Research
Research
Molecular Movies
For years, Prof. Bert Weckhuysen has been trying to build a powerful camera to record what happens in a working catalytic solid. The long-term aim of this work is to bring this technology to a level that enables imaging catalysis at macro, meso and micro scales, from the reactor down to interactions between single atoms and molecules. He is a keen photographer, who has found a way to combine his hobby with his scientific interests in a way that significantly contributed to the significant technological advancement of the method ‘operando spectroscopy’, named by some colleagues and Weckhuysen himself. The term refers to a specialized form of in situ spectroscopy, in which measurements take place under realistic catalytic conditions of high temperature and pressure, empowering us to study catalysts in all their complexity and heterogeneity. Only this way can we accumulate enough knowledge to rationally design more efficient catalyst materials which, on one hand, are necessary to produce the energy and materials for the quickly increasing human population in a sustainable manner and, on the other hand, will help us to reduce the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere.
C.V.
C.V.
For Bert Weckhuysen’s detailed Curriculum Vitae see bertweckhuysen.com.
Since October 2000, Bert Weckhuysen is full professor Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis at Utrecht University. He has been appointed as the first Distinguished Professor of the Faculty of Science at Utrecht University as of September 2012. From January 2018 he has been promoted to the rank of Distinguished University Professor at Utrecht University.
An overview of additional functions can be found at the profile page of Bert Weckhuysen at the UU-website (Dutch).
News
Bert Weckhuysen Awarded Comenius Senior Fellowship
Bert Weckhuysen was awarded a prestigious Comenius Senior Fellowship award which will allow him to expand the Bachelor-phase Da Vinci Project (an interdisciplinary honours programme on sustainability developed with a […]
Read moreAnd then there was light: the sun powers new chemistry
In an article that appeared in de Telegraaf today, ICC researchers Eline Hutter, Matteo Monai, and Bert Weckhuysen are interviewed about the conversion of CO2 to methane using sunlight. Although […]
Read moreResearch into microplastics and nanoplastics and chemical substances
Bert Weckhuysen and Florian Meirer are involved in two major European Horizon 2020 projects that are all connected with research into substances that are harmful to our health. A brief […]
Read moreWard van der Stam appointed as Tenure Tracker at ICC
In March 2019, Ward initially started as a postdoc in the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis (ICC) group, but recently, his position was changed into Tenure Track Assistant Professor. He will […]
Read moreUtrecht twice in ‘final’ for European billion-euro grant
The Energy-X research proposal led by The Technical University of Denmark is one of the six finalists for the billion-euro flagship scientific initiatives. Bert Weckhuysen is a participant in this […]
Read moreMethane promising route for storage of renewable energy from sun and wind
Charlotte Vogt, Matteo Monai, Gert Jan Kramer and Bert Weckhuysen recently published in Nature Catalysis on the renaissance of the Sabatier reaction. This work focusses on CO2 reduction towards value […]
Read moreCarbon to carbon: chemistry and legislation need to work together for a true circular economy
Bert Weckhuysen gave a lecture at the Royal Institution London. In his lecture, Bert takes his audience on a journey from the discovery of crude oil to our current problems […]
Read moreAnne-Eva Nieuwelink receives CHAINS 2018 poster award
Anne-Eva Nieuwelink wins one of the 4 Chemistry of Materials & Chemical Conversion Poster Prizes at CHAINS 2018. Real team effort by two of our PhD students, Anne-Eva & Marjolein […]
Read moreEllen Sterk wins AkzoNobel Graduation Prize for Chemistry and Process Technology 2018
The Royal Netherlands Society of Sciences and Humanities (KHMW) has named Ellen Sterk as the winner of the AkzoNobel Graduation Prize for Chemistry and Process Technology 2018. Ellen Sterk completed […]
Read moreNature Chemistry publication for Dr. Gareth Whiting, Nikolaos Nikolopoulos, Ioannis Nikolopoulos, Dr. Abhishek Dutta Chowdhury and Prof. Bert Weckhuysen
In their research, the chemists from Utrecht studied the sustainable production of methanol, one of the building blocks for products such as plastics. Sustainable methanol can be synthesised from CO2 […]
Read morePoster prize for Thijs Verkaaik
PhD candidate Thijs Verkaaik (ICC) won a poster prize for his work entitled “Photothermal Suzuki Cross-Coupling using Bimetallic Nanorods”, authored by Thijs Verkaaik, Roos Grote, Nicole Meulendijks, Francesc Sastre Calabuig, Pascal […]
