, Bevacizumab-

Induced Normalization of Blood Vessels in Tumors Hampers Antibody Uptake, Cancer

Research 73, 3347-3355 (2013).

J.K. Clegg, J. Cremers, A.J. Hogben, B. Breiner, M.M.J. Smulders, J.D. Thoburn and J.R. Nitschke,

A stimuli responsive system of self-assembled anion-binding Fe4L68+ cages, Chemical Science

4, 68-76 (2013).

E.H. Bernhardi, K.O. van der Werf, A.J.F. Hollink, K. Worhoff, R.M. de Ridder, V. Subramaniam

and M. Pollnau, Intra-laser-cavity microparticle sensing with a dual-wavelength distributed-

feedback laser, Laser & Photonics Reviews 7, 589-595 (2013).

L. Gerhard, R.J.H. Wesselink, S. Ostanin, A. Ernst and W. Wulfhekel, Dynamics of Electrically

Driven Martensitic Phase Transitions in Fe Nanoislands, Physical Review Letters 111, 167601

(2013).

A. Eddi, K.G. Winkels and J.H. Snoeijer, Influence of Droplet Geometry on the Coalescence of

Low Viscosity Drops, Physical Review Letters 111, 144502- (2013).

M. Eschrig, A.A. Golubov, I.I. Mazin, B. Nadgorny, Y. Tanaka, O.T. Valls and I. Zutic, Comment

on "Unified Formalism of Andreev Reflection at a Ferromagnet/Superconductor Interface",

Physical Review Letters 111, 139703 (2013).

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[SCiEntiFiC PubliCAtionS]D. Samal, H.Y. Tan, H. Molegraaf, B. Kuiper, W. Siemons, S. Bals, J. Verbeeck, G. Van Tendeloo,

Y. Takamura, E. Arenholz, C.A. Jenkins, G. Rijnders and G. Koster, Experimental Evidence

for Oxygen Sublattice Control in Polar Infinite Layer SrCuO2, Physical Review Letters 111,

96102 (2013).

C.R.K. Windows-Yule, N. Rivas and D.J. Parker, Thermal Convection and Temperature

Inhomogeneity in a Vibrofluidized Granular Bed: The Influence of Sidewall Dissipation,

Physical Review Letters 111, 38001 (2013).

H. Lhuissier, C. Sun, A. Prosperetti and D. Lohse, Drop Fragmentation at Impact onto a Bath

of an Immiscible Liquid, Physical Review Letters 110, 264503 (2013).

B. Gjonaj, J. Aulbach, P.M. Johnson, A.P. Mosk, L. Kuipers and A. Lagendijk, Focusing and

Scanning Microscopy with Propagating Surface Plasmons, Physical Review Letters 110,

266804 (2013).

D. Schwarz, R. van Gastel, H.J.W. Zandvliet and B. Poelsema, Growth Anomalies in

Supramolecular Networks: 4,4 '-Biphenyldicarboxylic Acid on Cu(001), Physical Review

Letters 110, 76101 (2013).

J.H. Weijs and D. Lohse, Why Surface Nanobubbles Live for Hours, Physical Review Letters

110, 54501 (2013).

V.C. Stimberg, J.G. Bomer, I. van Uitert, A. van den Berg and S. LeGac, High Yield,

Reproducible and Quasi-Automated Bilayer Formation in a Microfluidic Format, Small 9,

1076-1085 (2013).

A. George, S. Mathew, R. van Gastel, M. Nijland, K. Gopinadhan, P. Brinks, T. Venkatesan and

J.E. ten Elshof, Large Area Resist-Free Soft Lithographic Patterning of Graphene, Small 9,

711-715 (2013).

R.M. Oldenbeuving, E.J. Klein, H.L. Offerhaus, C.J. Lee, H. Song and K.J. Boller, 25 kHz narrow

spectral bandwidth of a wavelength tunable diode laser with a short waveguide-based

external cavity, Laser Physics Letters 10, 15804 (2013).

M.S.L. Tijink, M. Wester, G. Glorieux, K.G.F. Gerritsen, J.F. Sun, P.C. Swart, Z. Borneman, M.

Wessling, R. Vanholder, J.A. Joles and D. Stamatialis, Mixed matrix hollow fiber membranes

for removal of protein-bound toxins from human plasma, Biomaterials 34, 7819-7828

(2013).

L. Prodanov, E. Lamers, M. Domanski, R. Luttge, J.A. Jansen and X.F. Walboomers, The

effect of nanometric surface texture on bone contact to titanium implants in rabbit tibia,

Biomaterials 34, 2920-2927 (2013).

