September 2013:
Interview in DUB (in Dutch)

PhD defence Bas Kwaadgras
Many-body effects in anisotropic dielectric colloids: polarization, electrostatic interactions, and Van der Waals forces

Charge Fluctuations in Nanoscale Capacitors,
D.T. Limmer, C. Merlet, M. Salanne, D. Chandler, P.A. Madden, R. van Roij, and B. Rotenberg,
Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 106102 (2013)

In this Letter we describe computer simulations of ionic liquids confined between two planar Carbon electrodes kept at a fixed voltage difference, such that the electrode charge fluctuates. The charge distribution, the liquid structure, and the differential capacitance of this capacitor are computed.

July 2013:
Phase diagram and structural diversity of a family of truncated cubes: degenerate close-packed structures and vacancy-rich states,
A.P. Gantapara, J. de Graaf, R. van Roij, and M. Dijkstra, Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 015501 (2013)

June 2013:
PhD defence Simone Belli
Symmetry breaking in suspensions of anisotropic colloids: phase transitions, diffusion, and effective interactions

May 2013:
Low dimensional semiconductor superlattices formed by geometric control over nanocrystal attachement,
W.H. Evers, B. Goris, S. Bals, M. Casavola, J. de Graaf, R. van Roij, M. Dijkstra, and D. Vanmaekelbergh, Nano Lett. 13, 2317 (2013).

January 2013:
Appointment as professor of Soft-Matter Theory, see betanieuws.

October 2012:
The EU 7th Framework Programme awards a Marie Curie ITN (Initial Training Network) entitled Soft Matter at Aqueous Interfaces SOMATAI). This is a consortium of academic and industrial research groups with experimental, numerical, and theoretical expertise. Our project is entitled Effective electrostatic and capillary interactions at particle-laden aqueous interfaces.

August 2012:
The Italian Physical Society awards the M. Fontana Prize for a young Soft Matter researcher to Simone Belli, “for his contributions to the thermodynamics of mesophases with relevant results on the effects of size-polydispersity on boardlike particles systems”. Simone published this work as Polydispersity Stabilizes Biaxial Nematic Liquid Crystals,
S. Belli, A. Patti, M. Dijkstra, and R. van Roij, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 148303 (2011).

June 2012:
PRL published on Carbon Nanotubes suspended in nematic fd-virus, in collaboration with the Bordeaux group of Eric Grelet and Philipe Poulin,
Orientational Order of Carbon Nanotube Guests in a Nematic Host Suspension of Colloidal Viral Rods,
N. Puech, M. Dennison, C. Blanc, P. van der Schoot, M. Dijkstra, R. van Roij, P. Poulin, and E. Grelet, Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 247801 (2012)

PhD defence Joost de Graaf (cum laude)
Anisotropic nanocolloids: self-assembly, interfacial adsorption, and electrostatic screening

May 2012:
The Molecular Physics Longuet-Higgins young athor’s prize has been awarded to Niels Boon for the publication “Blue energy” from ion adsorption and electrode charging in sea- and river water
N. Boon and R. van Roij, Mol. Phys. 109, 1229 (2011);

January 2012:
PhD defence Niels Boon;
Electrostatics in ionic solution: work and energy, charge regulation, and inhomogeneous surfaces

January 2012:
NWO awards VICI premium (1.4 M€) to RvR

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December 2011:
Journal Cover: Soft Matter, 2011, 7, 11093-11097
RvR was elected Lecturer of the year 2010-2011
by the students of the Physics and Astronomy department.

November 2011:
On front cover of Soft Matter with our publication Reversible emulsification controlled by responsive nanoparticles
J. Zwanikken, K. Ioannidou, D. Kraft, and R. van Roij, Soft Matter 7, 11033 (2011).

On front cover with our Nature Materials publication Hierarchical self-assembly of suspended branched colloidal nanocrystals into superlattice structures,
K. Miszta, J. de Graaf, G. Bertoni1, D. Dorfs, R. Brescia, S.Marras, L. Ceseracciu, R. Cingolani, R. van Roij, M. Dijkstra, and L. Manna, Nature Materials 10, 872 (2011)

May 2011:
Publication on “blue energy” appears:
“Blue energy” from ion adsorption and electrode charging in sea- and river water
N. Boon and R. van Roij, Mol. Phys. 109, 1229 (2011);

May-September 2011:
4 PRL’s & 1 cover:

1. 1. Dense Regular Packings of Irregular Nonconvex Particles,
      J. de Graaf, R. van Roij, and M. Dijkstra, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 155501 (2011).
   2. Polydispersity Stabilizes Biaxial Nematic Liquid Crystals,
      S. Belli, A. Patti, M. Dijkstra, and R. van Roij, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 148303 (2011).
   3. Phase Diagram and Effective Shape of Semiflexible Colloidal Rods and Biopolymers,
      M. Dennison, M. Dijkstra, and R. van Roij, Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 208302 (2011).

1. Translocation of DNA molecules through nanopores with salt gradients: The role of osmotic flow
   M.M. Hatlo, D. Panja, and R. van Roij, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 068101 (2011); cond-mat 1012.0893v1

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