Vier teams geselecteerd in de Topsector Chemie Studentencompetitie
2 juli 2015
Vier studententeams die een voorstel hebben ingediend voor de Topsector Chemie Studentencompetitie zijn op basis van hun onderzoeksvoorstel geselecteerd om deze zomer hun voorgestelde project uit te voeren.
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Teams van Master- en/of laatstejaars HBO-bachelorstudenten konden dit voorjaar voorstellen indienen om een korte onderzoeksstage te doen met als doel een creatieve oplossing te vinden voor een maatschappelijke of industriele uitdaging. Het winnende team in de Studentencompetitie zal tijdens de
chemieconferentie CHAINS 2015 worden bekendgemaakt. De Topsector Chemie studentencompetitie is mede mogelijk gemaakt door AkzoNobel.
De vier geselecteerde teams zijn:
Team SmartBite
Teamleden: Onno Akkermans (m), Rebecca Buchanan (v), Pegah Keshaniyan (v)
Supervisors: Dr Bart van Grinsven (UM); Dr Hanne Dilien (UM), with support from Maastricht Instruments
Development of a Bruxism Sensing Device; using a Conducting Hollow-Sphere Polymer as Resistive Pressure Sensor
The main goal of the project is the development of a product that's extremely sensitive towards impact of the jaws in order to detect and treat awake-bruxism. In this context the development of a flexible conductive pressure sensitive sensor is our point of interest. For polypyrrole films it
is known that they have conducting properties. Moreover, recently it has been stated that these films are excellent candidates as ultra-sensitive pressure sensors. Hence, polypyrrole offers all the characteristics we need for a miniaturized sensor in a mouth piece; conductivity, flexibility,
thin layer film formation, and pressure sensitivity.
Team Sticky solution
Teamleden: Merel van Dijke (v), Renee Vlaar (v)
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. P.G.L. Klinkhamer (LEI), Prof. Dr. M. Overhand (LEI), with support from Koppert Biological solutions, Enza zaden, Dekker Chrysanten, Seed valley and Generade
Fighting Thrips with glue: development of a biopesticide inspired by glandular trichomes
As a steppingstone towards a new biopesticide, the exudate found in glandular tomato trichomes is analyzed and recreated. This exudate acts as a natural two-component glue and consists of the phenolic compound rutin and its oxidizing enzymes. This glue immobilizes any insects touching it,
presenting an alternative to toxic pesticides.
Team Virtutem Solis Teamleden: Victor Claerbout (m), Fleur Loadsman-Wammes (v)
Supervisors: Dr Celia Fonseca Guerra (VU), Prof. dr. ir. Romano Orru (VU)
Organic PMDI Solar Cells
Team Virtutem Solis is carrying out quantum chemical research on the improvement of the absorption character of organic solar cells. Organic solar cell systems struggle a short lifetime compared to inorganic ones, approximately 1 year compared to 25, and reach relatively low efficiencies.
However, they are also characterized by great potentials; use of more abundant materials, lower material and manufacturing costs, and flexible thin-film architecture. In order to optimize the system, one has to optimize the bandgapenergies (energy difference between the conduction and valence
band/HOMO and LUMO) of the materials used (semiconductors) and create a high absorption of photons in the spectrum of sunlight with the highest photon incident rate. We will tackle this problem by investigating the absorption spectrum of a series of pyromellitic diimide (PDMI)-based systems.
By adding different substituents on this organic PMDI core, we want to contribute to taking another big step forward into the development of organic solar cells and therefore tackling our worldwide energy problem.
Team NanoClick
Teamleden: Marielle van Kooten (v), Roy Pattipeiluhu (m), Annelies Wauters (v)
Supervisors: Dr Alexander Kros (LEI), Dr Sander van Kasteren (LEI), Dr Mario van der Stelt (LEI)
Dual-directed Liposomes: Double Trouble for Tumors
Selective drug delivery to malignant tissue is the biggest challenge in cancer therapy. The envisioned dual-directed and drug-containing nanoparticles carry two types of molecules on their surface. These molecules recognize specific markers on cancer cells and subsequently drill a hole in
them. The nanoparticle will selectively deliver its toxic payload into the cancer cell, leaving healthy cells unharmed.
Bron: NWO