Read moreMarie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND grant for MCEC
The Gravitation Programme Netherlands Center for Multiscale Catalytic Energy Conversion (MCEC) has been awarded 1.7 million Euros to cover part of the costs for the participation of 16 ambitious new […]
Read moreNWO grant for Florian Meirer
Florian Meirer (ICC), together with colleagues Katrien Keune (Rijksmuseum) and Koen Janssens (University of Antwerp), has been awarded funding for a project called “3D understanding of degradation products in paintings”. […]
Read moreBert Weckhuysen receives Certificate for Achievements from the Belgian Ambassador
On February 7 2018 Belgian Ambassador in the Netherlands, Chris Hoornaert, has awarded Professor Bert Weckhuysen a Certificate for Achievements (‘Oorkonde van Verdienste’) of the Christoffel Plantin fund for his […]
Read moreRecent media appearances – group of Bert Weckhuysen
BNR podcast: interview with Jochem Wijten June 7, 2017 The podcast is about the production of artificial manure, without the high CO2 emmisions that appear during the Haber-Bosch process. Wijten […]
Read moreRecent media appearances – group of Bert Weckhuysen
Lectures at Universiteit van Nederland in the Media In May 2016, Bert Weckhuysen appeared in a series of five lectures of the ‘Universiteit van Nederland’ (University of the Netherlands), in […]
Read moreGroup of Bert Weckhuysen featured in podcast Captains of Chemistry
(From left to right: Anne-Eva Nieuwelink, Edwin Mooibroek (BNR), Bert Weckhuysen en Katinka Wondergem.) Bert Weckhuysen, Katinka Wondergem and Anne-Eva Nieuwelink feature in the first episode of ‘Captains of Chemistry’; […]
Read morePasi Paalanen and José Moya-Cancino featured in ‘De Werkplek’ on DUB
Pasi Paalanen and José Moya-Cancino have their research topic in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Fischer-Tropsch fuels are a possible alternative for crude oil. Both PhD candidates work under supervision of Bert Weckhuysen […]
Read moreBert Weckhuysen wins Tanabe Prize for Acid-Base Catalysis
The prize was initiated by the International Acid-Base Catalysis Group and bears the name of Kozo Tanabe, who pioneered many of the modern concepts in catalytic chemistry of acids and […]
Read moreThe CatchBio Magazine; Ten years of Biomass Catalysis
In November 2016, the CatchBio consortium celebrated a decade of high-level research on catalytic biomass conversion. In an article in Agro & Chemie (March 2017), scientific director Bert Weckhuysen speaks […]
Read morePoster award for Carolien Vis at IGCS2017
The poster was entitled “Towards Tandem Catalytic Biomass Conversion in Pickering Emulsions”, Authors: Carolien M. Vis, Pierre-François M. Vittoz, Pieter C.A. Bruijnincx. The poster award consists of a coupon of […]
Read moreMarie Curie Grant for Mario De bruyn
The European Commission has granted a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellowship to Dr. Mario De bruyn. This three-year grant will allow Dr. De bruyn to execute his TAILORCAT project. The project […]
Read moreZoran Ristanović receives the invitation to attend the 67th Lindau Nobel Laurate Meeting
The honorable invitation to the 67th Lindau Meeting is with special regard to excellence in research. The 67th Lindau Meeting will be dedicated to the field of chemistry. So far, […]
Read moreBert Weckhuysen to receive Robert B. Anderson Award for contributions to catalysis research
Bert Weckhuysen will receive the 2018 Robert B. Anderson Award for his outstanding contributions to the fundamental understanding of the functioning of solid catalysts and the related development of advanced […]
Read moreMarie Curie Grant for Matthias Filez
The European Commission granted a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowships to Matthias Filez. The 2-year grant will allow Matthias Filez to link zeolite porosity to molecular diffusion at the single crystal level, […]
Read moreRecent media appearances – group of Bert Weckhuysen
ARC-CBBC selected the first researchers for personal membership January 2017 The first 39 researchers have been selected for personal membership for the Advanced Research Center Chemical Building Block Consortium (ARC […]
Read moreARC CBBC in the media
The Advanced Research Center Chemical Building Blocks Consortium (ARC CBBC), which is linking pioneering science to complex societal issues, potentially leading to vital breakthroughs to sustainably meet future demand for […]
Read moreJochem Wijten wins Unilever Research Prize
The Unilever Research Prize is awarded to Jochem Wijten for the research he conducted during his Master’s programme within the ICC-group. Wijten was nominated for the prize because of his […]
Read moreThesis defense Sam Kalirai on December 12, 2016
