My research focuses on developing and applying spectro-microscopic techniques to obtain insights about nanoscale processes, which is critical towards understanding how advanced functional materials operate. Ideally, the analysis is carried >

Freddy Rabouw develops advanced optical microscopy and spectroscopy methods on the single-molecule level to study individual reaction events with high spatial and temporal resolution simultaneously. The current focus is on >

The project is a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin at Madison (USA) and the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group at Utrecht University (the Netherlands). The first two years of >

My project aims to exploit the pore structure inside single zeolite crystals in a non-destructive way with unprecedented detail. In addition, the diffusion properties of molecules exploring the zeolite pore >

Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) is an industrial process for the production of valuable chemicals (e.g. gasoline and olefins) from crude oil feedstock [1]. The high activity of the FCC catalyst >

My research project deals with the characterization of catalytic reactions in particular with the characterization of “CO-free” carbonylation reactions utilizing X-ray absorption spectroscopy and vibrational spectroscopy. The characterization is supported >

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 >

Current research focuses on the quantitative assessment of activity descriptors and structure-performance relationships in Ziegler-Natta catalyzed ethylene polymerization. A comprehensive structural study on the industry-relevant catalyst in conjunction with a >

My research focuses on strategies to tune the properties of nickel, a cost-effective alternative to the generally more active noble metals, to develop more efficient catalysts for hydrogenation and dehydrogenation >

My research focusses on the acid-catalysed hydrolysis of fluorescent ester molecules in the complex pore structures of structured catalysts. These structured catalysts consist of micropatterned zeolite films with mesoporous metal >

Solar energy is considered as the most promising candidate to address the energy and environmental issues. However, until now, there isn’t a truly viable candidate satisfies the quest for ideal >

Heterogeneous Ziegler−Natta (Z-N) catalysts are among the most applied and versatile catalysts for polyolefin production and thus have great impact not only in science but also in everyday life. Due >

Aviation fuel is in an increasing demand worldwide. Using the greenhouse gas CO2 as the raw carbon source shows colossal potential not only as a substitute for conventional fossil resources, >

The aim of this research is to use advanced chemical imaging methods such as scanning transmission x-ray microscopy (STXM) and transmission x-ray microscopy (TXM) combined with other advanced microscopy techniques >

The goal of my research is to obtain new fundamental insights into the formation principles and catalytic functioning of crystalline porous materials, namely metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). To achieve this, we >

Highly a- and b-oriented, purely siliceous zeolite membranes have been studied in the past decade for the application as chemical sensors and separation membranes. In the present project, we are >

Due to depletion of fossil fuel reserves, there is an increasing interest in production technologies that offer an alternative. The synthesis of synthetic fuels from syngas (CO/H2 mixtures), also known >

Heterogeneities in activity among or even within catalytic particles are common but poorly understood. To eliminate variations in activity and thus optimize the catalyst activity, tools are necessary to characterize >

The research activity on the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy stored in hydrogen via the process of water splitting has been intense for a few decades. However, the >

The Cr/SiO2 Phillips ethylene polymerization catalyst system is responsible for over 40% of all High-Density Polyethylene Production worldwide. Despite this system being used for over 60 years, there still is >

My project aims to develop and validate an integrated in-situ multi-spectroscopic approach (Raman, ATR-IR, UV-VIS) for characterization of lignin starting samples, monitoring lignin depolymerization and valorization processes at high temperatures >

Fossil resources depletion and global warming are two major concerns in our society, therefore we need to find alternative and viable routes for the synthesis of commodity chemicals in order >

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 >

Rational catalyst design is the holy grail of modern catalysis, which requires a thorough understanding of structure-performance relationships. Micro- and spectroscopy plays a pivotal role in the study of these >

Our study focuses on coke and carbide formation on Co-based Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, by using different synchrotron and laboratory-based techniques (e.g. X-ray Raman Spectroscopy, X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure Spectroscopy and >

SOCRATES EU MSCA-ETN develops game-changing technology combinations: 1) to extract metals from distinct industrial-process residues, 2) to recover the metals from the extraction process, 3) to valorise the residual matrix >

I work on single catalyst particle diagnostics, using microfluidics: due to the inter-particle heterogeneity of catalyst particles, a high-throughput analysis tool is needed that can give both single particle and >

Study Co-based Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) catalysts by synchrotron-based microscopy and spectroscopy techniques to unravel the activation and deactivation mechanisms. In situ/operando Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy (STXM) is used for the >

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are porous materials consisting of metal atoms or clusters coordinated to organic linkers forming 3D structures that can act both as supports and heterogeneous catalysts. Our goal >

In our work, we develop adaptive QM/MM techniques that allow diffusion of molecules between the QM and MM region. This computational method will be especially useful for studying processes with >

Understanding water-induced zeolite dealumination is crucial for control of the hydrothermal stability of zeolite-based catalyst materials for biomass conversion. Using ab initio simulations, we investigate the Al-O(H) bond breaking in an >

For AkzoNobel, the project concerns the re-use of the by-product hydrochloric acid to generate valuable compounds, thereby aiming to close the raw material loop, to reduce the carbon footprint and >

Main task of the project will be the application of non-destructive X-ray based high-resolution spectro-microscopic imaging methods and development of related data processing tools, with the aim to establish simple diffusion >

My research at Utrecht University focuses on the synthesis and characterization of surface-mounted metal-organic frameworks (SURMOFs): very porous three-dimensional networks of metal ions coupled with organic linker molecules on flat >

Within this project, the influence of both zeolite and binder on the deactivation and poisoning of a single catalyst extrudate will be investigated. Multiple characterization methods will be employed to >

My research entails finding and understanding fundamental structure-activity relationships in hydrogenation reactions over Ni by use of advanced operando spectroscopic techniques. I have a strong focus on CO2 hydrogenation.

In this research project, several non-commodity zeolite framework structures are investigated as examples of small molecule activation processes. To gather detailed physicochemical insights of these materials, a wide variety of >

The goal of the project is to study Ziegler-Natta and metallocene-based polymerization catalysts in the early stages of the genesis of active sites and polymer formation. For this purpose, we >

Ni-Mo electrocatalysts are being studied for the hydrogen evolution reaction for the water-splitting reaction. These materials are studied in detail in terms of morphology, phase, composition and performance to follow >

My research is about the application of Shell-Isolated Nanoparticle-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SHINERS) in heterogeneous catalysis. This ultrasensitive technique allows us to follow reactions on the nanoscale, while they are taking >

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 >

This project aims to a thorough investigation of the support role in the polymerization reaction catalyzed by metallocenes, in order to understand the mechanism behind the significant boost in activity >

Daan van Arcken works as Communications Assistant at the Netherlands Research Center for Multiscale Catalytic Energy Conversion (MCEC).

Hannie van Berlo-van den Broek is research technician at the Advanced Research Center Chemical Building Blocks Consortium.

Christine Geense works as Communications Officer for MCEC.

Robin Geitenbeek is lab manager to the Weckhuysen group.

Maurice Mourad is program coordinator and business developer for ARC CBBC.

Ramon Oord works as Research and Education Assistant at ARC CBBC.

As Research Support Officer, I assist the members of the Weckhuysen group in identifying potential funding for their research, provide advice on national and international grant opportunities and support researchers in writing grant applications. I also help >

Belen Rhebergen is personal Assistant to Prof. Bert Weckhuysen.

Dymph Serree is secretary of the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group, including the group of Prof. Bert Weckhuysen.

Nina Versteeg is program coordinator for MCEC.

Tjitske Visscher works as a communications officer at ARC CBBC.