MESA+ Institute | University of Twente

REALIsING GRAND SOLUTIONS WITH THE EXTREMELY SMALL

The MESA+ Institute is a leading nanotechnology research institute. We focus on key enabling technologies (KETs) - photonics, fluidics, hard materials, soft materials and devices, combined with responsible research & innovation - and the convergence of these to realise disruptive innovations in the areas of most societal challenges. Our main contributions are on the Health, ICT and Sustainability areas.

Ground-breaking research

Embracing a cross-disciplinary approach and benefiting from the MESA+ NanoLab, over 500 researchers deliver high quality, frequently ground-breaking research. MESA+ actively seeks for collaboration with external partners providing an excellent setting for consortium formation. Next to our excellent scientists and facilities, we offer a strong regional ecosystem that creates the breeding ground to let ideas blossom and grow to relevant, successful solutions and businesses.

News

Funding for wind and solar energy research

What happens to C02 at depths of kilometers?

Capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2), at large depths, is one of the options for reducing the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere. Although there are places on earth that have a long history with this, knowledge is lacking about how the stored gas, as a ‘supercritical fluid’, behaves at depths of two to three kilometer. How does it mix with other fluids, what is the influence of the soil structure? Researcher Marco De Paoli starts a research project on this, at the University of Twente and the Technische Universität Wien. A so-called ‘Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship’ of the Austrian Science Fund enables him to do this.

UT partner in two 'Gravitation' programmes on quantum materials and stress

The University of Twente is partner in two large and long-term research programmes that will receive a so-called ‘Gravitation grant’ from Dutch Research Council NWO. One is about new materials for the quantum age, the other is about better understanding of stress. On average, the programmes each get 20 million euro for ten years.

PhD Defence Seda Kizir

As a modern material, graphene continues to raise the interest for new, challenging applications. In her PhD thesis, published on 25 February, Seda Kizir describes exploratory research on thin graphene films for the use in Extreme UV photolithography. When used as mask protecting membrane, a so called pellicle, it stops particles from being printed in the chip production process. This application imposes a challenging combination of material properties, which has set the direction of Seda’s research: the aim was to withstand chemically active H-environments while the films are only few tens of nanometer thick and tens of square centimeter large. The thesis summarizes a fundamental study on graphene growth as well as control of defect-induced degradation. It deals with the use of Mo thin films and in-situ transformed Mo2C catalysts, produced using different Mo deposition methods, including a study on the effect of theunderlying oxide on MLG nucleation. A highlight was a new method to improve the chemical resistivity of graphene against the chemically active H radicals. The method involves the selective passivation of the MLG defects using atomic layer deposition (ALD) of a H- resistant material. Essential was that the chemisorption of ALD precursors is taking place at the vulnerable defect sites, which would otherwise be attacked by the H-radicals. This method does not show additional damage of the graphene in Raman measurements, while local treatment nature minimizes EUV transmission losses. The effective etch rate in an H-radical environment has been characterized, with and without ALD passivation process applied and the etching was reduced significantly by using this selective passivation material. The method shows promise for improving the chemical resistivity of other materials with local vulnerable sites, such as carbon nanotubes.

MESA+ involved in honored National Growth Fund projects

On Thursday April 14th the Dutch government announced the projects that were approved for the Nationaal Groeifonds (The Dutch Growth Fund). Among others, MESA+ is involved in particularly NXTGEN HIGHTECH that was awarded 450 M€ and PhotonDelta that was awarded 471 M€.

More news

Life as a PhD-student at MESA+

What is it like to be a PhD student at the MESA+ institute? Rosa Luca Bouwmeester's research focused on Topological insulators, a relatively new class of materials. ‘In close collaboration with other groups, we were able to think, and work, out of the box in order to take the research a decisive step further.’

Signing Ceremony MESA+ en IIS

MESA+ and the Institute of Industrial Science of the University of Tokyo expressed a convergence of will. On Monday 5 October 2020, both parties signed a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). “This agreement further strengthens the collaboration of both institutions”, says Prof Dr Albert van den Berg, scientific director of MESA+.

Our NanoLab in 360°

MESA+ has a 1250 m2 state-of-the-art NanoLab which consists of a Cleanroom and Analysis facilities. Research on the nanometre scale needs a laboratory with extreme specifications. Any influencing effects from the environment, such as vibration and electromagnetic disturbances, are virtually non-existent. The environmental conditions inside the building are extremely stable. Discover our NanoLab in 360°!

Photo contest

The winner of the MESA+ photo contest of the first quarter of 2021 is Mohammed Hassan of the Multi Scale Mechanics (MSM) group, with this picture, titled, Uni-Axial Comppressed Particles.

MESA+ Meeting 2019 aftermovie

The MESA+ Meeting 2019 took place on september 30 in Kinepolis, Enschede. It was a day full of posters, lectures and meetings to form new ideas and connections. Watch the aftermovie to relive the MESA+ Meeting.