Team members
prof. dr. ir. Bert Weckhuysen
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityRoom - David de Wied 4.82
+31 30 253 4328
b.m.weckhuysen@uu.nl
The central research theme of the Weckhuysen group is the development of structure-activity relationships and expert systems in the field of heterogeneous catalysis and materials science with special emphasis on >
Postdoctoral fellows
dr. Bettina Baumgartner
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityB.Baumgartner@uu.nl
In this project, I will bring together photoactive metal-organic frameworks with operando ATR spectroscopy to study the photoconversion of CO2 into value-added chemicals such as formic acid, methanol or methane. >
dr. Thomas Hartman
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityT.Hartman@uu.nl
In this work, plasmonic nanostructures are implemented to make Raman spectroscopy into a surface-sensitive technique for the study of adsorbates on a catalyst surface. In particular, Au and Ag nanoparticles >
dr. Laurens Mandemaker
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityL.D.B.Mandemaker@uu.nl
In this project, we will focus on the physico-chemical processes of crystalline catalytic solids, like Metal-organic Frameworks and zeolites. Using advanced in-situ Scanning Probe Microscopy techniques, like liquid-phase Atomic Force >
dr. Chunning Sun
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityC.Sun@uu.nl
During my postdoctoral research, I will focus on the conversion of undesired chlorinated products into value-added chemicals. Stable catalysts will be developed to enable selective conversion. Meanwhile, operando Raman spectroscopy >
Xinwei Ye
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityX.Ye1@uu.nl
Copper exchanged zeolites are efficient catalysts for catalytic reaction like SCR (selective catalytic reaction) and selective oxidation of methanol. Different copper exchanged zeolites are synthesized and the structure-reactivity relationship is >
PhD candidates
Roos Grote
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht Universityr.l.grote@uu.nl
Roos Grote will work during her PhD within ICC on the CATlight project, which is a collaboration with NWO AMOLF in Amsterdam. She mainly works on the fabrication of photonic/catalytic >
Mariangela Biggiero
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityM.Biggiero@uu.nl
As a pioneer in the industry of renewable and sustainable chemistry, Avantium patented the Indium-Bismuth catalyst for formate production. Understanding the catalytic behavior of these metals as single catalysts and >
Jelle Bos
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityJ.W.Bos@uu.nl
Investigation and optimization of the iso-oleic acid hydrogenation process by coupled in-situ spectroscopies and bifunctional catalysis Promotors: Prof. dr. ir. B. M. Weckhuysen & Prof. dr. E.T.C. Vogt Sponsors: Croda, >
En Chen
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityE.Chen@uu.nl
My research focuses on the chemical recycling of plastics. I aim to develop a novel strategy to break down polyolefin backbone under mild reaction conditions. I am focusing on the >
Joren Dorresteijn
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityJ.M.Dorresteijn@uu.nl
His project is a collaboration with Total entitled ‘Synthesis, characterization & fragmentation behavior of porous metallocene supports for the production of impact copolymers of polypropylene.’
