My research focuses on structure-activity relationships in nanostructured heterogeneous catalysts for small molecules activation (e.g. CO2 hydrogenation, dry methane reforming) and biomass conversion. My aim is to obtain fundamental insights into selective and efficient bond activation (e.g. C-H vs C-O or C-S) by pushing the boundaries of rational catalysts design to break scaling relationships, and by further developing the operando spectroscopy capabilities of the ICC group. I plan to achieve this by three, independent but combinable approaches:
- Engineering of metal-support interfaces by advanced synthesis methods
- Going beyond metal catalysts, by the synthesis of metal nitride and carbide phases
- Employing external stimuli such as stress and light to fine-tune the surface properties and steer catalysis towards desired products.
CO2 hydrogenation and dry methane reforming will be used as proof-of-concept reactions to validate my approaches for waste stream valorization.
Academic Career
Professorship
2021 – to date: ARC-CBBC Tenure Track Assistant Professor in the Inorganic Chemistry & Catalysis Group at Utrecht University (NL)
Postdoctoral experience
2019- 2021: Postdoctoral research fellow in the group of Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis at Utrecht University, the Netherlands. Under the supervision of Prof. B.M. Weckhuysen
2017- 2019: ARC-CBBC Postdoctoral research fellow in the group of Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis at Utrecht University, the Netherlands. Under the supervision of Prof. B.M. Weckhuysen
Early stage researcher
2015-2016: Visiting student at the University of Pennsylvania, in the groups of Prof. R.J. Gorte and C.B. Murray
2014-2017: PhD in Chemistry at the University of Trieste, Under the supervision of Prof. P. Fornasiero. Thesis title: “Nanostructured Materials for Environmental and Energy-related Applications”
2011-2013: Master of Science in Chemistry, University of Trieste
2008-2011: Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, University of Trieste
Awards and Scientific Honors
Awards
Robert Karl Grasselli Award (2020), presented to Italian researchers under the age of 37 who have made exceptional contribution to gas phase catalysis.
Eni Young Researcher of the Year Award (2019), annually awarded to 2 Ph.D. research theses, defended in Italian Universities, addressing the topics of action against pollution and climate warming, rehabilitation and reuse of industrial sites and energy storage, production, and efficiency.
Adolfo Parmaliana Award (2017) and Doctoral Thesis Award “EUT Edizioni Università di Trieste” (2017).
Grants and Fellowships
VENI Grant (2020), project title: “Robust nickel catalysts for cleaner hydrogen production”.
CERIC Grant, distributed research facility program (2015).
INPS PhD Scholarship (2014).
CNR Research Grant (2013).
Publications
Vogt, C; Meirer, F; Monai, M; Groeneveld, E; Ferri, D; Santen, R A; Nachtegaal, M; Unocic, R R; Frenkel, A I; Weckhuysen, B M
Dynamic restructuring of supported metal nanoparticles and its implications for structure insensitive catalysis Journal Article
In: Nature Communications, vol. 12, no. 1, 2021.
@article{Vogt2021,
title = {Dynamic restructuring of supported metal nanoparticles and its implications for structure insensitive catalysis},
author = {C Vogt and F Meirer and M Monai and E Groeneveld and D Ferri and R A Santen and M Nachtegaal and R R Unocic and A I Frenkel and B M Weckhuysen},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85120867007&doi=10.1038%2fs41467-021-27474-3&partnerID=40&md5=b2befa3610ec1b1413a604205db7b2c7},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
urldate = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Nature Communications},
volume = {12},
number = {1},
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pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Delen, G; Monai, M; Meirer, F; Weckhuysen, B M
In situ Nanoscale Infrared Spectroscopy of Water Adsorption on Nanoislands of Surface-Anchored Metal-Organic Frameworks Journal Article
In: Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, vol. 60, no. 3, pp. 1620-1624, 2021.
@article{Delen20211620,
title = {In situ Nanoscale Infrared Spectroscopy of Water Adsorption on Nanoislands of Surface-Anchored Metal-Organic Frameworks},
author = {G Delen and M Monai and F Meirer and B M Weckhuysen},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85096711173&doi=10.1002%2fanie.202011564&partnerID=40&md5=a28c6eed6a3112c48c223aae6933e787},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
urldate = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Angewandte Chemie - International Edition},
volume = {60},
number = {3},
pages = {1620-1624},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
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Fertal, D R; Monai, M; Proaño, L; Bukhovko, M P; Park, J; Ding, Y; Weckhuysen, B M; Banerjee, A C
Calcination temperature effects on Pd/alumina catalysts: Particle size, surface species and activity in methane combustion Journal Article
In: Catalysis Today, vol. 382, pp. 120-129, 2021.
@article{Fertal2021120,
title = {Calcination temperature effects on Pd/alumina catalysts: Particle size, surface species and activity in methane combustion},
author = {D R Fertal and M Monai and L Proaño and M P Bukhovko and J Park and Y Ding and B M Weckhuysen and A C Banerjee},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85114712133&doi=10.1016%2fj.cattod.2021.08.005&partnerID=40&md5=3033e7710512ea08aeb37d7a1ece25d4},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
urldate = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Catalysis Today},
volume = {382},
pages = {120-129},
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pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Monai, M; Gambino, M; Wannakao, S; Weckhuysen, B M
Propane to olefins tandem catalysis: A selective route towards light olefins production Journal Article
In: Chemical Society Reviews, vol. 50, no. 20, pp. 11503-11529, 2021.
