Research Output per year
Organization profile
Introduction / mission
How far can we push chemical self-assembly? Bridging the gap between life sciences and materials science, using organic chemistry and polymer chemistry.
Highlighted phrase
Exploration of supramolecular systems and materials
Organisational profile
At the Macro Organic Chemistry group we educate young students to become independent scientists and make them experienced researchers in the design, synthesis, characterization and possible applications of complex molecular systems with unconventional properties. Our research addresses the challenging question “How far can we push chemical self-assembly?”. This ranges from detailed mechanistic (kinetic) investigations on the self-assembly processes of various molecular structures (e.g. the formation of ordered arrays, under thermodynamic control as well as through kinetic experiments) to the design, non-covalent synthesis and use of artificial mimics of enzymes and extracellular matrices. Our group is part of the overarching research group for Molecular Science and Technology.
From the start in 1991, our research has been focused on the design, synthesis, characterization and possible applications of new functional molecular architectures. Over the years we have worked on dendrimers, semi-conducting oligomers/polymers and several supramolecular units, with chirality as a muse. In the course of time, our focus has shifted towards the synthesis and study of complex molecular systems and in 2007 our group became the founding father of the Institute of Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) at TU/e. More recently, a renewed interest in functional supramolecular materials for electronics and biomedical engineering has underpinned the relevance of our knowledge in the design and synthesis of molecular units that self-assemble in a controlled way, producing materials ordered at the mesoscale.
In our current research we aim at closing the gap between organic chemistry, polymer chemistry and chemical biology by applying well-controlled supramolecular chemistry protocols. Central to this is our concept of multi-step non-covalent synthesis of molecular systems, using well-defined small and large molecules. We thus synthesize and study novel artificial molecular systems where the position of all molecules in the system can be controlled with respect to time and space. To arrive at dynamic functionalties of these molecular systems, we investigate the response to external stimuli both experimentally and theoretically.
Network
Recent external collaboration on country level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots.
Profiles
Research Output 1972 2019
Functional supramolecular materials : fundamentals, copolymers and applications
Adelizzi, B., 7 Mar 2019, (Accepted/In press) Eindhoven: Technische Universiteit Eindhoven.Research output: Thesis › Phd Thesis 1 (Research TU/e / Graduation TU/e) › Academic
Micellization of a weakly charged surfactant in aqueous salt solution: self-consistent field theory and experiments
González García, Á., Timmers, E. M., Romijn, N., Song, S., Sahebali, S., Tuinier, R. & Voets, I. K., 20 Jan 2019, In : Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects. 561, p. 201-208 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Mimicking Active Biopolymer Networks with a Synthetic Hydrogel
Fernández-Castano Romera, M., Göstl, R., Shaikh, H., Ter Huurne, G., Schill, J., Voets, I. K., Storm, C. & Sijbesma, R. P., 6 Feb 2019, In : Journal of the American Chemical Society. 141, 5, p. 1989-1997 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Prizes
NWO Veni Award : Self-oscillating surfaces
Ghislaine Vantomme (Recipient), 2017
Recognition: NWO › Veni › Scientific
NWO Vidi Award : Adaptive materials with molecular light switches
Ilja Voets (Recipient), 2014
Recognition: NWO › Vidi › Scientific
Activities 1992 2010
Chemical Science (Journal)
E.W. (Bert) Meijer (Editorial board member)Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial activity › Scientific
Journal of the American Chemical Society (Journal)
E.W. (Bert) Meijer (Editorial board member)Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial activity › Scientific
DSM (External organisation)
E.W. (Bert) Meijer (Member)Activity: Membership types › Membership of board › Scientific
Press / Media
New fluorescent polymer makes deformation visible
13/08/15
1 item of media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
Student theses
Block copolymers and crystallinity: pushing phase-separation to its limits
Author: Lamers, B., 22 Feb 2017Supervisor: van Genabeek, B. (Supervisor 1), Palmans, A. (Supervisor 2) & Meijer, E. (Supervisor 2)
Student thesis: Master
Complex coacervate core micelles containing poly(vinyl alcohol) for anti-icing applications
Author: Sproncken, C., Apr 2017Supervisor: Voets, I. (Supervisor 1), Suris Valls, R. (Supervisor 2) & Tuinier, R. (Supervisor 2)
Student thesis: Master
Diels-Alder based shuffling of side chains within functionalized polymers followed by 1H and 2H NMR spectroscopy
Author: Boerekamps, R., 19 Dec 2018Supervisor: van Zee, N. (Supervisor 1), Meijer, E. (Supervisor 2), Sijbesma, R. (Supervisor 2) & Milroy, L. (Supervisor 2)
Student thesis: Master