Robin Geitenbeek is a (junior) assistant professor in the Weckhuysen group. His research focusses on the development and application of novel spectroscopic techniques, with the main focus on luminescence thermometry >

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 electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 into hydrocarbon fuels, like methane or ethylene, is regarded as one of the best methods to address one of the main current environmental issues: reducing the CO2 footprint >

During his postdoctoral reserach, Hongyu will focus on enhanced Raman spectroscopy, mainly SERS and SHINERS, for heterogeneous catalysis.

Current research focuses on bio-oil up-grade under mild reactions conditions to produce besides amorphous also carbon nanostructures. She is now working on nanostructures production optimization and testing another type of >

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 >

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 >

She wants to tackle the problem of plastic waste by developing better spectroscopic and microscopic methods to analyze various plastic samples and by developing chemical recycling pathways. The second part >

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 >

Imines are important precursors for the production of amines, chemical buildings blocks used in plastics, pharmaceuticals and agriculture. Although the hydrogenation reaction from imines to primary amines is straightforward, the >

Through the utilization and development of various spectroscopic techniques, I aim to investigate the methane dehydro-aromatization (MDA) reaction using metal-modified zeolites as solid catalysts. This project is part of the ARC >

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 >

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 >

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 % >

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 >

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 >

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 >

Most common catalyst particles are host to a complex network of pores and a substantial fraction of their actives sites may be embedded deep within. It is not always straightforward >

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 >

The efficiencies of heterogeneous catalysts could be dramatically improved by rational design. One of the prerequisites for this is a better understanding of the diffusion processes in hierarchical porous structures. >

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 >

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 >

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 >

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.

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 >

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 >

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 >

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 >

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 >

In this research project, silica-supported Ziegler-Natta and metallocene-based polymerization catalysts are studied in the early stages of active sites genesis and polymer formation. In order to do so, a multi-scale >

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 >

In his project, Florian will focus on the characterization of bimetallic catalysts, including their size, structure and composition during synthesis and CO2 hydrogenation.

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.

Anne-Lot de Heus works as a communications officer at ARC CBBC.

Maurice Mourad is program coordinator and business developer for 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 >

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

Belen Rhebergen is personal Assistant to Prof. Bert Weckhuysen.

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

Hannah Thuijs is office manager for ARC CBBC.