Sam Kalirai will defend his dissertation, entitled: ‘Advances in X-ray chemical imaging of a single catalyst particle’. Date and Time: Monday, December 12, 2016 at 10:30 AM Location: Academic Building, […]
Read more2016 Lab of Excellence SEAM Thesis Prize for Thomas Gaudisson
(Thomas Gaudisson receives Lab of Excellence SEAM Thesis Prize 2016) Thomas Gaudisson is awarded the 2016 Lab of Excellence SEAM Thesis Prize for his thesis entitled “Granular magnetically contrasted hetero-nanostructures […]
Read morePublication by Meirer and Weckhuysen in Nature Communications
Every catalyst particle contains a kind of “road network” over which molecules travel to the active sites in a catalyst. Metals can clog this road network, making the active sites […]
Read more2016 Rayleigh Early Career Award for Naresh Kumar
PhD candidate Naresh Kumar, affiliated with Utrecht University and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL, United Kingdom), has won the 2016 Rayleigh Early Career Award for his work on “Nanoscale mapping […]
Read moreJochem Wijten one of the three 2016 Utrecht University Master Thesis Award Nominees
In his research, Jochem Wijten proved that a new category of materials -Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)- can contribute to a more efficient storage of solar-energy. Next to batteries, the sustainable energy can […]
Read morePhD-candidate Fang Liu featured in ‘De Werkplek’ on DUB
Fang Liu shows her workplace in the David de Wied building to DUB. The aim of her project is converting biomass derivatives into value-added chemicals effectively. Biomass is a promising […]
Read moreVidi grant for Florian Meirer
This month, Florian Meirer received a Vidi grant for his research on the structure of catalysts in relation to their performance. Studying paths through the pore labyrinth of catalysts Functional […]
Read moreLectures Bert Weckhuysen at Universiteit van Nederland
Bert Weckhuysen appears in a series of five lectures at the ‘Universiteit van Nederland’ (University of the Netherlands), in which he explains all about catalysis: from fuels, food and plastics […]
Read moreLaunch ARC CBBC, 10 May, 2016
The Advanced Research Center Chemical Building Blocks Consortium (ARC CBBC) officially started with the symposium ‘Chemical Building Blocks for a Sustainable Future’. During the symposium, ARC CBBC brought together potential […]
Read moreCover and entertaining video in JPCL
wo PhD-candidates Thomas Hartman and Katinka Wondergem publish an entertaining video and a cover associated with a feature article in Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters (JPCL). The article entitled “A Perspective […]
Read moreThesis defense Zoran Ristanović on March 30, 2016
Zoran Ristanović will defend his dissertation, entitled: ‘Zeolite chemistry studied at the level of single particles, molecules and atoms’. During his PhD-track, Ristanović developed a method to study Zeolite Chemistry […]
Read moreThesis defense Korneel Cats on March 23, 2016
Korneel Cats will defend his dissertation, entitled: ‘On the deactivation of Cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch catalysts’. Date and Time: Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at 10:30 AM Location: Academic Building, Domplein 29, Utrecht […]
Read moreMarjolein Velthoen and Sam Kalirai win Awards at NCCC XVII
(Sam Kalirai (second from left) with the award for his lecture.) Sam Kalirai won one of three NIOK lecture awards for best PhD presentation at the 17th Netherlands Catalysis and […]
Read moreBert Weckhuysen at Universiteit van Nederland
Bert Weckhuysen will appear in a series of five lectures in the ‘Universiteit van Nederland’ (University of the Netherlands) in April 2016. Do not miss it! The recording of the […]
Read moreThesis defense Mustafa al Samarai on March 14, 2016
Mustafa al Samarai will defend his dissertation, entitled: ‘X-ray spectroscopy and microscopy of cobalt and nickel in CoMoS and CoNiMoS hydrodesulfurization catalysts’. Date and Time: Monday, March 14, 2016 at […]
Read moreThesis defense Dimitrije Cicmil on March 2, 2016
Dimitrije Cicmil will defend his dissertation, entitled: ‘Advances in Phillips Polymerisation Catalysis: In-situ Synthesis of Light Linear Alpha Olefins’. In his dissertation, Cicmil presents a method to simplify and improve […]
Read moreBert Weckhuysen appointed as foreign member of KVAB
Bert Weckhuysen has been invited to join the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts (KVAB). On 12 December, Weckhuysen will formally be welcomed at the Public […]
Read moreARC CBBC: National research center for chemical building blocks
On 7 December 2015, Minister Henk Kamp announced the kick off of ARC CBBC; a Joint investment by government, businesses and universities. AkzoNobel, BASF, Shell, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, […]
