First Aid Kit-krediet: Molecular interactions and transport in confined spaces and ordered structures.

Transposing chemical and physical-chemical findings to an ever-larger scale was traditionally the main task of the chemical engineer. The techniques of first principles modelling (thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, transport phenomena and balances), successfully applied in designing large scale chemical process systems, also appeared to be of invaluable use in many other fields as well: biotechnology, microelectronics and analytical systems. Although this broadening trend is continuing, simultaneously, the field of action of chemical engineers is gradually moving towards the shorter length scales, away from the macroscopic approach tho chemical processing of the past decades. The lessons learned in these fields, usually at the shorter length scales, are now put to use in designing the more efficient process systems of the future. Further drastic improvements in our plants are necessary if we want to fulfill the expectations of society in terms of sustainability of chemical production and its products.

This project fits into this trend and aims at better positioning our group at the forefront of this movement, especially in the range of several µm down to the molecular scale. We have contributed to this field with several projects and are well positioned to further contribute in a significant way to the developments. Our aim is to more broadly explore the possibilities of utilizing ordering, structuring and confinement effects on molecules and small particles to optimize existing and devise new processes. A number of examples have been selected for study, some based on our present activities, some entirely new, to expand our contribution to this field. This project essentially integrates and strengthens our existing fundamental research activities in a backbone for our global research strategy where also projects of basic and applied research complement this project, financed by other sources.