Bart J. Kooi

Bart J. Kooi is a Professor at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Science and Engineering, leading the Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces research group within the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials. With extensive expertise in advanced electron microscopy, he manages state-of-the-art facilities where his team achieved the historic first imaging of hydrogen atoms in metal hydrides.

His research spans nanostructured materials and interfaces, with core interests in transmission electron microscopy, phase-change materials, chalcogenides, and metal hydrides. The fingerprint analysis of his work reveals strong concentrations in Thin Films (100%), Nanoparticles (64%), Transmission Electron Microscopy (44%), and Phase-Change Materials (38%). His work demonstrates significant industry collaboration with NXP, Micron Technologies, ST Microelectronics, Photonis, Tata Steel and IBM.

Analysis of his recent publications shows consistent focus on atomic-scale characterization of functional materials, particularly using advanced electron microscopy techniques to study phase transitions, oxygen migration in ferroelectrics, and nanoscale precipitation phenomena. His work bridges fundamental materials science with applications in memory devices, neuromorphic computing, and additive manufacturing.

• Ovshinsky Lectureship Award 2021 for outstanding contribution to Ovonic Science and Technology
• Chairman of E\PCOS (European Phase Change and Ovonic Sciences) Program Committee since 2016
• Extensive research collaborations with major industrial partners including IBM and semiconductor manufacturers

Professor Kooi supervises numerous graduate students (28 supervised works documented) and leads advanced electron microscopy facilities at Groningen. His research group actively develops new techniques like integrated differential phase contrast in aberration-corrected STEM, enabling breakthroughs in imaging light elements. Current projects focus on in-situ electrical biasing experiments, nanoscale carbide precipitation, and neuromorphic material systems.