Ongoing projects:
Advanced characterisation of coherent light emission from coupled single quantum emitters
This projects supports our activities in fabricating novel superradiant nanoscale lightsource in hybrid systems combining 2D materials and plasmonic substrates. We will setup a photon correlation and photoluminescence lifetime experiment that allows for the full spatial and spectral characterisation the hybrid systems. This information will allow a systematic optimization of the sample preparation and the efficiency of light emission.
Project duration: 03/2023 - 04/2024
AmiNIC
Every year, tons of meat products are thrown away since food safety concerns lead to a substantial waste of safe-to-eat food, causing a large waste of resources. Currently, the expiration date for meat/fish is determined by poorly performed subjective sensory. In this project, we found a high sensitive and selective method for detection of cadaverine (marker for meat freashness) by using a cadaverine-specific binder, and the method is applied into integrated sensors in close collaboration with AmiNIC ApS
AutomationsBoost (Væksthus Syddanmark og RoboCluster)
Project duration: 03/2017 - 03/2026
Read more about the AmiNIC project here
AutoSPAN
The project aims to develop a device for automatic real-time collection of groundwater and surface water samples, as well as analysis for PFAS. The water samples are collected as small droplets on an electronic platform, and the analysis is based on commercial optical sensor technology (photonic crystals). Changes in the water’s optical properties are measured, stored, and electronically analyzed in the cloud. These changes can then be related to PFAS content and used for continuous monitoring. The device is designed to be placed in/near wells, lakes, and rivers where monitoring pollution trends is desired.
Project duration: 01/2024 - 05/2025
Computational analysis of hyperspectral images of old palimpsests
Baharan Pourahmadi-Meibodi is a doctoral student at SDU (Odense), working under the supervision of René Lynge Eriksen and Mads Toudal Frandsen. She is based at the Faculty of Engineering at SDU. She holds an MA in Biomedical Engineering from the University of British Columbia (Canada). Her main research interests include computational modeling and new applications of machine learning, but she also has a strong interest in cultural heritage. Her research project – Hyperspectral image analysis of cultural heritage books and palimpsests – focuses on early modern print books and palimpsests in order to improve the texts’ readability by using two-dimensional spectral imaging in combination with advanced multi- and hyperspectral data analysis.Project duration: 09/2023 - 08/2026
Development of scanning and snapshot hyperspectral systems for industrial applications
This PhD project aims at developing, optimising and implementing scanning and snapshot hyperspectral imaging (HSI) cameras in Newtec’s commercial opticalbased sorting machines and the creation of new product solutions based on HSI. Thus, paving the way for new and faster sorting possibilities with increased accuracy, which will be relevant for the entire food inspection sector and assist the smart-farming industry. Additionally, the project will generate state-of-the-art knowledge, which would benefit Newtec, SDU and the academic community in general.
Project duration: 09/2021 - 08/2024
Hexagonal
Near-infrared photodetectors have a significant potential within e.g. food analysis. Today, such detector technology is often based on inorganic semiconductor materials, which are expensive and complicated to process. In the Hexagonal project, we investigate organic semiconductor thin-film materials towards photodetector applications. This involves studies of how the microscopic structure can be controlled during the thin film growth process by the use of advanced X-ray and microscopy characterization techniques. Afterwards, the optimized thin film materials are implemented in photodetector devices. Project duration: 09/2021 - 08/2024
NanoChem
Ultrahigh resolution chemical characterisation
The NanoChem project will fill a crucial gap in Danish Research infrastructure by combining material—and chemically-specific optical and non-optical real-space imaging on the true nanoscale. This will enable us to achieve unique nanoscaled chemical imaging at multiple temporal scales. The project will establish a new infrastructure that takes advantage of the synergy between state-of-the-art imaging facilities at three host institutions: SDU, AAU and DTU. These institutions will play a pivotal role in the project, along with the national expertise at a range of existing national imaging and analytical facilities. The use of the infrastructure will result in vast amounts of scientific data, asking for advanced image processing methods alongside machine learning. The NanoChem toolbox will be applicable to samples ranging from complex technical systems to subcellular structures. Applications span energy conversion and storage, quantum IT, engineering and materials sciences on the one hand, and pharmacy, medical diagnostics, biology and biotechnology on the other hand.