S. Agarwal, L. Lefferts, B.L. Mojet, D.A.J.M. Ligthart, E.J.M. Hensen, D.R.G. Mitchell, W.J.

Erasmus, B.G. Anderson, E.J. Olivier, J.H. Neethling and A.K. Datye, Exposed Surfaces on

Shape-Controlled Ceria Nanoparticles Revealed through AC-TEM and Water-Gas Shift

Reactivity, Chemsuschem 6, 1898-1906 (2013).

T.M.C. Hoang, L. Lefferts and K. Seshan, Valorization of Humin-Based Byproducts from

Biomass Processing-A Route to Sustainable Hydrogen, Chemsuschem 6, 1651-1658 (2013).

K. Koichumanova, A.K.K. Vikla, D.J.M. de Vlieger, K. Seshan, B.L. Mojet and L. Lefferts,

Towards Stable Catalysts for Aqueous Phase Conversion of Ethylene Glycol for Renewable

Hydrogen, Chemsuschem 6, 1717-1723 (2013).

S.J. Asshoff, S. Iamsaard, A. Bosco, J.J.L.M. Cornelissen, B.L. Feringa and N. Katsonis, Time-

programmed helix inversion in phototunable liquid crystals, Chemical Communications 49,

4256-4258 (2013).

P. Neirynck, J. Brinkmann, Q. An, D.W.J. van der Schaft, L.G. Milroy, P. Jonkheijm and L.

Brunsveld, Supramolecular control of cell adhesion via ferrocene-cucurbit[7]uril host-guest

binding on gold surfaces, Chemical Communications 49, 3679-3681 (2013).

G. Signore, G. Abbandonato, B. Storti, M. Stockl, V. Subramaniam and R. Bizzarri, Imaging

the static dielectric constant in vitro and in living cells by a bioconjugable GFP chromophore

analog, Chemical Communications 49, 1723-1725 (2013).

C. Stoffelen and J. Huskens, Size-tunable supramolecular nanoparticles mediated by ternary

cucurbit[8]uril host-guest interactions, Chemical Communications 49, 6740-6742 (2013).

J. Song, D. Janczewski, Y.Y. Guo, J.W. Xu and G.J. Vancso, Redox responsive nanotubes from

organometallic polymers by template assisted layer by layer fabrication, Nanoscale 5,

11692-11698 (2013).

N. Tomczak, R.R. Liu and J.G. Vancso, Polymer-coated quantum dots, Nanoscale 5, 12018-

12032 (2013).

M. Balaguer, C.Y. Yoo, H.J.M. Bouwmeester and J.M. Serra, Bulk transport and oxygen surface

exchange of the mixed ionic-electronic conductor Ce1-xTbxO2-delta (x=0.1, 0.2, 0.5), Journal

Of Materials Chemistry A 1, 10234-10242 (2013).

J. Cabanas-Danes, C. Nicosia, E. Landman, M. Karperien, J. Huskens and P. Jonkheijm, A

fluorogenic monolayer to detect the co-immobilization of peptides that combine cartilage

targeting and regeneration, Journal Of Materials Chemistry B 1, 1903-1908 (2013).

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[SCiEntiFiC PubliCAtionS]C. Nicosia, S.O. Krabbenborg, P. Chen and J. Huskens, Shape-controlled fabrication of micron-

scale surface chemical gradients via electrochemically activated copper(I) "click" chemistry,

Journal Of Materials Chemistry B 1, 5417-5428 (2013).

K.M. Pondman, A.W. Maijenburg, F.B. Celikkol, A.A. Pathan, U. Kishore, B. ten Haken and J.E.

ten Elshof, Au coated Ni nanowires with tuneable dimensions for biomedical applications,


I.C. Reynhout, G. Delaittre, H.C. Kim, R.J.M. Nolte and J.J.L.M. Cornelissen, Nanoscale

organization of proteins via block copolymer lithography and non-covalent bioconjugation,


J. Song, D. Janczewski, Y.J. Ma, M. Hempenius, J.W. Xu and G.J. Vancso, Redox-controlled

release of molecular payloads from multilayered organometallic polyelectrolyte films, Journal

Of Materials Chemistry B 1, 828-834 (2013).

X.F. Sui, X.L. Feng, M.A. Hempenius and G.J. Vancso, Redox active gels: synthesis, structures

and applications, Journal Of Materials Chemistry B 1, 1658-1672 (2013).

