Research
Research
Dr. Laurens Mandemaker is an assistant professor at Utrecht University, both in the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS – Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine) and the Institute for Sustainable and Circular Chemistry (ISCC – Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science). His current research mainly focuses on (micro- and) nanoplastics. More specifically, he uses his background in analytical chemistry, specifically micro-spectroscopy and scanning probe force microscopy, to identify, characterize and quantify emerging pollutants in matrices varying from blood, to water, soil, food, etc. Additionally, he is working on designing and synthesizing reference materials, e.g. nanoplastics of specific sizes, polymer types or containing convenient labels, to aid in toxicological assays. Both of these efforts contribute towards obtaining a proper risk assessment on (micro- and) nanoplastics.
Laurens obtained his BSc (Chemistry) and MSc (Nanomaterials) degree at Utrecht University, and defended his dissertation “The Birth, Life and Death of Surface-Mounted Metal-Organic Frameworks” in June 2021, completing his PhD under the supervision of prof. dr. ir. Bert M. Weckhuysen. He then worked as a postdoctoral researcher on micro- and nanoplastics in the Institute for Sustainable and Circular Chemistry for four years, before becoming assistant professor in both the Toxicology (IRAS) and Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis (ISCC) groups, working in collaborative projects such as MOMENTUM, AURORA and FHERITALE.
CV
CV
2024 – present:
Assistant professor
2020 – 2024:
Postdoctoral researcher
2016 – 2020:
PhD candidate under supervision of prof.dr.ir. Bert Weckhuysen at the faculty of Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Utrecht University. Focus of research: “Can We Observe Surface Nanobubbles during Biomass Catalysis on Zeolite Surfaces?: An Operando AFM-Vibrational Spectroscopy Study”
2014 – 2016:
Master’s degree in “Nanomaterials: Chemistry & Physics”., Utrecht University, Netherlands.
Thesis entitled: “The Methanol-to-Olefins Reactions: the Influence of Water Studied by in situ Spectroscopy”.
2011 – 2014:
Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Utrecht University, Netherlands.
Thesis entitled: “Shape Selectivity in zeolites: Accessibility of zeolite pores by fluorescent organic probes”
1992:
Born in de Bilt, Netherlands (9th of October)
News
Laurens wins poster prize in Japan
His first time in Japan was a great success… Laurens Mandemaker has won the poster prize at the NC-AFM2025 conference in Toyama! He talked about our AFM-based work on nanoplastics […]
Read moreDr. Laurens Mandemaker appointed assistant professor
Since May 2024 Dr. Laurens Mandemaker has been appointed as assistant professor in our group! After completing both his PhD as well as his PostDoc here at ICC, Laurens is […]
Read morePlastics expert answers curious reader
Ever wondered if medical equipment could shed microplastics within the body? You might just get the answer. Earlier this month, our very own Laurens Mandemaker was featured in an article […]
Read morePublication in Angewandte Chemie: Review of techniques to study nano plastics
On October 21, 2022, Laurens Mandemaker and Florian Meirer published a review in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Angewandte Chemie investigating the different micro-spectroscopic techniques available specifically for the detection of […]
Read morePublications
Identical Grain Atomic Force Microscopy Elucidates Facet-Dependent Restructuring of Copper for CO2 Electroreduction Journal Article
In: Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, vol. 64, no. 16, 2025, (Cited by: 2; All Open Access; Hybrid Gold Open Access).
Advancements in Assays for Micro- and Nanoplastic Detection: Paving the Way for Biomonitoring and Exposomics Studies Journal Article
In: Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology, vol. 65, no. 1, pp. 567 - 585, 2025, (Cited by: 9).
X-ray standing wave characterization of the strong metal–support interaction in Co/TiOx model catalysts Journal Article
In: Journal of Applied Crystallography, vol. 57, no. Pt 2, pp. 481 – 491, 2024, (Cited by: 0; All Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access).
Mechanistic Insights in the Catalytic Hydrogenation of CO2 over Pt Nanoparticles in UiO-67 Metal-Organic Frameworks Journal Article
In: ACS Catalysis, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 382 – 394, 2024, (Cited by: 8; All Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access).
Chitosan as Support Material for Metal-Organic Framework based Catalysts Journal Article
In: ChemPhysChem, vol. 25, no. 17, 2024, (Cited by: 0; All Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access).
Chitosan microsphere-supported catalysts: design, synthesis and optimization for ethylene polymerization Journal Article
In: Materials Advances, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 201 – 213, 2024, (Cited by: 0; All Open Access, Gold Open Access).
Green Additives in Chitosan-based Bioplastic Films: Long-term Stability Assessment and Aging Effects Journal Article
In: ChemSusChem, vol. 17, no. 13, 2024, (Cited by: 2; All Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access).
In: JMIR Research Protocols, vol. 13, 2024, (Cited by: 0; All Open Access, Gold Open Access).
Green Additives in Chitosan-Based Bioplastic Films: Physical, Mechanical, and Chemical Properties Journal Article
In: ChemSusChem, vol. 16, no. 20, 2023, (Cited by: 0; All Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access).