Project duration: 10/2023 - 09/2028
New hyperspectral camera technology for material identification
Danish three-leaf clover develops super-high-resolution hyperspectral cameras that determine our plastic waste's chemical composition and various additives. The technology will have a massive impact on future plastic recycling. With 7.9 million DKK in funding from the Innovation Fund's Grand Solutions program (total budget of DKK 11.3 million), Aarhus University (AU), University of Southern Denmark (SDU) and the company Newtec Engineering A/S have started a project to develop a unique camera technology that can make it easier to recycle plastic materials. The goal is to create a high-resolution hyperspectral camera with a spectral range from about 400 nm to 1,900 nm with a desired resolution of only 2 nm. Project duration: 05/2023 - 04/2026Read more here
NO-STRESS - Stretchable Organic Electronics Through In-Operando Studies
Stretchable electronics will have a range of future applications e.g. within wearables, robotics, and displays that can conform to a 3-dimensional surface. A remaining challenge is that most materials used for electronic circuits are not stretchable, so alternative solutions must be developed. Also missing is a more fundamental understanding of the exact relation between how the microscopic structure of the materials change when they are stretched, and how this influences electronic properties. In the NO-STRESS project, we will develop so-called in-operando methods to characterize materials during stretching. On the basis of these results, we will developed stretchable electronics based on an elastic substrate with custom-designed surface features that minimize the impact of stretching on the electronic components. Funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark.
Project duration: 12/2023 - 02/2026
Permafrost
Climate Change Resilience: Innovative Arctic permafrost monitoring.
This network establishes new partnerships that will find a solution for the monitoring of emerging pollutants in the Arctic. An example of emerging pollutants are pathogens in frozen soil can come to life when they make their way into unfrozen water, where their biological processes are activated. Some of the permafrost regions in the Arctic have been frozen for thousands of years. Global warming leads to an accelerated temperature increase of permafrost and thus also to increased thawing rates. Experts believe that permafrost thawing will accelerate in the coming years, resulting in the release of long-dormant diseases. This project creates the foundations necessary to address this problem by planning an innovative solution to the global challenge of permafrost pathogen emergence.
Project duration: 01/2023 - 12/2024
Read more about the Permafrost project here
PlastTrack
Every year, thousands of tonnes of plastics are released in the Danish-German border region. No one knows where it ends up or how dangerous it is for the environment or humans. The PlastTrack project will investigate this and develop tools to combat plastic pollution. With PlastTrack, we aim to prevent further uncontrolled releases of micro- and nanoplastics by providing tools that track the path of plastic waste and support the development of environmental product declarations. We will develop the technological platform, automate the detection and digitise the analysis of micro- and nanoplastics.
Project duration: 04/2023 - 03/2026
Read more about the PlastTrack project here
Precise
Precise – A sensor that determines the Precise freshness of meat and fish. Meat and fish production heavily contributes to CO2 emissions and unsustainable food consumption. On the other hand, meat/fish production are important regional economic activities. PRECISE will propose a model to reduce the carbon footprint of meat/fish consumption by eliminating the unnecessary food waste. We propose to realize this potential for better resource use by implementing a sensor enabling PRECISE measurements of meat and fish expiration dates, terminating 50% of the current meat/fish waste.
Project duration: 04/2023 - 04/2026
Read more about the Precise project here
Sensor training lab for Alsion
The ambition of the present application is to take sensor technology at SDU Sønderborg a step further over the next 3 years. We will sample various sensor technologies in a common physical environment (‘sensor training lab’), make them easily accessible for student activities (final and semester projects, theses), allow industry collaboration including students within the environment and prepare and support spin-outs.
Project duration: 01/2024 - 12/2024
Smart Materials for Green Transition: Upscaling the synthesis process
Materials play an eminent roles in developing our society. Whatever technological progress we see today around us, is mainly due to material innovations. Materials in nanoscale have extraordinary properties suitable for various applications. By selecting the appropriate size, shape, and combinations, the functionalities can be engineered to fulfil the technological requirements. In this project, zinc oxide tetrapods based smart materials are synthesized by flame transport process and utlized for sensing, catalysis, energy, and biomedical applications. These zinc oxide tetrapods are further engineered by external nanostructures (e.g., metals, metal oxides, nitrides) to further engineer their functionalities for environmental applications with the focus on mass scale production. The smart materials in this project envision to address the green transition.Project duration: 01/2023 - 06/2024
Solid PhD: Fluid dynamics in power electronics cooling
In this project, we study the multi-phase flow of cooling fluids containing nanoparticles in microfluidic heat exchangers and porous materials. These so-called nanofluids can significantly raise the heat transfer coefficient and will increase the reliability and efficiency of in various applications and devices. We will study performance limiting factors such as particle agglomeration and sedimentation of different suspensions. In addition, we aim at monitoring the phase-transition process with neutron imaging in model devices.
