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
Vipin Mishra
Postdoc
I investigate the formation mechanisms of 2D covalent organic frameworks on surfaces
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.
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
Brecht Koek
Doctoral Student
I'm investigating on-surface synthesis
Sven Bernaerts
Doctoral Student
I'm doing research on functionalized graphite particles and catalysis
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.