Welcome to the project repository of the nanoEPics team.
NanoElectroPhotonics (in short, nanoEPics) is a scientific team effort at Utrecht University. Since 2015, we have developed methods and research equipment for visualizing nanoscale phenomena by focusing on the displacement of electrons and ions. We have pioneered Iontronic Microscopy by introducing Electric-Double-Layer modulation microscopy in 2020.
Since 2022, with the establishment of the Lili's Proto Lab our team has focused most of our effort on developing open source hardware for research. Next to the Elchemi project that focuses on bringing EDL-modulation microscopy into the chemistry labs, we are leading the FAIR-battery project and developping a low-field MRI machine for education.
Elchemi is our design for a single stand dark-field microscopy and a software tool for generating electro-modulated wide-field images used in iontronic microscopy. Electro-modulation (or potentiodynamic) microscopy is a given name to a class of microscopy methods in which the optical contrast is obtained by modulating the electric current passing through, or the electric potential applied to, the sample under the microscope. The control program must synchronize the imaging triggers with a multiple of the externally applied modulation frequency. This is equivalent to creating a digital lock-in to obtain the modulation contrast for the full image. This method can be used to investigate surface ionic currents (EDL-modulation microscopy), current transport on planar goemetries (via electrothermal modulation) or charging of electrolytes in battery material.
For an alternative implementation of this technique that uses an electronic lock-in amplifier and a point detector, please see Zhang and Faez, Faraday Discussions 2023, 246, 426-440.
In the FAIR-Battery project, we aim to create an open-source electrochemical battery (FAIR = Findable + Accessible + Interoperable + Reproducible). We seek to present an open-hardware platform for a versatile battery technology and make the platform radically accessible: 1- by deliberately using low-cost and locally available materials suitable for local user groups, and 2- by setting up the education communities on top of the open-hardware design.
On this route, we strive to not only provide the necessary technical details for engineering and production but also incorporate the local constraints for actually adopting and using the technology. These constraints relate to language, availability of materials and expertise, maintenance capacity, or other locally varying conditions, which must be identified as part of the project. Our envisioned FAIR-Battery platform will track and seek to remove these constraints in each stage of the development by direct consultation with the user groups.
We are closely collaborating with the Flow Battery Research Collective established in 2023 by chemist Dr. Daniel Fernandez and engineer Dr. Kirk Smith.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one of the most powerful and versatile non-invasive medical imaging devices. Ultra low-field MRI scanners such as OSII One have recently reached the maturity level of attempting eligibility for standardization and medical certification. These open source projects has pooled the knowledge and experience of many experts and can be built and maintained for a fraction of the price of current instruments.
This educational project is a collaboration initiated by the Lili's Proto Lab with the aim of preparing a hands-on workshop for student teams to replicated an OSII-inspired functioning MRI. Student teams can be a great force in progressing this field. Collectively, they can enhance the accuracy and utility of open-source MRI devices through rigorous calibration procedures, iterative testing, and collaboration with experts in both engineering and medical fields.
All our results and documentation is shared on the OSII.nl repository.