Materials characterization

We use MAS ssNMR experiments to study human-made materials, ranging from nanomaterials to zeolites and bio-organic polymers. This is largely done in collaboration with diverse groups around the university, and collaborators beyond Groningen.

Inorganic and hybrid materials.

Our ssNMR equipment allows for detection of a diverse set of NMR-active nuclei, going beyond those typical to biomolecular systems (1H, 13C, 15N). This capability is crucial for materials characterization, applied to inorganic or hybrid materials, with the latter combining organic and inorganic compounds. In published work we have studied perovskites and zeolites, using Cs, Sn, Si and Al ssNMR [2,4]. These studies reflect collaborations with colleagues in the Zernike Institute and beyond, such as the Protesescu and Loi groups.

Organic materials – coatings, polymers and more

SSNMR permits important insights into structures, dynamics, and interactions in organic materials [3], with some overlap with techniques deployed in biomolecular ssNMR. We have provided ssNMR analysis of diverse organic materials (polymers and films) for colleagues at the RUG. In the lab, a focal point is on bio-inspired or bio-derived materials, such as carbohydrate-based hydrogels of various sorts. These types of (nano)materials are of interest for e.g. drug-delivery and food science applications.

Smart materials – photochemistry and light-sensitive materials

Another key focus of our lab is on the development of in-situ irradiated MAS NMR, for studies of light-sensitive materials [1]. The latter can be organic, or inorganic in nature. In published work we have teamed up with several photochemistry groups in Groningen to develop equipment and approaches for studies of photoswitches, UV-hardening polymers and other materials.

References from the lab (selected from more)

  1. Alessia Lasorsa, Pieter van der Meulen, Ernst Naumann, Michael M. Lerch, Maria Rosa Marquez-Garcia, Xiaohong Lan, Katja Loos, Ben L. Feringa, Wiktor Szymanski & Patrick van der Wel* (2025) Probing photochemically-induced dynamic transitions by magic-angle-spinning NMR combined with in-situ irradiation. J. Mat. Chem. A in press
  2. Zahra Asgar Pour, Romar Koelewijn, Mustapha El Hariri El Nokab, Patrick C. A. van der Wel, Khaled O. Sebakhy, Paolo Pescarmona (2022) Binder-free zeolite Beta beads with hierarchical porosity: synthesis and application as heterogeneous catalysts for anisole acylation. ChemCatChem in press.
  3. Kushagra Gahlot, Sytze de Graaf, Herman Duim, Georgian Nedelcu, Razieh M. Koushki, Majid Ahmadi, Dnyaneshwar Gavhane, Alessia Lasorsa, Oreste De Luca, Petra Rudolf, Patrick C. A. van der Wel, Maria A. Loi, Bart J. Kooi, Giuseppe Portale, Joaquín Calbo, Loredana Protesescu. (2022) Structural Dynamics and Tunability for Colloidal Tin Halide Perovskite Nanostructures. Adv. Materials
  4. Mustapha El Hariri El Nokab, Alessia Lasorsa, Khaled O Sebakhy, Francesco Picchioni, Patrick CA van der Wel (2022) Solid-state NMR spectroscopy insights for resolving different water pools in alginate hydrogels. Food Hydrocolloids