@article{Monai202111503,
title = {Propane to olefins tandem catalysis: A selective route towards light olefins production},
author = {M Monai and M Gambino and S Wannakao and B M Weckhuysen},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85117726137&doi=10.1039%2fd1cs00357g&partnerID=40&md5=14bbce9d01875304cad97d14482e682d},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
urldate = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Chemical Society Reviews},
volume = {50},
number = {20},
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pubstate = {published},
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Moya-Cancino, J G; Honkanen, A -P; Eerden, A M J Van Der; Oord, R; Monai, M; Have, I C Ten; Sahle, C J; Meirer, F; Weckhuysen, B M; Groot, F M F De; Huotari, S
In Situ X-ray Raman Scattering Spectroscopy of the Formation of Cobalt Carbides in a Co/TiO2 Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Catalyst Journal Article
In: ACS Catalysis, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 809-819, 2021.
@article{Moya-Cancino2021809,
title = {In Situ X-ray Raman Scattering Spectroscopy of the Formation of Cobalt Carbides in a Co/TiO2 Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Catalyst},
author = {J G Moya-Cancino and A -P Honkanen and A M J Van Der Eerden and R Oord and M Monai and I C Ten Have and C J Sahle and F Meirer and B M Weckhuysen and F M F De Groot and S Huotari},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85099642681&doi=10.1021%2facscatal.0c04509&partnerID=40&md5=30a16f3fef76e5cbb2747de856512011},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
urldate = {2021-01-01},
journal = {ACS Catalysis},
volume = {11},
number = {2},
pages = {809-819},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
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Wondergem, C S; Kromwijk, J J G; Slagter, M; Vrijburg, W L; Hensen, E J M; Monai, M; Vogt, C; Weckhuysen, B M
In Situ Shell-Isolated Nanoparticle-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy of Nickel-Catalyzed Hydrogenation Reactions Journal Article
In: ChemPhysChem, vol. 21, no. 7, pp. 625-632, 2020.
@article{Wondergem2020625,
title = {In Situ Shell-Isolated Nanoparticle-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy of Nickel-Catalyzed Hydrogenation Reactions},
author = {C S Wondergem and J J G Kromwijk and M Slagter and W L Vrijburg and E J M Hensen and M Monai and C Vogt and B M Weckhuysen},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85082881399&doi=10.1002%2fcphc.201901162&partnerID=40&md5=249f7724232498aafd2c2c580e748c32},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {ChemPhysChem},
volume = {21},
number = {7},
pages = {625-632},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
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Vogt, C; Kranenborg, J; Monai, M; Weckhuysen, B M
Structure Sensitivity in Steam and Dry Methane Reforming over Nickel: Activity and Carbon Formation Journal Article
In: ACS Catalysis, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 1428-1438, 2020.
@article{Vogt20201428,
title = {Structure Sensitivity in Steam and Dry Methane Reforming over Nickel: Activity and Carbon Formation},
author = {C Vogt and J Kranenborg and M Monai and B M Weckhuysen},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85078792012&doi=10.1021%2facscatal.9b04193&partnerID=40&md5=a5826eabf25eeaaa122ef34dc1c214e3},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {ACS Catalysis},
volume = {10},
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pages = {1428-1438},
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Vogt, C; Wijten, J H J; Madeira, C L; Kerkenaar, O; Xu, K; Holzinger, R; Monai, M; Weckhuysen, B M
Alkali Promotion in the Formation of CH4 from CO2 and Renewably Produced H2 over Supported Ni Catalysts Journal Article
In: ChemCatChem, vol. 12, no. 10, pp. 2792-2800, 2020.
@article{Vogt20202792,
title = {Alkali Promotion in the Formation of CH4 from CO2 and Renewably Produced H2 over Supported Ni Catalysts},
author = {C Vogt and J H J Wijten and C L Madeira and O Kerkenaar and K Xu and R Holzinger and M Monai and B M Weckhuysen},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85083116013&doi=10.1002%2fcctc.202000327&partnerID=40&md5=33c96c252f9343af43bdab8c2f37ec95},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
urldate = {2020-01-01},
journal = {ChemCatChem},
volume = {12},
number = {10},
pages = {2792-2800},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
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Vogt, C; Monai, M; Sterk, E B; Palle, J; Melcherts, A E M; Zijlstra, B; Groeneveld, E; Berben, P H; Boereboom, J M; Hensen, E J M; Meirer, F; Filot, I A W; Weckhuysen, B M
Understanding carbon dioxide activation and carbon–carbon coupling over nickel Journal Article
In: Nature Communications, vol. 10, no. 1, 2019.
@article{Vogt2019,
title = {Understanding carbon dioxide activation and carbon–carbon coupling over nickel},
author = {C Vogt and M Monai and E B Sterk and J Palle and A E M Melcherts and B Zijlstra and E Groeneveld and P H Berben and J M Boereboom and E J M Hensen and F Meirer and I A W Filot and B M Weckhuysen},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85075557458&doi=10.1038%2fs41467-019-12858-3&partnerID=40&md5=d7183506b1c567ef1ac65b55620820c4},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Nature Communications},
volume = {10},
number = {1},
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Vogt, C; Monai, M; Kramer, G J; Weckhuysen, B M
The renaissance of the Sabatier reaction and its applications on Earth and in space Journal Article
In: Nature Catalysis, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 188-197, 2019.
@article{Vogt2019188,
title = {The renaissance of the Sabatier reaction and its applications on Earth and in space},
author = {C Vogt and M Monai and G J Kramer and B M Weckhuysen},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85062848187&doi=10.1038%2fs41929-019-0244-4&partnerID=40&md5=e3902fea4a945965c42a43ee60a748af},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Nature Catalysis},
volume = {2},
number = {3},
pages = {188-197},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
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