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Research

The Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN) comprises UiO’s focus on renewable energy, materials science, and nanotechnology. The Centre is an interdisciplinary collaboration between five research groups in physics and chemistry, and spearheads the MN Faculty's efforts for sustainable energy solutions.               

The main activity of the Centre is competitively funded basic research, financed by external grant agencies such as the Research Council of Norway, the European Union and private companies. The Centre has an annual turnover of approximately 70 MNOK, and hosts c. 110 PhD students, postdocs, researchers, and permanent academic staff.

Highlighted publications

  • Tracking deactivation of zeolite beta with and without a detailed structure model: XRD analysis and in situ studies Dec. 1, 2023 3:42 PM

    X-ray diffraction is extremely powerful to study the structure of well-ordered, crystalline materials. In this paper, researchers from the Catalysis Section, NAFUMA, the Swiss Norwegian Beamlines, and Haldor Topsoe A/S take it one step further, by developing models for advanced diffraction studies of a disordered material, namely the beta zeolite. Despite the tremendous structural complexity caused by the disorder, these new models make it possible to resolve the degree of deactivation of the zeolite catalyst from a single diffractogram.

    Microporous and Mesoporous Materials (2023).

  • Variable temperature in situ TEM mapping of the thermodynamically stable element distribution in bimetallic Pt–Rh nanoparticles Sep. 25, 2023 2:42 PM

    In-situ TEM experiments shows that the tendency for elemental mixing- or segregation to occur in Pt–Rh nanoparticles depends on the nanoparticle size and temperature. The smaller nanoparticles ( ≲ 13 nm) are stable in the solid solution configuration over the entire studied temperature range. Larger nanoparticles ( ≳ 13 nm) tends to segregate when cooled to room temperature. The results are of importance to understand the thermodynamics of this specific Pt–Rh nanoparticle system and it add value towards applications like catalysis, whereof e.g. supported Pt–Rh nanoparticles are attractive candidates for NH 3 slip abatement processes.

    Nanoscale Adv. 5, 5286 (2023).

  • Catalysis group researchers strike gold May 11, 2023 9:47 AM

    New chemical transformations can be catalyzed with molecular gold compounds or gold nanoparticles. Researchers at the catalysis group have reported a simple and robust protocol for the synthesis of gold(III) compounds that are crucial for the development of these catalytic reactions. The synthesis utilizes heating in a microwave oven, and produces a number of new compounds, quickly and cleanly, in a one-step process.

    Dalton Trans. 51, 5082 (2022).

Events

, DSC-Oasen, Georg Sverdrups hus
, Domus Bibliotheca
, Fauna, Forskningsparken
, DSC-Oasen, Georg Sverdrups hus
, Zoom

Vacancies

  • PhD Research Fellow in Particle Detectors
    Avdeling: Senter for materialvitenskap og nanoteknologi (SMN)
    Fakultet: Det matematisk-naturvitenskapelige fakultet
    Språk: Bokmål
    Søknadsfrist: mandag 8. april 2024

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