Funding provider: Styrelsen for Forskning og Videregående Uddannelser
Project duration: 07/2023 - 07/2026
SuperQE
Superradiant single quantum emitters
The next disruptive step in information and sensing technology will be related to the employment of quantum effects. Single quantum emitters (SQEs) have become versatile coherent light sources for efficient and integrable new devices. Applications span from quantum computing to chemistry and life sciences. A potential route to increase the efficiency of nanoscale light sources is to utilize a collective light emission phenomenon called superradiance (SR). The intensity of the emitted light scales with the square of the number of emitters while the coherence of the light is maintained. In this project, we will construct a novel superradiant light source. We will enable SR using a system of SQEs created by local doping of atomically thin 2D materials. The interaction between individual emitters is facilitated by tailored nanoplasmonic cavities. We use processes that are compatible with standard technologies in electronics and photonics, that way facilitating integration into existing information and sensing platforms.
Project duration: 02/2023 - 02/2025
Torch - Technological enlightenment to preserve and explore regional Cultural Heritage
Using advanced technologies such as spectroscopy and digital image processing, we can reveal hidden details in historical objects, giving us a deeper insight into their origin and condition. TORCH's will establish a cross-border collaboration between Denmark and Germany connecting the cultural sector with research environments. The collaboration will integrate different disciplines such as engineering, materials science, chemistry, informatics as well as design and creativity to recreate history that would otherwise not have been possible.
With partners such as NanoSYD, Konserveringscenter Vejle, CAU Kiel, Newtec Engineering A/S and Museum für Archäologie Schloss Gottorf, the goal is to transform historical knowledge into a living, interactive experience and to connect past and present through research.
Project duration: 01/2024 - 04/2027
Read news
Ended projects:
Access & Acceleration
Network for innovation and health
The Danish-German border region has a wealth of skills and resources to develop new innovative ideas, technologies and products in the health sector. Nowadays, traditional innovation processes do no longer automatically lead to success. The project Access & Acceleration strikes a new path and utilises the key success factor of innovations: a strong integration of technology users, companies and universities throughout all development stages.
Project duration: 04/2019 - 03/2022
Read more about the Access & Acceleration project here
adCON
Advancing Conservation: A science and technology platform for the preservation of cultural heritage in the German-Danish border region. The main purpose of the adCON project is to technologically promote and support preventive conservation methods and identify environmental improvements that can mitigate and finally prevent future damage to selected regional art and heritage collections. In the Danish-German border region, the individual conservators of the cultural heritage are insufficiently linked to scientific institutions. However, this is an essential prerequisite for the transfer of expertise, experience and technologies. With the proposed network project, we seek to provide to all relevant stakeholders in the region a broad portfolio of scientific research, tools, and technologies related to cultural heritage, including different aspects of preventive conservation. Moreover, we plan to take an international leadership role in the field by focusing on several specific cross-border conservation issues. Through the proposed pilot activities we plan to evaluate new procedure and analytical techniques concerning their usefulness in the field. Ultimately, the project brings together those who create and maintain cultural heritage on both sides of the border region in a new network of events, training and expertise, thus also promoting cultural cooperation in the Danish-German border region.
Project duration 06/2021 - 05/2022
Read more about the adCON project here
CantiLin
Annually, 137,500 tonnes of meat are discarded in Denmark, of which 43,000 tonnes of fresh meat and fish are discarded just because the shelf-life date has been exceeded, and even if it might still be fresh. Since the production of 1 kg of meat or fish has a climate impact of 3-29 kg CO2, 43,000 tonnes of discarded fresh meat and fish are equivalent to emissions of about 650,000 tonnes of CO2. Three researchers from the Mads Clausen Institute at the University of Southern Denmark, two researchers from Fraunhofer ISIT in Germany and the company AmiNIC ApS want to develop a new type of biosensor that makes it possible to accurately predict the shelf life of newly produced meat products. The research group has previously worked together and has already developed a cantilever-based sensor to measure the concentration of the gas carcass in meat so that it can be determined whether the meat is suitable for food. However, this sensor cannot determine with sufficient accuracy very small concentrations of cadaverine, which is essential, if it is to predict the shelf-life of freshly produced meat. In this way, the parties will invent a new type of sensor that solves the problem of lack of linearity when reading signals that currently characterise microcantilever-based biosensors.
Project end date: 12/2023
Celltom
The visual representation of microscopic changes in human cells, which are connected to cancer, is crucial to their diagnosis and treatment. Modern microscopy techniques available at the university hospitals and at important research and development laboratories in the region on the Danish and German side make it possible to examine these changes quickly and reliably. In the CellTom project, new and complementary microscopy techniques will be developed and combined in order to improve diagnostics as validated by the hospital partners. Moreover, a virtual service center ‘VISION’ will be established where interested institutions and companies can access the new microscopy techniques.
