Bicarbonate buffer is largely found in nature due to its ability to regulate pH variations around neutral values. As the pH changes, so does the speciation of the buffer.

Vitamin A or retinol is essential in embryonic development, the visual cycle and the immune system.

In this thesis, the role of plant-mediated soil legacy effects in shaping aboveground plant-insect interactions was investigated.

Humanity stands at a pivotal juncture, facing the dual challenge of environmental sustainability and rapid population growth, projected to exceed 11 billion by century’s end.

Promotor: Prof.dr. A. P. IJzerman, Co-Promotor: L.H. Heitman

The increasing resistance of pathogenic bacteria to antibiotics necessitates the discovery of new medicines.

For centuries astronomers studied the Universe by collecting light. Nowadays, we are living in times of great technological advancements, which allow us to explore our Universe in a new way - though gravitational wave radiation.

Inspired by natural photosynthesis, perovskite-based photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems are being developed for artificial photosynthesis, aiming to enhance solar-to-hydrogen conversion for green energy.

This thesis discusses the physical and chemical processes than influence the composition of forming planets.

Promotor: E. F. van Dishoeck, Co-promotor: C. Walsh

Tin electrodeposition applications have rapidly evolved in the past 25 years.

Planets are formed in disks of gas and dust around young stars.

Carbon dioxide capture and utilization technologies are necessary to create a truly circular economy. The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to formate is an appealing carbon utilization method as it can be performed at room temperature and pressure, it only requires two electrons, and it has…

This thesis describes the design, characterization and application of dextran based crosslinked network.

Promotor: T. Hankemeier, Co-Promotores: T. Reijmers, L. Coulier

Neurodegenerative diseases pose a large medical and societal challenge. The etiology of these diseases is still poorly understood, which makes drug discovery for these diseases difficult.

Promotor: Prof.dr. M. Ubbink

Stars and planets form within cold, dense clouds of gas and dust drifting through interstellar space. Although dust makes up only a small fraction of this material, it plays a key role in shaping the chemical evolution of these environments.

Promotor: Jan van der Greef; Co-promotors: Mei Wang; Eduard van Wijk

In this thesis, we present new laboratory data of interstellar dust analogues.

Promotor: Prof.dr. A.G.G.M. Tielens

Promotor: G.A. van der Marel, Co-promotor: D.C. Codée

Voltammetry plays a crucial role in modern scientific research by offering valuable insights into the electrochemical properties of materials, with wide-ranging applications in fields such as materials science, energy storage, corrosion studies, and sensor development.

Promotor: M.T.M. Koper, Co-Promotor: L.B.F. Juurlink

Despite the fact that gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are one of the most studied nanoparticles, there is still a necessity for new approaches allowing for effective protective coating to enable wider use of GNPs in biomedical applications.

Promotor: M.T.M. Koper, Co-promotor: L. Juurlink

This thesis is about the study of hydrocarbons via infrared spectroscopy.

Heterogeneous catalysis is essential to many industrial applications. These catalysts are often comprised of supported nanoparticles, which contain various different surface sites.

Single-layer graphene (SLG) has attracted considerable interest as a proton exchange membrane for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), owing to its atomic thickness, mechanical robustness, and unique proton permeability.

In this dissertation, the synthesis and characterization of a series of iron complexes based on different ligand platforms are described.

Decentralized plug and play systems for energy production are the future picture of our society. Artificial photosynthetic systems are used for this purpose.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), one of the largest families of membrane proteins, are responsive to a diverse set of physiological endogenous ligands including hormones and neurotransmitters.

Despite the history of studies on methanol formation from CO2, the dominant elementary reaction steps that constitute the chemical mechanism for this catalyzed process are not determined.

The spindle-assembly checkpoint (SAC) is a safety mechanism which secures accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis.

This thesis is concerned with the constitution of chiral responsive matrix assemblies that may undergo light-driven conformational changes and self-select vibrations to develop vibronic states for driving semi-classical coherent transfer with nearly 100% yield in a lossless NCAP process.

Promotor: D. Bouwmeester, Co-promotor: D. Kraft

Promotor: M.T.M. Koper, Co-promotor: J.B.F. Juurlink

Promotor: M.T.M. Koper, Co-promotors: A.I. Yanson, L.B.F. Juurlink

Promotor: Prof.dr. E. F. van Dishoeck

Catalysis is of extreme relevance in the production of everyday materials and plays a central role in many aspects of our life.

Phosphorylation affects all four major biomolecules – proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids – and plays a pivotal role in the most fundamental cellular functions.

Mycoheterotrophy is a particular mode of life in which plants obtain carbohydrates from their associated fungal partners, instead of by using photosynthesis.

Sustainable energy from wind and solar is most readily available near the sea.

Promotor: Prof.dr. J.G.E.M. Fraaije, Co-promotor: A. Kros

The main subject of this thesis is the design and synthesis of paramagnetic molecules for protein studies with NMR and EPR spectroscopy.

Promotor: Prof.dr. J.P. Abrahams, Co-Promotor: N.S. Pannu

The aim of the research presented in this thesis was to develop new methods forchallenging systems in liquid-state NMR using paramagnetic effects generated by thetwo-armed probe CLaNP-5.

Promotor: Prof.dr. J.P. Abrahams, Prof.dr. M. van Heel

Plants are colonized by an astounding number of microorganisms that can provide different life-support functions, including nutrient acquisition and protection against (a)biotic stresses like drought or pathogen attack.

Metals surfaces form a group of effective catalysts for the reaction of small molecules such as hydrogen (H2).