"The key objectives of the SCRiPTS group, Sol-gel Centre for Research on Inorganic Powders and Thin films Synthesis, within the Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry in the Faculty of Science of Ghent University can be described by 'controlled synthesis and surface chemistry of metal oxide nanoparticles and mesoporous materials' and 'chemical-solution-based coating development'. (Prof. I Van Driessche - Prof. K De Buysser). Three research themes can be distinguished:( 1) Controlled synthesis and characterization of metal oxide nanocrystals. (2) Filling the gap between nanocrystals synthesis and their application by studying it's surface chemistry. (3) Chemical solution deposition of functional coatings via wet chemical routes.