Department of Applied Physics

Advanced Nanomaterials & Devices

It is fascinating how materials properties at the nanoscale can be radically changed by means of size, crystal structure or surface states. We focus on new nanomaterial systems and investigate their properties.

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Fascinating nanowires and exciting research areas

Our research group exploits the properties of new nanomaterials; their unusual structural, optical, thermal, and electronic properties for future applications. Research in our group centers around nanowires since these offer an unprecedented level of flexibility and control. The versatility of their material composition allows envisioning new applications in chemistry, physics, engineering science and bioscience.

News

November 23, 2023
ERC Consolidator Grant of 2 million euros for three TU/e researchers
The researchers are all involved in building a digital future that is both fast and energy-efficient
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Elham Fadaly operating the Metal Organic Vapor Phase Epitaxy (MOVPE). This machine grows the nanowires with hexagonal silicon-germanium shells. Archive photo: Sicco van Grieken (SURF).
July 5, 2023
Elham Fadaly wins Martinus van Marum Prize for breakthrough in photonics
TU/e alumna will receive KHMW's prestigious encouragement award, to recognize original research in the field of natural sciences and engineering, on Friday,...
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More news
Queen Máxima shows great interest during photonics visit at EHCI (in pictures)
February 16, 2023
Electron pairing in quantum dots as new approach to qubit research
November 23, 2022
Light from silicon wins ‘Falling Walls’ Breakthrough of the Year 2021 in Physical Sciences
September 17, 2021
Nanowire networks as a platform for quantum computing
June 18, 2021

Our Principal Investigators

Jos Haverkort

Optics of hex-SiGe

Klaas-Jan Tielrooij

Ultrafast Dynamics in Nanoscale Systems

Our goal is to understand physical phenomena in nanosystems and to explore their application in technologies that have yet to be imagined.…

Work with us!

Please check out the TU/e Vacancies page for further opportunities within our group. 

 

Quantum Materials

Developing majorana building blocks for quantum computers

We synthesize materials and nanoscale devices which exhibit unconventional quantum-physical effects. As a major achievement we have proven the existence of Majorana fermions at the interface of an InSb nanowire with a superconductor. Ultimately we aim at creating Majorana fermions as building blocks for quantum computation.

Meet some of our Researchers

Full Professor

Erik Bakkers

Associate Professor

Jos Haverkort

Associate Professor

Klaas-Jan Tielrooij

Light from Si

Adding intra-chip and chip-to-chip communication at the speed of light

We have developed a generic approach to grow defect-free hexagonal SiGe nanowires with tunable composition, potentially featuring a direct bandgap. We aim to develop a Hex-SiGe nanolaser on a silicon platform. This will serve as a game-changer for the electronics industry, integrating electronic and optical functionalities.

Renewable Energy

Developing more efficient, cheaper solar cells and novel thermoelectric components

We develop generations of very high efficiency solar cells where the actual harvesting of solar energy is performed in arrays of III/V semiconductor nanowires. We also investigate efficient harvesting of thermal energy using crystalline semiconductor nanowires, enabling direct generation of electrical power from heat.

Recent Publications

Our most recent peer reviewed publications

Eindhoven Hendrik Casimir Institute

The Eindhoven Hendrik Casimir Institute (EHCI) brings together the world-class photonics and quantum research at TU/e to create a unique and optimal environment to enable these fields to grow synergetically. The institute´s interdisciplinary approach paves the way for collaborations to create new paradigms in computing, communication and sensing. 

The mission of the Eindhoven Hendrik Casimir Institute is to contribute to a sustainable information society, by bringing together TU/e’s unique core strengths in photonics and quantum technology, from materials to systems. Interdisciplinary projects will bring scientists in these fields together. 

State-of-the-art Facilities

For our research we have state-of-the-art labs and equipment available:

  • The NanoLab@TU/e offers a unique combination of equipment for developing optical chips and other applications based on compound semiconductor technology.
  • Two optics labs: one is focused on photoluminescence measurements in the visible and near-infrared range (400-1600 nm). We can do temperature dependent and time-resolved measurements. In the other lab we focus on detection of emission in the infrared range using a FTIR spectrometer.
  • Thermoelectrics lab: we use two probestation set-ups in which we can measure thermal and electronic transport through individual nanowires.
  • We use Metal-Organic Vapor-Phase Epitaxy (MOVPE), and Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) for the growth of nanowires. We have an Aixtron Close Coupled Showerhead (CCS) for the growth of hexagonal semiconductors and an Aixtron 200/4 with 2 chambers, of which one is used for InSb and the other for InP-based semiconductors. We use a Createc MBE cluster system for the growth of III-V nanowires, II-IV-VI nanowires, and superconductors.

Education

Check out all our courses

Are you a student interested in graduating or doing a project within the Advances Nanomaterials Devices group? 

Join us! More information

 

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