Thesis subjects 2021-2022

Below are the thesis subjects for 2021-2022. Filter below on study programme and/or subject category. Press 'reset' to start over. The topics below have been submitted and are subject to approval of the educational committees.

  1. 25470 / Model and software development
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck, T. Verstraelen / Counsellor(s): S. Vandenhaute, M. Cools-Ceuppens
    Background and problem Over the past three decades, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as an exceedingly promising class of nanoporous materials due to their extraordinary behavior and endless functional variety. They are composed of... Read more
  2. 25353 / Many-particle physics
    Supervisor(s): D. Van Neck / Counsellor(s): D. Van Neck
    Background and problem In quantum mechanics, any system can be described by the time-independent Schrödinger equation. However, this eigenvalue problem is only exactly solvable for a few very specific systems like the hydrogen atom or... Read more
  3. 25250 / Spectroscopy
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): L. De Bruecker
    Background and problem Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a new class of porous materials built with metal-based units connected by organic linkers. These materials have unique properties and are very promising for numerous applications.... Read more
  4. 25422 / Solid-state physics
    Supervisor(s): S. Cottenier, M. Sluydts / Counsellor(s): M. Sluydts, N. N.
    Background and problem Computational materials simulations have been able to rapidly accelerate the development of new materials by predicting their properties before they are ever made. One problem however is that once we identify an... Read more
  5. 25428 / Solid-state physics
    Supervisor(s): S. Cottenier, S. Claessens / Counsellor(s): M. Sluydts, N.N.
    Background and problem Magnetic materials appear in a variety of engineering applications. Soft magnetic materials are used in motors, generators, electromagnets, transformers,… Hard magnetic materials appear in loudspeakers, sensors... Read more
  6. 25471 / Spectroscopy
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): A.E.J. Hoffman, A. Lamaire
    Background and problem Nanoporous materials that are crystalline and have pores at the nanometer scale possess a wide range of applications ranging from gas separation and sensing to chemical catalysis. Zeolites provide an excellent example... Read more
  7. 25469 / Model and software development
    Supervisor(s): L. Vanduyfhuys, V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): L. Vanduyfhuys
    Background and problem The separation of a gas mixture stream into its isolated components is a highly relevant process for many industrial applications such as refinement of crude oil and the production of high value chemicals and plastics... Read more
  8. 25414 / Model and software development
    Supervisor(s): L. Vanduyfhuys, V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): P. M. Mileo, E. Van den Broeck
    Background and problem Polymers are macromolecules composed of well-defined monomeric subunits which are the main building blocks of many ubiquitous materials. Because of this chain-like nature one often refers to polymers as polymer(ic)... Read more
  9. 25566 / Chemistry & Biochemistry
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): P. M. Mileo, A. Lamaire
    Background and problem Drug development is one of the most strategic activities of pharmaceutical companies, with research and development (R&D) accounting for ca. 17% of their total capital expenditures in 2019. [1] Such high costs and... Read more
  10. 25630 / Nanoporous materials
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck, S.M.J. Rogge / Counsellor(s): J. De Vos, S. Borgmans
    Background and problem Natural gas and renewable natural gas form promising alternatives to conventional petroleum-based fuels for transportation because of their abundant reserves and lower carbon emissions. To efficiently store natural gas,... Read more
  11. 25623 / Spectroscopy
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck, H. Vrielinck / Counsellor(s): A.E.J. Hoffman, S. Khelifi, J. Sun
    Background and problem In recent years, crystalline nanoporous materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely investigated for their potential use in various applications such as  gas storage, gas separation,... Read more
  12. 25657 / Nanoporous materials
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): T. Braeckevelt, S. Vandenhaute
    Background and problem Perovskites are a broad class of materials which have the same type of crystal structure as CaTiO3, which was discovered in the early 20th century. They were named in honour of the Russian Count, Lev A. Perovski.... Read more
  13. 25306 / Model and software development
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck, S.M.J. Rogge / Counsellor(s): A. Lamaire, S.M.J. Rogge
    Background and problem The absorption of excess energy during mechanical impacts plays a crucial role in modern society, from injury prevention and safety measures in industrials settings to cushioning systems that increase user... Read more
