Research Programs

Research Lines

The Zernike Institute has a very strong track record in the field of interdisciplinary (Nano-)Materials Science. Our current research evolves around the lines of:

• Energy Materials, with an emphasis on synthesizing, understanding, controlling, and developing new energy harvesting and storage concepts (i.e. materials for photovoltaics, thermoelectrics, piezoelectrics, and batteries).

• Quantum Materials, with a focus on new materials and devices for the quantum age (2D materials, spintronics)

• Sustainable Polymers, with a focus on employing biobased materials and establishing completely green processes (biobased sources, enzymatic processes)

• (Supra-)Molecular Assemblies, multidisciplinary approaches to understand (and influence) the creation and function of (supra-)molecular assemblies, made possible by a wide range of complementary computational and experimental tools (strong link to health questions: physics of cancer, physical virology, Huntington’s disease, cellular processes).

• Advanced Instrumentation and Materials for Future Semiconductor Industry, in particular Extreme Ultra- Violet(EUV) technology in collaboration with ARCNL enabling the production of ever smaller and faster devices.

• Cognitive Materials & Devices, with a focus on materials-centered systems paradigms for cognitive computing based on modelling and learning at all levels, from materials, that can learn, to devices, circuits, and algorithms.

Consortia & Programs

The Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, its staff and close collaborators are coordinating various large research consortia. Please follow the links below to find out more about the specific programs

• Zernike Institute - National Research Centre (ZI-NRC) for multidisciplinary research into advanced materials (2010-2021)
• CogniGron - Groningen Cognitive Systems and Materials Center
• FOM Focus group Next Generation Organic Photovoltaics
• BatteryNL - will realize safer next-generation batteries with higher energy densities and longer cycle life, as demanded by a society based on renewable energy sources.
• ALERT COFUND on tailormade antibiotics and delivery strategies
• oLife COFUND for research into the Origins, Evolution and Distribution of Life in the Universe (2019-2024)
• MANIC Innovative Training Network - Materials for Neuromorphic Circuits (start late 2019)
• MOSBRI - constitutes a network for molecular biophysical sample characterization techniques across various European countries (start 2021)
• SEPOMO – Spins in Efficient Photovoltaic devices based on Organic Molecules
• Centre for Quantum Materials and Devices
• FSE Advanced Materials