To measure is to know: NanoMoi’s new standard

During his PhD at Wageningen University & Research, Jesse worked extensively with NanoMoi’s technology. He went on to conduct an experiment at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Jesse recounts: “They read that we could measure the drying time of paint. That got them curious so they asked if we could also measure paintings that were already dry. This turned out to be possible and it eventually even turned into half of my PhD project.” That’s when the idea of creating a spin-off arose. Jesse: “There was no device yet that could measure solvents in paintings, allowing you to clean them in the best possible way without affecting the painting. So that’s what I worked on. When you believe in the application of your product and put a lot of time and energy into it, things actually happen.”

Movement of particles

The device Jesse developed looks at the movement and mobility of particles in the material. Jesse explains: “This is very different from any existing techniques that just look at structure or composition. We now know you can tell a lot from the movement of particles. During a phase transition, there is a lot of movement – for example, when the material melts or solidifies. This allows us to see where it may crack, where the weak spots are and where the material crystallizes. All these things happen under the influence of humidity and temperature. So now we can actually assess how to properly conserve paintings.”

In addition to paintings, the technology can also be applied to the food industry. By looking at how a product spoils, the expiration date can be determined more accurately. This technology can also contribute to the development of alternative foods that are low in fat but otherwise have the same properties as the original product.

Simplicity and speed

Not surprisingly, there is a lot of interest in the device. Because it is in demand in a variety of industries, the device has to be as simple as possible. “The TTT voucher helped with that,” Jesse says. “On the one hand, we used the voucher to further develop the product. It is now about the size of a shoebox and stands on a tripod. Our main goal was to look for applications outside the art world. We were able to do many tests that allowed us to improve the prototype and make the software more user-friendly. In fact, it should be so simple that the user just presses the start button and within a few moments, a number comes out that can actually be used. Speed is essential. During my PhD, it took a day to get a result. We have been able to make great strides using smarter algorithms. Of course, it also helps that computers are getting faster and faster, because 20 years ago this would not have been possible. So now is the perfect time, and we are fully exploiting the opportunity.”

The portable device can be added to any researchers’ arsenal of measurement tools. But there is also potential outside of laboratories. “We can eventually make the device even smaller so it can be used by painters to measure the drying time of paint, which varies according to temperature and humidity. It can save people a lot of time,” Jesse shows. “It can also help in the development of new products. When it comes to paint, we would like to get rid of solvents but maintain the quality. Water-based paints must have such a high quality that consumers don’t notice the difference. And to measure is to know!”

The new standard

In the long run, Jesse would like to see the device used in the food industry as well. “When you make a light version of a product, you want the experience to be the same as the normal version. The same goes for meat substitutes,” he says. “We can apply this technology to a wide range of materials which makes it very interesting. A lot is possible so we are now looking at the problems that exist and how to solve them. The device can already do a lot, but it is far from finished. Eventually, I hope it becomes a standard method used in labs. So this is just the beginning for NanoMoi.”