M. Spreitzer, R. Egoavil, J. Verbeeck, D.H.A. Blank and G. Rijnders, Pulsed laser deposition of

SrTiO3 on a H-terminated Si substrate, Journal Of Materials Chemistry C 1, 5216-5222 (2013).

P.K.J. Wong, W. Zhang, K. Wang, G. van der Laan, Y.B. Xu, W.G. van der Wiel and M.P. de

Jong, Electronic and magnetic structure of C60/Fe3O4(001): a hybrid interface for organic

spintronics, Journal Of Materials Chemistry C 1, 1197-1202 (2013).

J.W. Kim, S.Y. Choi, D.I. Yeom, S. Aravazhi, M. Pollnau, U. Griebner, V. Petrov and F. Rotermund,

Yb:KYW planar waveguide laser Q-switched by evanescent-field interaction with carbon

nanotubes, Optics Letters 38, 5090-5093 (2013).

B. Rangarajan, A.Y. Kovalgin, K. Worhoff and J. Schmitz, Low-temperature deposition of high-

quality silicon oxynitride films for CMOS-integrated optics, Optics Letters 38, 941-943 (2013).

E. Yuce, G. Ctistis, J. Claudon, E. Dupuy, R.D. Buijs, B. de Ronde, A.P. Mosk, J.M. Gerard and

W.L. Vos, All-optical switching of a microcavity repeated at terahertz rates, Optics Letters 38,

374-376 (2013).

P.K.J. Wong, T.L.A. Tran, P. Brinks, W.G. van der Wiel, M. Huijben and M.P. de Jong, Highly

ordered C60 films on epitaxial Fe/MgO(001) surfaces for organic spintronics, Organic

Electronics 14, 451-456 (2013).

Visit our website www.utwente.nl/mesaplus for the complete publication list.

Patents

P.M. Schön, J. Geerlings, E. Sarajlic, N.R. Tas, AFM probe integrated dropping and hanging

mercury electrode, EP13154988, 12 Feb. 2013.

J. van Weerd, H.B.J. Karperien, P. Jonkheijm, Process for the preparation of an object

supporting a lipid bilayer, EP13168108, 16 May 2013.

E. Karabudak, J.G.E. Gardeniers, Method and apparatus for performing a photooxidation and

photoreduction reaction, EP13178323, 29 July 2013.

M.J.T. Raaijmakers, N.E. Benes, Highly crosslinked hybrid membranes, EP13182591, 2 Sept.

2013.

Jurriaan Huskens, Superselectivity in Multivalent Ligand-receptor Binding, US-provisional

US61/875180, 9 Sept. 2013.

Mesa+ Governing board Dr. G.J. Jongerden - Project Manager/Group head Solar Cells R&D (CSO) Akzo Nobel Chemicals Research

Prof. dr. ir. A.J. Mouthaan - Dean Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

Ir. J.J.M. Mulderink - Chairman of the Foundation for Development of Sustainable Chemistry

Dr. A.J. Nijman - Senior Partner Point-One Innovation Fund

Prof. dr. J.A. Put - Consultant PUT Innovation Management & Consulting

Dr. J. Schmitz - Vice President, Manager Process Technology Lab NXP Semiconductors

Prof. dr. G. van der Steenhoven - Dean Faculty Science & Technology

Mesa+ scientific advisory board Dr. J.G. Bednorz - IBM Zurich Research Laboratory, Switzerland

Prof. H. Fujita - University of Tokyo, Japan

Prof. M. Möller - Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH), Germany

Prof. C.N.R. Rao - Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, India

Prof. F. Stoddart – Northwestern University, USA

Prof. E. Thomas - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA

Prof. E. Vittoz – Private, Switzerland

Prof. G. Whitesides - Harvard University, USA

Mesa+ Management Prof. dr. ing. D.H.A. Blank - Scientific Director

Ir. M. Luizink - Technical Commercial Director

Contact details MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology

University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, the Netherlands

+ 31 53 489 2715, [email protected], www.utwente.nl/mesaplus

MESA+ Governance Structure[About MESA+]

colophon Editing: MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Miriam Luizink, Annerie van Steijn-Heesink I Design: WeCre8 Creatieve Communicatie [www.wecreate.nu],

the Netherlands I Photography: Eric Brinkhorst [www.brinkhorst.nl] I Printed by: Zalsman, Zwolle, the Netherlands.

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MESA+ AnnuAl REpoRt 2013

ANNUAL REPORT 2013

MESA+ Annual report 2013

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Transcript of MESA+ Annual report 2013