MESA+ Institute | University of Twente

REALIsING GRAND SOLUTIONS WITH THE EXTREMELY SMALL

At MESA+, we believe in realising grand solutions with the extremely small. We contribute to solving current and future societal challenges. We do this by using our fascination with the extremely small. We bring societal challenges inside and use our fascination to work on innovative and sustainable solutions. We focus on societal challenges in four application areas: Health, AgriFood & Water, Security, and Energy & Sustainability.

With our research, we contribute to a fair, sustainable and digital society.

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 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

'Dewatering' of biomaterials consuming far less energy

Hybrid nanomaterials as powerhouses for miniature energy storage

The development of new electronics requires a search for materials with unprecedented properties. For example, for local electrical energy storage on a chip and very fast charge-discharge thereof, so-called miniaturized pulsed-power devices, special ferroelectric materials are being studied. Scientists of the Inorganic Materials Science group (MESA+ Institute, University of Twente) alternate thin layers of two materials, lead zirconate (PbZrO3 – PZ) and lanthanum-doped lead zirconate titanate (Pb0.9La0.1Zr0.52Ti0.48O3 – PL) and show that the favorable properties of both materials reinforce each other in a multilayer. In addition, the layering also ensures that the maximum voltage that can be applied is significantly higher. These factors result in a strongly enhanced recoverable energy-storage density (increased by a factor of 4 to 128.4 J/cm3) with high release efficiency (81.2%). Moreover, the multilayer films are very robust, even after many charging cycles. The results were recently published in the leading journal Advanced Energy Materials.

MESA+ Meeting 2022: lectures, awards and networking

Last week, on June 13th, this year’s MESA+ Meeting was held at the Kinepolis cinema in Enschede. After two years of restrictions due to the Covid pandemic, we were finally able to meet in person again. It was a joyous meeting, with much time for networking, sharing knowledge, showcasing research and programmes and improving cooperation between different research groups. The programme included lectures given by scientists of MESA+, internationally renowned scientists, networking- and parallel sessions, and of course, the MESA+ poster competition.

"That phone call from The Times planted the seed"

Chips that look for traces of early-stage cancer in urine, or that mimic the blood-brain barrier. The fluidic systems that Loes Segerink is developing, can make the difference in health care. “In this type of research, you sometimes have to acknowledge the fact there’s a lot you do not know. Just visiting another lab, with your questions, maybe the onset of the best possible collaboration.” As a scientist, she also highly values outreach: she likes to tell about her work, to primary school pupils, at festivals and in the media. Prof. dr. Loes Segerink gives her inaugural address, as a Professor of Biomedical Microdevices at the University of Twente (TechMed Centre), June 17 2022.

How to design an optimal wind farm?

Last month, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Denmark announced their intention to increase the number of wind turbines in the North Sea by a factor of ten. The team led by Dr Richard Stevens, a Featured Scientist at the University of Twente, is studying the complexities of wind flow that can occur among so many turbines. Using newly developed computer models, they calculate the optimal layout for new wind farms such as those planned in the North Sea.

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.