My research interests are nanochemistry and supramolecular chemistry on surfaces. Self-assembly on surfaces is a central theme of my research, with a focus on the relation between structure and function. Recent research activities cover a broad range of topics such as two-dimensional crystal engineering (e.g. formation of nanoporous surfaces, chirality at interfaces), templating, dynamics and reactivity. These studies aim at bringing insight in the fundamental aspects of molecule-substrate interactions and molecular organisation on surfaces, as well as the formation and use of these nanostructured functional surfaces (e.g. 2D materials). The liquid-solid interface is a preferred environment to induce self-assembly. Also biomolecular systems (DNA, proteins, their complexes, etc.) are investigated, with a focus on those that are involved in disease related processes. Scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy techniques are particularly useful to probe the structural, dynamic, and electronic properties of these surface-confined molecular systems.
My research focuses on fundamental aspects of supramolecular self-assembly on solid surfaces and its application towards functionalization of two-dimensional materials. I am also interested in on-surface covalent chemistry.
V. Ganga Mallaiah
Postdoc
I obtained Ph.D. at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre under the supervision of Dr. Bhaskar Dutt. I am a Marie-Curie postdoctoral fellow and I am studying the impact of room temperature ionic liquids on the electronic properties of graphene using SPM and Raman techniques. I am also interested in 2D crystal engineering and surface-confined stimulus-responsive systems.
Yuanzhi Xia
Postdoc
My PhD research topic is to investigate the impact of covalent surface modifications on the 2D crystallisation of organic molecules. Microfluidic flow-chemistry is being used to study molecular self-assembly under dynamic conditions. Scanning tunnelling microscopy and Raman spectroscopy are used to explore the nature of the surface before and after self-assembly.
Nico Arisnabarreta
Postdoc
Hi, I'm a new postdoc in the De Feyter group, coming from Argentina. Among other things, I will investigate the effect of electric fields on self-assembly and reactivity.
Shammi Rana
Postdoc
I investigate self-assembly processes on surfaces in relation to electrocatalysis
Roelof Steeno
Doctoral Student
For my master thesis I investigated the covalent modification (grafting) of gold substrates through the electrochemical reduction of diazonium salts and subsequently the impact of the grafted molecules on self-assembly on gold. As a PhD student, I continue that research.
Zeno Tessari
Doctoral Student
I'm a Erasmus student from the University of Padua in Italy. I will work on nanoshaving and self-assembly
Robby Reynaerts
Doctoral Student
Hi, I investigate multicomponent self-assembly on surfaces.
Brent Daelemans
Doctoral Student
I'm PhD student an I investigate self-assembly and reactivity on surfaces.
Anne-Charlotte Nelissen
Doctoral Student
During my PhD I will focus on the assembly of opto-electric and electrocatalytic molecules on boron nitride layers. I will study this using STM and spectroscopy in collaboration with prof. Mark Van der Auweraer. I will also focus on the introduction of boron nitride layers in dye-sensitized solar cells and electrocatalysis.
Sonia Freddi
Doctoral Student
Sonia carries out PhD research in collaboration with Prof. L. Sangaletti (Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore)
Tamara Rinkovec
Doctoral Student
I'm investigating fundamental aspects of self-assembled molecular networks at surfaces, mainly using scanning tunneling microscopy
Catarina Lourenco Delfino
Doctoral Student
My research is about nanostructured functionalization of graphite and graphene, and 2D self-assembled molecular networks
Lihua Yu
Doctoral Student
I am a CSC PhD student. I will work on nanostructuring surfaces and the impact on supramolecular self-assembly
Antonino Cucinotta
Doctoral Student
I investigate the formation of metal organic frameworks on surfaces
Rahul Sasikumar
Doctoral Student
I will focus my research on the chemical functionalization of 2D materials and polymorphism
Niklas Herrmann
Doctoral Student
My PhD topic is about the synthesis and characterization of two-dimensional synthetic materials on surfaces. I'm member of the Ultimate consortium.
Anastasia Bazylevska
Doctoral Student
Hi, I work on the covalent functionalization of 2D materials
Tianze Hu
Doctoral Student
Hi, I'm a CSC student and will investigate 2D molecular self-assembly dynamical processes on surfaces
I'm a PhD student of the “CHISUB” project. CHISUB is an ambitious collaborative research project funded by FNRS-FWO under the Excellence of Science (EoS) program that spans from 2022 to 2025 and that puts together 6 research groups from Belgium, The Netherlands, and Austria. CHISUB features a multidisciplinary approach, towards crystallization mechanisms of molecules, which uses chiral symmetry breaking as local probe of ordering phenomena and as a tool for enantiomeric separation. I will do my research in the group of Prof. Yves Geerts at ULB where I will synthesize new compounds and in the De Feyter group where I will investigate chiral symmetry breaking phenomena at surfaces using scanning probe microscopy.
Andreu Mor Maldona
Doctoral Student
I work in the groups of Arnout Voet and Steven De Feyter as a PhD student. In the De Feyter group, I will investigate the on-surface self-assembly of designer proteins.
Leslie Rodriguez Gamboa
Visiting Researcher
Hi, I'm an internship student from UCLL
Jianqiao Li
Visiting Researcher
Hi, I'm a visiting researcher (PhD student) from Beijing Jiaotong University and China National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
Brecht Koek
MSc Student
I'm investigating on-surface synthesis
Sven Bernaerts
MSc Student
I'm doing research on functionalized graphite particles and catalysis
Willem Vanacker
MSc Student
I'm investigating protein-based 2D surface arrays
Simon Dhuyvetter
MSc Student
I'm investigating graphene field effect transistors
Selam Verbert
MSc Student
The impact of electric-field on polymerization reactions is the topic I'm investigating