Albaraa Falodah
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityA.S.M.Falodah@uu.nl
Better olefin polymerization catalysts are needed in our quest for polymers with superior properties and better recyclability. Metallocene catalysts hold great promises that are yet to be fulfilled. A major >
Sofie Ferwerda
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityS.Ferwerda@uu.nl
My project, which is part of ARC CBBC and in collaboration with BASF, will focus on dry reforming of methane (DRM), in which greenhouse gasses CH4 and CO2 are converted >
Mirjam de Graaf
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityM.E.deGraaf1@uu.nl
Mirjam de Graaf is PhD student under the supervision of Prof. Weckhuysen and Dr. Eline Hutter. Her research focuses on developing a coating for the removal of harmful and/or odorous >
Daan Groefsema
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityD.W.Groefsema@uu.nl
The focus of Daan's project is the (further) development of Luminescence Thermometry and shell-isolated nanoparticle enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS), ultimately leading to a widely applicable analytical toolset for operando spectroscopy >
Christia Jabbour
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityC.Jabbour@uu.nl
Her project will be focused on using recently acquired photoinduced force microscopy (PiFM) to chemically image metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). In the first phase, focus will be directed towards the synthesis >
Thimo Jacobs
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityT.S.Jacobs@uu.nl
One of the largest CO2 emitting industries is the metallurgical industry, including steel producers. Tata Steel recently developed a new process, called HIsarna, in which the CO2 emissions are reduced >
Michael Jenks
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityM.J.F.Jenks@uu.nl
My PhD project is going to focus on developing approaches that are able to tackle the challenges plastic waste represents for a circular economy. Since 2014, up to 30 % >
Bram Kappé
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityB.T.Kappe@uu.nl
Bram’s project is part of ARC CBBC, and in collaboration with BASF Bram will investigate structure sensitivity in nickel catalyzed (de)hydrogenation reactions, such as CO2 methanation. To study structure sensitivity, >
Joris Koek
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityJ.G.Koek@uu.nl
Raman spectroscopy is a powerful method for solid catalyst characterization under operando conditions. In recent years Shell isolated Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) has attracted interest as it improves on SERS by >
Jelle Kranenborg
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityJ.Kranenborg@uu.nl
Catalytic CO2 hydrogenation to methanol is one of the most promising routes for CO2 utilization [1]. This reaction is known to be structure sensitive. That is, for this reaction not >
Joyce Kromwijk
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityJ.J.G.Kromwijk@uu.nl
The goal of this project is to investigate two solid catalysts for a two-staged thermochemical CO2 hydrogenation reaction: CO2 will be converted into methane and subsequently into aromatics. An autothermal >
Angela Melcherts
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityA.E.M.Melcherts@uu.nl
Angela will focus on understanding the thermocatalytic conversion of CO2 into valuable base chemicals. She will investigate the structure-performance relationships of various supported metal catalysts as well as the influence >
Jochem van de Minkelis
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityJ.H.vandeMinkelis@uu.nl
Due to the increasing amount of plastic waste and the associated environmental problems, the development of the recycling process has become of great importance. Chemical recycling can be used to >
Sebastian Rejman
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityS.Rejman@uu.nl
Due to insufficient recycling and incineration, plastic waste has become a global problem. In my research, I'm trying to find economically viable ways to convert polyolefin waste to a value >
Romy Riemersma
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityR.L.Riemersma@uu.nl
In this project the genesis of nanobubbles at the surface of thin-film zeolites and MOFs will be studied. This will be done using scanning probe microscopy techniques, such as liquid-phase >
Jim de Ruiter
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityJ.deRuiter@uu.nl
Carbon dioxide (CO2) could be a promising carbon source for the production of chemical building blocks. As big chemical processes release significant amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere, it would >
Kordula Schnabl
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityK.B.Schnabl@uu.nl
Kordula will work on the controlled catalytic breakdown of humin and chitin to waterborne building blocks for coatings, including spatially-resolved spectroscopy of film formation and drying processes.
