Research activities at UiO MiNaLab focus on semiconductor and material science research. The most essential research areas are solar cell technology, semiconductor nanoscience and technology, MOEMS, wide bandgap semiconductors and transparent conductive oxides.
Currently, there are several interdisciplinary research activities within Life Science at the UiO MiNaLab, for example, biosensing and organ-on-a-chip technologies. Below are some activity highlights from recent years.
Sustainable solar cell technology (SuSolTech)
Being able to control defects and impurities are key to achieving efficient solar cells. FME SuSolTech use the NorFab facilities to manipulate defects in PV materials such as Si and Cu2O through varying thin film deposition conditions, ion implantation and heat treatment in controlled atmospheres. These defects are subsequently investigated through a wide range of optical, structural and electrical characterization techniques.
Biosurfactants & nanoengineered surfaces
Softlab’s research aim to understand the biophysical and materials science aspects of complex biological problems which involve biosurfactant membranes. At Softlab, biomembranes are brought together with solid interfaces as well as with micro- and nanotechnology, and the unique membrane interactions are observed with high resolution microscopy. Research at Softlab focus on artificial cell engineering, biosensing and the origin of life.
Publication: Subcompartmentalization and pseudo‐division of model protocells
Electrodes for Organ-on-Chip systems
Today, new drugs and vaccines are mostly tested on 2D cell culture and animal models. At the Nanoelectronics research group, we culture 3D miniaturized human organs in physiological relevant culturing chips. These Organ-on-Chip systems allow for a constant flow of nutrients and waste products, and often incorporate sensors to monitor the organs. At MiNaLab, we fabricate electrodes that are used for stimulation and characterization of the organoids inside the culturing chips.
Go to Hybrid Technology Hub – Centre for Organ on a Chip-Technology and Nanoelectronics Research Group