  14. 25449 / Model and software development
    Supervisor(s): T. Verstraelen, B. De Spiegeleer / Counsellor(s): R. Goeminne, J. Vekeman
    Background and problem Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of biological macromolecules are used extensively in academia and commercial research centers to simulate small (nanometer-scale) fragments of living organisms. In such a simulation... Read more
  15. 25355 / Nanoporous materials
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck, S.M.J. Rogge / Counsellor(s): S. Borgmans, A. Lamaire
    Background and problem Defects form part of every realistic solid-state material at room temperature, impacting the material’s properties. They can engender a welcome effect, such as increasing the efficiency of semiconductor devices... Read more
  16. 25260 / Model and software development
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): T. Braeckevelt, S. Vandenhaute
    Background and problem While the photovoltaic industry has always been dominated by silicon technology, the production of crystalline silicon is difficult and expensive. As a result, recent research efforts are dedicated towards new... Read more
  17. 25359 / Nanoporous materials
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck, L. Vanduyfhuys / Counsellor(s): A. Lamaire, S. Vandenhaute, S.M.J. Rogge
    Background and problem As many microscopic phenomena are not directly accessible experimentally, computational modelling is often an indispensable tool to gain a more fundamental insight into these phenomena. The dynamics of complex... Read more
  18. 25567 / Nanoporous materials
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): P. Cnudde
    Background and problem Zeolite catalyzed alkene cracking plays a crucial role in both classical petrochemical processes, like FCC, as well as emerging alternatives for the on-purpose production processes of light olefins, fuels and... Read more
  19. 25408 / Model and software development
    Supervisor(s): L. Vanduyfhuys, V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): L. Vanduyfhuys, M. Bocus
    Background and problem Molecular modeling is a hybrid field of science combining chemistry and physics in which scientist try to understand and predict the behavior of molecules and materials using computer simulations that model the... Read more
  20. 25473 / Nanoporous materials
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): P. Cnudde, M. Bocus
    Background and problem Reducing atmospheric CO2 emissions to mitigate the impact of global warming is one of the major challenges for the chemical industry. Currently, the development of carbon capture and usage (CCU) technologies to... Read more
  21. 25627 / Nanoporous materials
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): P. M. Mileo, S.M.J. Rogge
    Background and problem Natural gas (NG), which mainly consists of methane, is known to be one of the cleanest alternatives for energy harvesting. However, its extensive use is severely hampered by its high transportation costs, mainly due... Read more
  22. 25600 / Model and software development
    Supervisor(s): S.M.J. Rogge, V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): S.M.J. Rogge, J. De Vos
    Background and problem Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) form a versatile class of nanoporous materials that are composed of organic and inorganic building blocks. Due to the wide versatility of molecular interactions present in these... Read more
  23. 25346 / Nanoporous materials
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): E. Van den Broeck, M. Bocus
    Background and problem The massive exploitation of crude oil in the past decades has remarkably reduced the number of easily accessible oilfields around the globe. Despite the possibility to promote a transition towards greener sources of... Read more
  24. 25656 / Nanoporous materials
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): A. Lamaire, P. M. Mileo, P. Cnudde
    Background and problem Hydrogen and fuel cells have been named as sustainable energy solutions for the 21st century, providing a way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and transition to clean energy sources. However, the widespread... Read more
  25. 25438 / Model and software development
    Supervisor(s): T. Verstraelen / Counsellor(s): R. Goeminne, Y. Cheng
    Background and problem Molecular dynamics is used in many scientific domains to simulate a system of interest at the atomic scale, e.g. "how does a drug molecule interact with an enzyme?" or "how is a gas adsorbed in a... Read more
  26. 25354 / Many-particle physics
    Supervisor(s): D. Van Neck / Counsellor(s): D. Van Neck
    Background and problem One of the most intriguing phenomena in quantum many-particle physics is the appearance of strong quantum correlations and complexity.  In these systems it's not just the interaction between single particles... Read more
  27. 25420 / Solid-state physics
    Supervisor(s): S. Cottenier, T. Verstraelen / Counsellor(s): M. Sluydts, N. N.
