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As part of the European Recovery and Resilience Plan—NextGeneration EU—and with the support of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, the Research Platform for the Energy Transition (Recovery and Resilience Facility—RRF) has been established. This platform will address new research challenges related to the design, sizing, and operation of complex energy systems. It will therefore provide the best possible support for our society’s energy transition.
The primary objective of this investment is to provide universities in the French Community of Belgium with a research infrastructure platform (structured into seven sub-platforms) that supports research aligned with regional and European energy objectives (energy efficiency, renewable energy, security of supply, greenhouse gas reduction) and that integrates into the strategic value chains initiated at the European level related to the energy transition (industry and buildings emitting less CO2, technologies related to hydrogen and its derivatives, etc.).
UNamur's facilities
Equipment | Description |
| High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) | The Shimadzu HPLC-40 (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) is an automated high-pressure system used to separate, identify, and quantify the various components of a liquid or dissolved mixture. The compounds in the mixture separate as they migrate at different speeds, depending on their respective affinity for the stationary phase of the column or for the mobile phase. At the column outlet is a UV detector that measures the intensity of the signal emitted by products containing a chromophore. Contact: xavier.maes@unamur.be |
| Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC) | The NGC Biorad is an FPLC (Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography) system. This automated instrument is based on a medium-pressure liquid chromatography technique, primarily used for the separation, analysis, and purification of biomolecules such as proteins, peptides, and nucleic acids. Separation occurs based on the affinities of the various compounds in the mixture with, on the one hand, a stationary phase (resin in a column) and, on the other, a mobile phase (aqueous buffer). Elution of the mixture occurs at a higher rate than in conventional (low-pressure) chromatography while remaining gentle enough to preserve the structural integrity and biological activity of the biomolecules. Contact: xavier.maes@unamur.be |
| Diffractometer (In situ XRD) | Contact: johan.wouters@unamur.be |
| Optical research microscope with transmitted and reflected light | Equipment for characterizing the mineralogy of minerals necessary for the ecological transition, particularly for Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) for the EU. Contact: johan.yans@unamur.be |
| Portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer | Equipment for quantifying, both in the laboratory and directly in the field without destroying the material being analyzed, the chemistry of minerals necessary for the ecological transition, particularly for Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) for the EU. Contact: johan.yans@unamur.be |
| Elemental analysis (HNCS measurement on organic matter) | Equipment for quantifying the HCNS content of rocks, with the aim of identifying the effects on the flora and fauna of geological analogues of current climate disturbances. Contact: johan.yans@unamur.be |
| Scanning electron microscope (SEM: EDX-EBSD) | The EDX-EBSD probe, an integrated system for energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), enables the characterization of new materials (new catalysts, new materials for batteries, for hydrogen production, etc.) by providing the chemical and crystallographic information necessary to understand the properties of these materials with a view to optimizing them. Contact: jean-francois.colomer@unamur.be |
| Raman Microscopy (Coupled with an atomic force microscope) | The confocal Raman microscope enables the chemical analysis of samples, both in point-mode and in 2D and 3D spectral imaging modes. Raman analysis allows for rapid, non-destructive chemical analysis of solids, thin films, powders, liquids, and gases. It can be applied to numerous sectors such as energy, the environment, polymers, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, nanomaterials, semiconductors, food, paints, forensics, geology, and archaeometry... Contact: francesca.cecchet@unamur.be |
| Photocatalytic system for the production of hydrogen and oxygen via water photolysis | Applications for the hydrogenation of alkenes and CO2 using new metal-free catalysts. Contacts: bao-lian.su@unamur.be, nikolay.tumanov@unamur.be |
| Photocatalytic system for CO2 conversion / Gas chromatograph (FID detector) / Multi-reactor thermal system for CO2 conversion / Multi-gas reactor | Synthesis of new cyclic borate anions. Contacts: carmela.aprile@unamur.be, bao-lian.su@unamur.be, nikolay.tumanov@unamur.be |
| Vacuum deposition chamber (dedicated to the treatment of powders and small parts) coupled with a controlled-atmosphere glove box: Low-pressure plasma powder for CO2 conversion and batteries | Functionalization of active material powders and conductive additives used in battery electrode formulations to make them compatible with aqueous manufacturing processes. Contacts: stephane.lucas@unamur.be, cedric.vandenabeele@unamur.be |
| Battery testers and isothermal chambers/Scanning electrochemical microscope/glove box | This equipment includes a glove box for battery assembly, battery testers, and a scanning electrochemical microscope for in-situ observation of electrode surfaces during battery charge-discharge cycles, as well as the surfaces of catalysts for CO2 conversion. Contacts: bao-lian.su@unamur.be, nikolay.tumanov@unamur.be |
| UV-Visible absorption and fluorescence spectrophotometers and accessories | Analysis of the composition and chemical properties of synthesized catalysts (liquid-solid). Contacts: guillaume.berionni@unamur.be, carmela.aprile@unamur.be |
| Ultramicrotome with cryogenic chamber | Sample preparation is the critical step in the analysis of materials by transmission electron microscopy. The acquisition of this ultramicrotome is part of the sample preparation process. Contact: jean-francois.colomer@unamur.be |
| Dual HPLC-FPLC system (liquid chromatography) equipped with UV detectors | Contact: stephane.vincent@unamur.be |
| Tandetron 2MV particle accelerator (Altaïs) | High-efficiency photovoltaic cells, Green hydrogen storage, In-operando analysis of Li-ion batteries, Low-E coatings for building glazing, Stability of multilayer OLED interfaces. Contact: julien.colaux@unamur.be |
The Energy Transition Research Platform is funded by the European Union and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
UNamur's Technology Platforms
Research activities are made possible by outstanding teams working within technology platforms, each of which is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, technical know-how, and expertise. These platforms are available to both the scientific community and industry.