Materials Chemistry

The research group "Materials Chemistry" (MATCHEM) focuses on the synthesis, characterization and application of advanced functional materials. The group encompasses several expertise groups with specific and complementary expertise, closely collaborating and operating within the spearhead research domains of the Institute for Materials Research (IMO) of Hasselt University. The group is also linked to the IMEC associated laboratory 'IMOMEC'. Main activities focus on

1. new materials for energy generation and energy storage;
2. life sciences materials;
3. materials obtained from waste recycling.

 The group regularly acts as partner in different European, Flemish, national and international research programs and networks and has a longstanding tradition in joint research and servicing with industry and research centers.

Detailed information about the activities of the MATCHEM research group can be found on the imo-imomec website as well as on the EnergyVille website.

The expertise groups within MATCHEM are:

Design & Synthesis of Organic Semiconductors (DSOS): Prof. dr. Wouter Maes.

The key competence of the group relates to the design, synthesis and (structural and optoelectronic) characterization of advanced organic semiconducting materials (polymers as well as smaller chromophores), with particular emphasis on the rationalization of structure-property relations, and their integration in optoelectronic devices (photovoltaics, photodetectors, light-emitting diodes, transistors, chemo/biosensors, ...) and theragnostic applications for personalized healthcare.

Hybrid Materials Design (HyMaD): Prof. dr. Dirk Vanderzande and dr. Laurence Lutsen.

The group focuses on the design and synthesis of organic-inorganic hybrid materials with specific electro- optical properties and their application in the fields of solar cells, LEDs and detectors. Particular attention is paid to supramolecular interactions that result in the formation of nano-structured hybrid material systems that exhibit functionality in both the organic and inorganic components.

Design and synthesis of inorganic materials (DESINe): Prof. dr. Marlies Van Bael and Prof. dr. An Hardy.

The main activity is the study of environmentally friendly, chemical methods for the synthesis of high-tech, nanostructured inorganic materials. Solution based synthesis routes, including aqueous and non-aqueous sol(ution)-gel methods, hydro/solvothermal routes, combustion synthesis, co-precipitation, thermal decomposition synthesis, etc. are created for the preparation of functional inorganic nanomaterials. 

Historically, the main focus was on superconducting, ferroelectric, piezoelectric, conductive and dielectric metal oxide powders and thin films for applications in nanoelectronics, including memories and sensors, in addition to solar cells. In the last decade, the focus shifted to oxide-, metal-, polyanionic- and sulfide-based materials for energy storage in batteries and energy efficiency.  Most recently, the group's expertise is being put to full use in catalysts in the context of "power to molecules". Applications include lithium-ion, sodium-ion and lithium-sulfur batteries, as well as thermochromic windows, CO2 reduction and hydrogen production via photocatalysis, photoelectrochemical routes and electrolysis.

Biomolecule Design Group (BDG): Prof. dr. Geert-Jan Graulus, Prof. dr. Peter Adriaensens, and Prof. dr. Wanda Guedens.

The key competence of the group relates to the development of in vitro/vivo methods for a unique and site-specific functionalization of proteins.  On the one hand, the research is focussed on the bioorthogonal and uniform conjugation of nanobodies to various constructs that pave the way towards improved biosensor, bioimaging and controlled drug release applications. On the other hand, biomimetic structural proteins are designed to enable the effective transplantation of (stem) cells in tissue engineering applications.

Advanced Functional Polymer group (AFP): Prof. dr. Louis Pitet.

The AFP group focuses on the theme of sustainable polymer technology, with topics like polymers for health care (e.g. tissue engineering), synthesis of polymers in continuous flow (e.g. for manufacturing complex architectures), and polymer technology for a circular economy (e.g. polyester and polyamide waste stream upcycling). Contemporary synthetic tools are explored in a variety of contexts, pushing the boundaries of polymer technology for improved material properties, efficient synthetic protocols, or designed recyclability. The group strives to establish fundamental structure-property relationships in complex polymer scaffolds for advances in a variety of applications.

Analytical and Circular Chemistry (ACC): Prof. dr. Wouter Marchal, Prof. dr. Dries Vandamme, Prof. dr. Peter Adriaensens, and dr. Annelies Sels.

The focus of the group lies on the design, development and application of suitable analytical strategies for material characterization in order to unravel advanced structure-functionality relationships by advanced and hyphenated physico-chemical techniques. The analytical toolbox is applied to explore processes relating to circular chemistry, including biomass and waste stream valorisation, green extraction and thermal conversion (pyrolysis), and water purification. In addition, environmental issues such as nanoparticle leaching, outgassing and carbon sequestration are addressed. 

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR): Prof. dr. Peter Adriaensens.

