Materials for sustainable solutions

Welcome to the interfacial engineering Research (iR) group

We are a multidisciplinary team of chemical, electromechanical, and civil engineers. Before joining KU Leuven in 2020, the group was based at the University of Nottingham, and at Imperial College London.

We study physical and chemical properties of the contact and interaction between materials, and aim to optimize those properties to create materials with improved overall performance. Our research has evolved from geoenergy with a current focus on carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) to polymer energy materials including batteries, thermochromic, auxetic and electroactive materials.

News

Zeger Van Echelpoel won the Royal Flemish Chemical Society (KVCV) Prize

Two years in a row! iR group members receive the KVCV awards. The Royal Flemish Chemical Society annually awards its KVCV prizes to the most deserving graduating students within the several chemistry-related programs. Zeger conducted his master's thesis in our group and won the award in the "Master in Industrial Sciences Chemistry" category!

17 February 2025

Alexander Terras won the Royal Flemish Chemical Society (KVCV) Prize

The Royal Flemish Chemical Society annually awards its KVCV prizes to the most deserving graduating students within the several chemistry-related programs. Alex conducted his master's thesis in our group and won the award in the "Master in Industrial Sciences Chemistry" category!

03 March 2024

Lucas Van De Walle won the Crowd Favorite Prize at KU Leuven Future Proef award

His master's thesis, "Sustainable CaCO3-Flax-PP Composites: An Investigation of Thermal, Acoustic, and Mechanical Properties," not only snagged a KU Leuven Future Proef Award nomination but also won the Crowd Favorite Prize!

6 December 2023