Spectro-Microscopic Techniques for Studying Nanoplastics in the Environment and in Organisms Journal Article
In: Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, vol. 62, no. 2, 2023, (Cited by: 6; All Open Access, Green Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access).
Elucidating polymer growth and fragmentation behavior of MOFs in ethylene polymerization by MOF thin films Journal Article
In: Cell Reports Physical Science, vol. 4, no. 1, 2023, (Cited by: 1; All Open Access, Gold Open Access).
A Ziegler-type spherical cap model reveals early stage ethylene polymerization growth versus catalyst fragmentation relationships Journal Article
In: Nature Communications, vol. 13, no. 1, 2022, (Cited by: 4; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access).
Unravelling Channel Structure–Diffusivity Relationships in Zeolite ZSM-5 at the Single-Molecule Level Journal Article
In: Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, vol. 61, no. 5, 2022, (Cited by: 24; All Open Access, Green Open Access).
Sub-Second Time-Resolved Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Reveals Dynamic CO Intermediates during Electrochemical CO2 Reduction on Copper Journal Article
In: Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, vol. 60, no. 30, pp. 16576 – 16584, 2021, (Cited by: 125; All Open Access, Green Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access).
In Situ Study on Ni–Mo Stability in a Water-Splitting Device: Effect of Catalyst Substrate and Electric Potential Journal Article
In: ChemSusChem, 2020, (cited By 0).
Nanoweb Surface-Mounted Metal–Organic Framework Films with Tunable Amounts of Acid Sites as Tailored Catalysts Journal Article
In: Chemistry - A European Journal, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 691-698, 2020, (cited By 5).
Melamine-Based Microporous Organic Framework Thin Films on an Alumina Membrane for High-Flux Organic Solvent Nanofiltration Journal Article
In: ChemSusChem, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 136-140, 2020, (cited By 1).
In Situ Spectroscopy of Calcium Fluoride Anchored Metal–Organic Framework Thin Films during Gas Sorption Journal Article
In: Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, vol. 59, no. 44, pp. 19545 – 19552, 2020, (Cited by: 11; All Open Access, Green Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access).
Nanoweb Surface-Mounted Metal–Organic Framework Films with Tunable Amounts of Acid Sites as Tailored Catalysts Journal Article
In: Chemistry - A European Journal, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 691 – 698, 2020, (Cited by: 11; All Open Access, Green Open Access).
In Situ Study on Ni–Mo Stability in a Water-Splitting Device: Effect of Catalyst Substrate and Electric Potential Journal Article
In: ChemSusChem, vol. 13, no. 12, pp. 3172 – 3179, 2020, (Cited by: 9; All Open Access, Green Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access).
Melamine-Based Microporous Organic Framework Thin Films on an Alumina Membrane for High-Flux Organic Solvent Nanofiltration Journal Article
In: ChemSusChem, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 136 – 140, 2020, (Cited by: 13; All Open Access, Green Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access).
Spectroscopy, microscopy, diffraction and scattering of archetypal MOFs: Formation, metal sites in catalysis and thin films Journal Article
In: Chemical Society Reviews, vol. 49, no. 18, pp. 6694 – 6732, 2020, (Cited by: 64; All Open Access, Green Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access).
Melamine-Based Microporous Organic Framework Thin Films on an Alumina Membrane for High-Flux Organic Solvent Nanofiltration Journal Article
In: ChemSusChem, 2019, (cited By 0).
Electrolyte Effects on the Stability of Ni−Mo Cathodes for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Journal Article
In: ChemSusChem, vol. 12, no. 15, pp. 3491-3500, 2019, (cited By 13).
Electrolyte Effects on the Stability of Ni−Mo Cathodes for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Journal Article
In: ChemSusChem, vol. 12, no. 15, pp. 3491 – 3500, 2019, (Cited by: 35; All Open Access, Green Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access).
In: ChemPhysChem, vol. 19, no. 18, pp. 2397-2404, 2018, (cited By 3).
Uniformly Oriented Zeolite ZSM-5 Membranes with Tunable Wettability on a Porous Ceramic Journal Article
In: Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, vol. 57, no. 38, pp. 12458-12462, 2018, (cited By 8).
In: Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, vol. 9, no. 8, pp. 1838-1844, 2018, (cited By 11).
Mechanistic Insights into Growth of Surface-Mounted Metal-Organic Framework Films Resolved by Infrared (Nano-) Spectroscopy Journal Article
In: Chemistry - A European Journal, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 187-195, 2018, (cited By 26).
Mechanistic Insights into Growth of Surface-Mounted Metal-Organic Framework Films Resolved by Infrared (Nano-) Spectroscopy Journal Article
In: Chemistry - A European Journal, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 187 – 195, 2018, (Cited by: 47; All Open Access, Green Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access).
In: ChemPhysChem, vol. 19, no. 18, pp. 2397 – 2404, 2018, (Cited by: 4; All Open Access, Green Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access).
Uniformly Oriented Zeolite ZSM-5 Membranes with Tunable Wettability on a Porous Ceramic Journal Article
In: Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, vol. 57, no. 38, pp. 12458 – 12462, 2018, (Cited by: 18; All Open Access, Green Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access).
In: Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, vol. 9, no. 8, pp. 1838 – 1844, 2018, (Cited by: 23; All Open Access, Green Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access).