Sibylle Schwartmann
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityS.M.K.Schwartmann@uu.nl
Hydrogen production via the electrochemical splitting of water is limited by the evolution of oxygen at the anode. Oxygen as a product is not much needed, and the OER is >
Joëlle Siewe
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityJ.Siewe@uu.nl
The shift away from combustion-only car engines to hybrid cars results in much lower temperatures of the exhaust gasses, for which existing Platinum Group Metal (PGM) exhaust catalysts, such as >
Fieke Sluijs
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityF.Sluijs@uu.nl
I conduct research through design on the refinery of the future in order to understand what future scenarios would be ideal and what interventions in the socio-economical system could work >
Tom Smak
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityT.J.Smak@uu.nl
In recent years, the urgency of the plastic of the plastic waste problem has become more and more clear. In my research I will focus on the production of economically >
Guiyao Song
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityG.Song@uu.nl
Description of research project: My research focuses on the thermocatalytic CO2 hydrogenation to value-added chemicals (like aromatics, olefins, methanol) over MOFs-based catalysts. The reduction of CO2 to hydrocarbons is a >
Ellen Sterk
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityE.B.Sterk@uu.nl
During my research I will focus on support, alloying and promoter effects and active sites in CO2 hydrogenation in order to spatially resolve the activity of CO2 hydrogenation over supported >
Caroline Versluis
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityW.C.Versluis@uu.nl
The overall aim of this research project is the development of a powerful camera to determine the complex pore space of single FCC catalyst particles. By making molecular movies of >
Robin Vogel
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityR.Vogel@uu.nl
Light olefins, such as propylene and ethylene are key building blocks in the chemical industry for the production of polymers, oxygenates and other chemical intermediates. Dehydrogenation of propane, facilitated by >
Hui Wang
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityH.Wang4@uu.nl
The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) offers a compelling route to energy storage and high-value chemical manufacturing, which reduces our dependence on fossil fuels and helps to mitigate net >
Xiang Yu
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityX.Yu@uu.nl
The goals of my research are to establish high performing single-atom catalyst systems for the selective conversion of methane, and to obtain the fundamental insights into the catalytic mechanism and >
Florian Zand
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityF.Zand@uu.nl
In his project, Florian will focus on the characterization of bimetallic catalysts, including their size, structure and composition during synthesis and CO2 hydrogenation.
Technical Staff
ir. Hannie van Berlo-van den Broek
Advanced Research Center-Chemical Building Blocks ConsortiumJ.M.vanBerlo-vandenBroek@uu.nl
Hannie van Berlo-van den Broek is research technician at the Advanced Research Center Chemical Building Blocks Consortium.
Joris Janssens
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityJ.C.L.Janssens@uu.nl
Joris Janssens works as the electrocatalysis technician in the Weckhuysen group, assisting in the electrocatalytic conversion of CO2. He will (help to) design and construct electrochemical cells that can be >
Jules van Leusden
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityJ.F.vanLeusden@uu.nl
dr. Ramon Oord
Advanced Research Center-Chemical Building Blocks Consortium+31 6 39 015 426
R.Oord@uu.nl
Ramon Oord works as Research and Education Assistant at ARC CBBC.
dr. Peter de Peinder
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityPeter.de.Peinder@vibspec.com
My research is all about vibrational spectroscopy, infrared & Raman spectroscopy, in all of its forms. The most challenging part is the interpretation of vibrational spectra to understand what happens during >
Support Staff
Pauline Blokdijk
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht Universityp.m.blokdijk@uu.nl
Pauline Blokdijk is a management/office assistant for the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis Group.
Kelsey Helm
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht Universityk.l.helm@uu.nl
Kelsey Helm is a management assistant for the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis Group.
Daan van Arcken
Netherlands Center for Multiscale Catalytic Energy ConversionD.R.vanArcken@uu.nl
Daan van Arcken works as Communications Assistant at the Netherlands Research Center for Multiscale Catalytic Energy Conversion (MCEC).
Marijke Badings
Advanced Research Center-Chemical Building Blocks ConsortiumM.L.Badings@uu.nl
Marijke Badings is communication officer at ARC CBBC.
Sabine Frediani
Netherlands Center for Multiscale Catalytic Energy ConversionS.P.R.Frediani@uu.nl
Sabine Frediani works as a Team Assistant at the Netherlands Research Center for Multiscale Catalytic Energy Conversion (MCEC).
Anita ter Haar
Advanced Research Center-Chemical Building Blocks ConsortiumA.terHaar@uu.nl
Anita ter Haar is the financial controller to ARC CBBC and the Weckhuysen group.
dr. Anne-Eva Nieuwelink
Netherlands Center for Multiscale Catalytic Energy ConversionA.Nieuwelink@uu.nl
Anne-Eva Nieuwelink is project manager at ARC CBBC and the coordinator of the gravitation program Netherlands Center for Multiscale Catalytic Energy Conversion (MCEC). Additionally, she works on single catalyst particle >
Edith Veldmeyer
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht UniversityE.W.E.Veldmeyer@uu.nl
Edith Veldmeyer is the Personal Assistant to Prof. Weckhuysen.