The mission of the Solid State Chemistry department (part of Institute of Molecules and Materials) is to obtain a fundamental understanding of the processes that occur during formation and growth of crystals, and to apply this understanding to the prediction and control of crystal properties and perfection. Structure determination of crystals (crystallography) is an important part of this.
Solid State Chemistry
Department
Research
We are interested in a wide range of topics and crystal types, including semiconductors, minerals, salts, pharmaceutical compounds and proteins. Examples of earlier topics are the structure of solid-liquid interfaces, the role of additives during crystal growth and the prediction of crystal morphology. Current research topics are:
Multi-component crystals
The properties of a single-component crystal are often not ideal for applications, e.g. the bioavailability of a pharmaceutical compound. Combining it with a different compound, i.e. forming a multi-component crystal, is a route to improve these properties. We use network science to predict which combinations of molecules are most likely to form co-crystals, salts or solvates, and subsequently use a range of crystallization and analytical techniques to try to form and study these new crystals.
Chiral separation
We study methods to generate chirally pure compounds, such as a new resolution method which leads to conversion of all solid material to a single chirality. This is promising for applications in industry and for explaining the single-handedness of molecules in living nature. We aim to understand these deracemisation methods by modelling all the processes that are likely to occur.
Heat batteries
Crystals that have solvate and ansolvate forms (salt hydrates are the most used examples) can store a significant amount of energy and can thus be used for sustainable heating applications. We study the properties of such materials in order to find systems with optimum performance.
Crystallisation pressure
A growing crystal can exert a force on its environment, and this is the cause for certain types of building damage, where e.g. plaster layers become detached from walls. We study the mechanism of the pressure formation and the use of additives to prevent such building damage.
Labs & facilities
The Solid State Chemistry department houses a variety of (wet and dry) microscopy labs, nano labs, and diffraction labs.
We also have a close cooperation with the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), located in Grenoble, where high energy X-ray diffraction experiments can be performed.
Internships
Would you like to do your internship at Solid State Chemistry? Please get in touch with rene.degelder [at] ru.nl (René de Gelder) or Elias Vlieg for more information. A few examples of relevant subjects are:
- Data-driven prediction of multi-component crystals
- New (mixture of) compounds to make improved heat batteries
- Study of the mechanism of crystallization pressure
- Modelling of deracemization using Temperature Cycling
- Determining the limits of powder X-ray diffraction
The research group offers various Bachelor's and Master's courses. The group is closely involved in the Bachelor's Chemistry, Molecular Life Sciences, Physics and Astronomy and Natural Sciences and the Master's specialisations of Molecular Sciences and Physics and Astronomy.
Scientific staff
Below are the professors, associate professors and assistant professors of Solid State Chemistry. Chair of the department is Prof. Elias Vlieg.
Contact information
Location
Visiting address
Heyendaalseweg 1356525AJ Nijmegen
Postal address
Postbus 90106500GL NIJMEGEN