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.

Below, you find a short CV.

The group (July 2021)

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.

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.

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.

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. 

I investigate self-assembly processes on surfaces in relation to electrocatalysis

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.

I'm a Erasmus student from the University of Padua in Italy. I will work on nanoshaving and self-assembly

Hi, I investigate multicomponent self-assembly on surfaces. 

I'm PhD student an I investigate self-assembly and reactivity on surfaces.

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 carries out PhD research in collaboration with Prof. L. Sangaletti (Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore)

I'm investigating fundamental aspects of self-assembled molecular networks at surfaces, mainly using scanning tunneling microscopy

My research is about nanostructured functionalization of graphite and graphene, and 2D self-assembled molecular networks

I am a CSC PhD student. I will work on nanostructuring surfaces and the impact on supramolecular self-assembly

I investigate the formation of metal organic frameworks on surfaces

I will focus my research on the chemical functionalization of 2D materials and polymorphism

My PhD topic is about the synthesis and characterization of two-dimensional synthetic materials on surfaces. I'm member of the Ultimate consortium. 

Hi, I work on the covalent functionalization of 2D materials

Hi, I'm a CSC student and will investigate 2D molecular self-assembly dynamical processes on surfaces

Hi, investigate on-surface polymerisation reactions.

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.

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.

 Hi, I'm an internship student from UCLL

Hi, I'm a visiting researcher (PhD student) from Beijing Jiaotong University and China National Center for Nanoscience and Technology

I'm investigating on-surface synthesis

I'm doing research on functionalized graphite particles and catalysis

I'm investigating protein-based 2D surface arrays

I'm investigating graphene field effect transistors

The impact of electric-field on polymerization reactions is the topic I'm investigating

Secretary to Steven De Feyter