News & updates
Latest developments from our institute
Stay informed about new research results, awards, events, and collaborations across our scientific community.
Designer Matter Workshop
From June 22nd until June 24th the new research field of Designer Matter organized a workshop at AMOLF bringing together exciting work in the physics, engineering and design communities.
SOLARDAM – Amsterdam solar energy initiative has received first grant
The solar energy research network SOLARDAM has received its first research grant.The 1 M€ grant from the Amsterdam Academic Alliance (AAA) enables collaborative research between AMOLF, UvA, VU, and ECN on the development of novel methods to convert sunlight to electricity and fuel.
Nanoparticle coating eliminates reflection from glass
Reflection of light off glass surfaces is a problem occurring in everyday life, and hinders the performance of solar panels, smart phone and tablet displays. Researchers from FOM institute AMOLF have found a new and simple method to eliminate this reflection, by printing a silica nanopatterned antireflection coating onto the device.
FOM, NWO-ALW and Unilever jointly investigate the physical behaviour of everyday products
On the 1st of June, the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM), NWO Earth and Life Sciences (ALW) and Unilever will start a strategic joint research programme into understanding hybrid soft materials. The three parties agreed to commit to the new five year agreement on May 12, 2015. FOM and NWO-ALW will invest 400,000 euros per year in the programme. Unilever will invest the same amount. The goal of the collaboration is fundamental research and industrial valorisation, organised in each of the partners’ locations (Vlaardingen, Amsterdam (AMOLF, UvA) and Wageningen).
Huib Bakker elected as KNAW member
AMOLF group leader Huib Bakker has been elected as a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). Today, the Academy announced the election of 16 new members from various disciplines. The election was based upon nominations from peers. On Monday, September 28th 2015 the new Academy members will be officially installed in the Amsterdam Trippenhuis building of the KNAW.
Highlights of nanophotonics published in Science
The research field of nanophotonics, the science and application of light at the nanoscale, has seen a rapid growth in the last years, with AMOLF researchers among the pioneers. In a recent article in Science, AMOLF group leaders Femius Koenderink and Albert Polman together with Andrea Alù, visiting professor from the University of Texas, review scientific highlights, applications and a future perspective of light at the nanoscale.
Visiting professor Andrea Alù wins Alan T. Waterman Award
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has named Andrea Alù as the recipient of this year’s Alan T. Waterman Award. Professor Alù (University of Texas in Austin) is currently KNAW visiting professor at AMOLF’s Center for Nanophotonics.
Nanoscale optical tomography using electrons
A team of researchers from AMOLF and Stanford University has developed a novel way to make three-dimensional optical images of nanoscale objects. They irradiate the object with a 30 keV electron beam under different angles and collect the cathodoluminescence emitted by the sample. Using a tomographic reconstruction they then determine the three-dimensional light distribution in metallic crescent particles at nanoscale resolution.