Project duration: 04/2017 - 03/2020
Read more about the Celltom project here
CheckNano
Nanoparticles make their way into a broad range of products and help to optimize everyday life, but the tiny particles can also end up taking their toll on our health. Within the project consortium CheckNano, supported by Interreg5a, we will test products for possible harmful particles and develop a rapid test for the identification of toxic nanoparticles for later application in industrial production processes.
Project duration: 08/2018 - 07/2021
Read more about the CheckNano project here
Development of Smart Materials: From research to production
Bitten & Mads Clausen Foundation
In this project, the focus in on up-scaling of energy technologies from lab scale to industrial compatible scale using roll-to-roll (R2R) technology. The work focuses in particular on organic solar cells, which has been a main strategic research area at SDU NanoSYD for several years, but also includes smart materials for new energy technologies.
Project duration: 1 May 2019 - 31 Dec 2021
Face mask/Mundbind 2.0
The Mads Clausen Institute is known for its expertise in smart materials and microtechnology solutions. In this project, we use these skills to integrate unique nanomaterials into face masks for effective viral protection. We focus on the fact that these new nanomaterials can send a reliable signal when a virus is tied while simultaneously deactivating it. This opens up for possibilities within an effective combination where the virus is not only bound to a smart material but also detected by a sensor. The long-term vision is a face mask that alerts the user when he is in contact with the virus.
Project end date: 09/2021
Hybrid electrolyte supercapacitor for highly efficient energy storage
Industrial Electronic Innovation CLEAN
In this project, new supercapacitor technology is upscaled to full industrial scale using roll-to-roll (R2R) technology.
The project is led by InnoCell, who developed the supercapacitor system in focus, and the R2R upscaling and device testing is carried out at SDU NanoSYD and SDU CIE, respectively.
Project partners: Innocell and SDU CIE
Project duration: 1 Jan 2020 – 30 Jun 2021
Methodologies for Hyperspectral Thermal Imaging
Industrial PhD project in collaboration with Newtec Engineering A/S
Innovationsfonden
Project duration : 08/2018 - 07/2021
Read more about the PhD project here
MMT - MikroMedTech
Technishe Hochschule Lübeck, University of Lübeck and the University of Southern Denmark in Sønderborg have initiated the Interreg project “MikroMedTech” (MMT) that aims to develop and establish a Danish-German master's study program in the field of medical technology in the Danish-German Interreg program region. The planned international study course “Medical Microtechnology” further develops the strong positions and core competencies in the Danish-German program region in the areas of health and life sciences and strengthens the collaboration between business, industry and clinics within the health technologies.
Project duration: 04/2020 - 03/2023
PAANEE
Water quality impacts human, crop and livestock health, yet current water quality tests either only give a snapshot of water quality or can’t distinguish between harmless and deadly bacteria. We propose PAANEE, a cyber-physical water quality monitoring system able to measure and analyse groundwater quality 24/7. When our AI-based module predicts deadly bacteria, PAANEE initiates bacteria testing. PAANEE will be low-cost, driving interest in water quality by sharing data online and open to all.
Project end date: 12/2023
The stretchable OLED display (industrial PhD)
Bendable OLED devices can be realised by fabricating the OLED layer stack on top of a flexible substrate – typically some type of plastic. The fabrication of a stretchable device is, however, more challenging since most of the device materials only tolerate relatively moderate levels of strain. At NanoSYD, we are working on the development of a new type of stretchable OLED based on a substrate with microscopic surface waves, which flatten out when the sample is stretched. This allows the OLED device to be installed on 3-dimensional surfaces and objects. This project is made in collaboration with Polyteknik AS.
Project end date: 08/2023
Read more about the PhD project here
Villum Experiment - NanoTrain: programable colloidal nanomachine
For years scientists have dreamt of nanomachines and nanorobots, which allows precise interactions with nanoscale objects. Various types of nanomachines has been invented and tested, however many of key bottlenecks remain. In the NanoTrain project we aim to develop a fully programmable nanomachine, with own efficient and directional propulsion system, which could take on board arbitrary cargoes and be easily controlled e.g. by external magnetic fields. Our concept based on sequential capillarity-assisted particle assembly approach (sCAPA) can open-up new possibilities for building nano-scale devices e.g. fully controlled shuttles devices for targeted delivery.
Project duration: 01/2021 - 12/2022
X-Power
X-Power is a network of leading testing facilities for reliability in power electronic components and systems.The project’s mission is to support fundamental research as well as applied research in the field of reliability of power electronics. The idea is to provide Danish and international industries a unique solution for testing from power electronic devices to complicated systems.
Project partners: AAU, DTU, SDU, Force Technology
Project end date: 12/2023