The group focuses on the quantitative description of the structure, molecular dynamics and phase morphology of (polymer) materials by modern liquid and solid-state NMR spectroscopy and relaxometry experiments in order to elucidate macroscopic material properties. Expertise in NMR-metabolomics is also present and focuses on the search for metabolite markers for early diagnosis and therapy follow-up of (lung) cancer.

advanced chemical analytical techniques, analytical strategies, biomass and waste recycling, block copolymers, chemical solution synthesis, conjugated polymers, controlled radical polymerization, environmental research, flow chemistry, functionalized biopolymers, hybrid organic-inorganic materials, hydrogels, inorganic nanomaterials, material characterization , materials research, mulitmetal oxides, metals, sulfides and polyanions, nanotechnology, NMR spectroscopy(liquid/solid state), organic electronics, organic synthesis, perovskite materials, polymer kinetics, polymer self-assembly, powders, films, coatings, scientific servicing and contract research, slow and flash pyrolysis, sol-gel, hydrothermal, micro emulsion, supramolecular polymers, theranostics, tissue engineering

Peter ADRIAENSENS

• Peter ADRIAENSENS
• Dario ALLEVI
• Ulrike ARICKX
• Mariana ARREGUIN CAMPOS
• Naomi BILLIET
• Dries BLEUS
• Linda BOELANDERS
• Raheed BOLIA
• Sonny BREBELS
• Hilde BREEMANS
• Hanne BROUX
• Daria BUROVA
• Pascal BUSKENS
• Lize BYNENS
• Lavinia CALVI
• Tom CARDEYNAELS
• Robert CARLEER
• Pauline CASTENETTO
• Ola CIESIELSKA
• Brian CLAESEN
• Daan COENEN
• Lennert COOLS
• Stijn COSEMANS
• Greet CUYVERS
• Pieter DE MEYER
• Philippe DE SCHRYVER
• Dries DE SLOOVERE
• Nele DEBUSSCHERE
• Milan DEN HAESE
• Katrien DERKONINGEN
• Elien DERVEAUX
• Ilan DEVROEY
• Ximan DONG
• Sander DRIESEN
• Mahsa EBRAHIMI
• Ken ELEN
• Robin ERKENS
• Alexis FAGOT
• Mathias FRAIPONTS
• Ediz GARIP
• Niels GEYSMANS
• Nahal GHANEMNIA
• Digvijay GHOGARE
• Sam GIELEN
• Geert-Jan GRAULUS
• Wanda GUEDENS
• An HARDY
• Arthur HELSEN
• Louis JACKERS
• Bram JACOBS
• Robbe JACOPS
• Jeffy JOJI
• Bjorn JOOS
• Periyasamy KALIYAPPAN
• Katrijn KELCHTERMANS
• Abhijith KRISHNA
• Sanjaya LAMA
• Adrian LATHOUWERS
• Stijn LENAERS
• Laura LETEN
• Changli LI
• Shuang LIU
• Laurence LUTSEN
• Wouter MAES
• Gianfabio MANGIONE
• Daniel MANN
• Wouter MARCHAL
• Neeve MARIEN
• Eva MARTING
• Arthur MAUFORT
• Aylin MELAN
• Jonas MERCKEN
• Bart MICHIELSEN
• Zoleikha MIRZAIEALAMOOTI
• Steven MULLENS
• Satish Kumar MYLAVARAPU
• Daniel NELIS
• Bernard NOPPEN
• Yadenis ORTEGA DIAZ
• Michaela PAPPA
• Andreas PAULUS
• Bram PAWLAK
• Huguette PENXTEN
• Alessandra PIRAS
• Louis PITET
• Ken PRINCEN
• Jeamichel PUENTE TORRES
• Guy REGGERS
• Marian RIGNACK DELGADO
• Esmee ROMAN
• Victoria SAFIN TIMUROVA
• Mohammed SALEH
• Pejman SALIMI NADEM
• Annelies SELS
• Yasamin SHAJIRATI
• Bjarni SIMONYA
• Sander SMEETS
• Sander STULENS
• Kristy TALUKDAR
• Jennifer THEISSEN
• Dries THEUNISSEN
• Nele THEYSMANS
• Elsy THIJSSEN
• Kaat VALKENEERS
• Marlies VAN BAEL
• Brent VAN BALLAER
• Linda VAN BUGGENHOUT
• Wouter VAN GOMPEL
• Luk VAN LOKEREN
• Koen VAN VINCKENROYE
• Thijs VAN WIJK
• Amelien VANAENRODE
• Dries VANDAMME
• Jochen VANDERSPIKKEN
• Dirk VANDERZANDE
• Martine VANHAMEL
• Stefanie VANHOUTTE
• Danny VANPOUCKE
• Kenny VANREPPELEN
• Paula VARAS PEREZ
• Richard VENDAMME
• Arne VERDING
• Jordi VOLDERS
• Ulrique VOUNCKX
• Thomas VRANKEN
• Nianjun YANG
• Jan YPERMAN

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