The PhD research work will be carried out within the Sustainable Materials Lab in the Department of Chemical Engineering located on the Kulak Kortrijk campus of KU Leuven and headed by Prof. Wim Thielemans. The Sustainable Materials Lab combines fundamental and applied research towards the development of materials from sustainable sources. The SusMat group is very international and interdisciplinary, combining and applying knowledge from a molecular level over processing and characterization of the materials.
The SUSMAT group has fully equipped wet chemical labs, elemental analysis, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), light scattering, small and wide-angle x-ray scattering (S/WAXS), x-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS), dynamic scanning and isothermal titration calorimeter (DSC and ITC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), benchtop nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, various linear and non-linear optical setups, rotational rheometers, and access to centralized high-field NMR spectroscopy and electron microscopy facilities. This project will make use of a custom-built non-linear optics device capabvle of second harmonic scattering and microscopy experiments in a collaboration with the Molecular Imaging and Photonics group headed by Prof. Stijn van Cleuvenbergen. SusMat also has numerous international scientific collaborations.
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Project
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are biobased rodlike nanoparticles that self-assemble from an isotropic phase into a chiral nematic structures one at high enough concentration. The chiral nematic structure is always presented as being perfect, without defects. Up to now, possibilities to investigate the CNC structuring were limited by the need to dry the samples, use probe molecules that affect the self-assembly, or surface-induced effects. We have recently developed the platform to use second harmonic microscopy for the investigation of CNC structured in situ avoiding any issues that other techniques have (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adp2384). The 2-photon microscopy technique is specific for assembled structures, has inherent confocal capability allowing us to build up 3D images, and makes use of polarized light to probe local alignment.
This PhD project will make use of this technique and the mathematical framework we developed to investigate (1) the kinetics of self-assembly, (2) defects and misalignments, (3) effects of dimensional variations and surface chemistry of CNCs, and (4) effects of external parameters, e.g. ionic strength, other nanoparticles,… CNC assembled materials can be used as (non-linear) optical filters, irridescent coatings and films, non-linear environments for cell-growth, etc.
Profile
We seek an enthusiastic researcher with a Master in Phyics or Chemical Engineering with a strong mathematical background and an interest in non-linear optics and nanoparticle self-assembly. Past experience with (non-linear) optics, laser setups and/or colloidal assembly studies is a plus. You also graduated either with a distinction or honors, or are author of a peer-reviewed scientific publication, as this is a requirement for the engineering doctoral school.
Offer
We will offer a 4-year fully funded PhD scholarschip towards a PhD in Chemical Engineering to the succesful candidate, with annual progress review.
Our publication using SHG to investigate chiral nematic assembly of CNCs
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. ir. Wim Thielemans, tel.: +32 56 24 61 71, mail: [email protected].
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