    Background and problem To satisfy our hunger for energy we are in dire need of new materials capable of generating, converting, storing and transferring energy at high efficiencies. Common energy applications are for instance photovoltaics... Read more
  28. 25618 / Nanoporous materials
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): M. Bocus, A. Lamaire, R. Goeminne, M. Cools-Ceuppens
    Background and problem Zeolites are microporous aluminosilicate materials, with a pivotal role as catalysts in the chemical industry. They are composed of vertices-connected SiO4 tetrahedra and the flexibility of the Si—O—Si... Read more
  29. 25437 / Model and software development
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): S.M.J. Rogge, S. Borgmans
    Background and problem Nanoporous framework materials are highly promising for several day-to-day applications such as energy storage, gas separation, and heterogeneous catalysis given their unique combination of appreciable structural... Read more
  30. 25298 / Model and software development
    Supervisor(s): T. Verstraelen / Counsellor(s): R. Goeminne, M. Cools-Ceuppens
    Background and problem Computational simulations have for decades become an invaluable tool to gain a fundamental understanding of the properties of materials at the atomic scale. To study materials containing a large number of atoms, one... Read more
  31. 25308 / Nanoporous materials
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): M. Bocus, P. Cnudde
    Background and problem Ethene and propene are among the most important platform chemicals in industry and are typically produced via steam cracking. However, the strive to use more sustainable non-petroleum feedstocks has incentivized the... Read more
  32. 25389 / Chemistry & Biochemistry
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck, K. De Clerck / Counsellor(s): E. Van den Broeck, J. Becelaere
    Background and problem With over 2/3rds of all drugs in development being classified as poorly water-soluble, it can be said that the pharmaceutical oral drug delivery industry is up for a challenge. Low water-solubility results in a low... Read more
  33. 25412 / Model and software development
    Supervisor(s): T. Verstraelen, D. Fauconnier / Counsellor(s): G. Toraman
    Background and problem The rising demand to reduce energy consumption and increase efficiency in engineering systems requires a deep understanding of lubricant behavior to reduce friction. Understanding the interaction between engine... Read more
  34. 25379 / Spectroscopy
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): S. Vanlommel, A.E.J. Hoffman
    Background and problem Zeolites are crystalline aluminosilicates that can be used for a broad range of applications such as gas separation and capture and as highly efficient catalysts. Their structure consists of tetrahedrally coordinated... Read more
  35. 25356 / Nanoporous materials
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck, S.M.J. Rogge / Counsellor(s): A.E.J. Hoffman, S. Borgmans
    Background and problem Next-generation nanosensing and -actuating materials should be able to efficiently and reliably transform well-defined atomic-level stimuli into a macroscopic response or change in its structure. Soft porous crystals... Read more
  36. 25603 / Spectroscopy
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck, P. Van der Voort / Counsellor(s): T. Braeckevelt, S. Borgmans
    Background and problem Sunlight is abundantly present and freely available as an energy source. Therefore, the design of photoactive devices that efficiently harness sunlight is a key aspect in the transition to a sustainable economy. The... Read more
  37. 25380 / Solid-state physics
    Supervisor(s): S. Cottenier, M. Sluydts / Counsellor(s): M. Sluydts, N. N.
    Background and problem MYRRHA is a new generation of nuclear fission research reactor that is inherently safe (no melt-down possible), and that can be used to produce electricity, to burn long-lived nuclear waste of the previous generations... Read more
  38. 25300 / Model and software development
    Supervisor(s): T. Verstraelen / Counsellor(s): R. Goeminne
    Background and problem Molecular crystals consist of a periodic stacking of molecules, for which the intermolecular interactions are relatively weak compared to the intramolecular ones. Still, the weak forces are strong enough, such that... Read more
  39. 25411 / Model and software development
    Supervisor(s): D. Fauconnier, T. Verstraelen / Counsellor(s): G. Toraman
    Background and problem The rising demand for high power-density and performance of modern powertrains e.g. in wind turbines, pushes gears towards their limits in terms of power transfer, load capacity efficiency, durability and reliability. In... Read more
  40. 25237 / Model and software development
    Supervisor(s): L. Vanduyfhuys / Counsellor(s): L. Vanduyfhuys, M. Bocus
    Background and problem Most molecular simulations that are currently applied, rely on the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. Herein, one first solves the electronic Schrödinger equation and constructs so-called Born-Oppenheimer surfaces (... Read more
  41. 25435 / Solid-state physics
    Supervisor(s): S. Cottenier, T. Verstraelen / Counsellor(s): M. Sluydts, A. Rivoldini
    Background and problem The iron-rich region of the Fe-Si phase diagram is of interest both to the planetology community and the materials engineering community. Indeed, the planet Mercury has a solid inner core that consists predominantly... Read more
  42. 25568 / Nanoporous materials
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck, L. Vanduyfhuys / Counsellor(s): P. Cnudde
    Background and problem The methanol to olefins (MTO) synthesis on acid zeolite catalysts received a lot of attention during the last decades as a more sustainable alternative for the production of base chemicals. The MTO mechanism is very... Read more
  43. 25264 / Model and software development
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): S. Vandenhaute, S.M.J. Rogge
    Background and problem Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are composed of inorganic nodes and organic ligands, joined together with coordination bonds to form two- and three-dimensional networks. Computational models of MOFs are almost always... Read more
  44. 25663 / Model and software development
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck / Counsellor(s): S.M.J. Rogge
    Background ad problem Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) emerged in the last decades as a very intriguing and versatile class of materials, showing anomalous responses to certain triggers. A few examples of such atypical behavior are negative... Read more
  45. 25451 / Model and software development
    Supervisor(s): T. Verstraelen, J. Vekeman / Counsellor(s): M.F. Gustavo, L. Dumortier
    Background and problem Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of complex chemical systems rely on the computation of Newton’s equations of motion to propagate the system through time. Afterwards, relevant properties of the system can be... Read more
  46. 25666 / Nanoporous materials
    Supervisor(s): V. Van Speybroeck, S.M.J. Rogge / Counsellor(s): J. De Vos, S. Borgmans
    Background and problem Nanoporous materials have recently attracted a lot of attention due to their wide range of possible applications, such as gas adsorption and separation, catalysis, and photoelectronic applications. Among these... Read more