Read moreThesis defense Joe Stewart on December 16, 2015
Joe Stewart will defend his dissertation, entitled: ‘Towards Green Cyclic Carbonate Synthesis – Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Catalyst Development’. Date and Time: Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at 10:30 AM. Location: Academic […]
Read moreThesis defense Sophie Wiedemann on December 9, 2015
Sophie Wiedemann will defend her dissertation, entitled: ‘Ferrierite-Catalysed Branching of Unsaturated Fatty Acids’. Date and Time: Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 10:30 AM. Location: Academic Building, Domplein 29, Utrecht. Promotor: […]
Read moreMinister Bussemaker visits our group
Prior to her lecture during the opening of the new academic year, minister Bussemaker visited the Utrecht Science Park. The politica talked with the young researchers that are involved in […]
Read moreNature Communications article on 3-D mapping of single aluminum atoms in zeolites
An international team of researchers, among which Zoran Ristanović and Bert Weckhuysen, was the first to make a detailed 3-D scan of individual aluminium atoms in a zeolite crystal. Their results […]
Read moreThesis defense Carlo Angelici on June 24, 2015
Carlo Angelici will defend his dissertation, entitled: ‘Ethanol-to-Butadiene Conversion over SiO2-MgO Catalysts: Synthesis-Structure-Performance Relationships’. Date and Time: Wednesday, Juni 24, 2015 at 04:15 PM. Location: Academic Building, Domplein 29, Utrecht. […]
Read moreTwo PhD students of the group featured in ‘De Werkplek’ on DUB
PhD students Antonio Martinez Pascual and Özgün Attila show their workplace in the David de Wied building. Antonio Martinez Pascual working in the laboratory of the David de Wied building. […]
Read moreBert Weckhuysen Knighted in the Order of the Dutch Lion
Bert Weckhuysen has received the Royal honour of Knight of the Order of the Dutch Lion. He is one of the international leaders in his field and has earned a […]
Read moreNature Communication article on Catalytic Biomass Conversion
The group of Bert Weckhuysen and Pieter Bruijnincx has managed, together with colleagues in UK and in the US, to speed up the processing of biomass into a variety of […]
Read moreDimitrije Cicmil – VIRAN Poster Award at NCCC
PhD student Dimitrije Cicmil of the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group won the VIRAN award for the best poster presented during the 16th Netherlands Catalysis and Chemistry Conference (NCCC) in […]
Read moreTwo publications in ESRF Scientific Highlights 2014
In the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) Highlights 2014, two publications appeared, including results of the research performed at ESRF. The article of Zoran Ristanovic and Bert Weckhuysen, entitled ‘Crystallographic […]
Read moreThesis defense Ilona van Zandvoort on 16 March 2015
Ilona van Zandvoort will defend her dissertation, entitled ‘Towards the Valorization of Humin By-products: Characterization, Solubilization and Catalysis’. Date and Time: Monday, 16 March 2015 at 10:30 AM. Location: Academic […]
Read moreWeckhuysen appointed as Visiting Professor at University College London
University College London has appointed Professor Bert Weckhuysen as Visiting Professor in the Department of Chemistry of University College London (UCL). UCL is regarded as one of the world’s most […]
Read moreRubicon for Annelie Jongerius
In April, Annelie Jongerius, who obtained her PhD in the group of Bert Weckhuysen last year, received a Rubicon grant by NWO. With this grant, Jongerius will go to Stanford University […]
Read moreWeckhuysen speaker at TEDxBinnenhof
Bert Weckhuysen was one of the speakers at TEDxBinnenhof, which took place on March 31. For this inspiration conference in the Ridderzaal (Hall of Knights) within The Binnenhof (The political […]
Read moreVIP article in ChemCatChem
In ChemCatChem, a VIP article appeared from Qingyun Qian, Javier Ruiz-Martinez and Bert Weckhuysen together with researchers from the King Agdulaziz University in Jeddah. The VIP article, entitled ‘Single-Particle Spectroscopy […]
Read moreDe Groot and Weckhuysen in CLS Research Report
The research of Frank de Groot and Bert Weckhuysen and co-workers, appeared in the 2012 Research Report of the Canadian Light Source Inc. The report, appearing online in January this year, […]
Read morePieter Bruijnincx interviewed in DUB
An interview with Pieter Bruijnincx appeared in DUB, the digital magazine of Utrecht University. In the article, entitled ‘Bellenblaasontdekking Utrechtse onderzoekers maakt petrochemische industrie groener’, Pieter Bruijnincx explains the research […]
Read moreProposal Weckhuysen granted in first CAPITA call
In the First CAPITA Call, the project proposal of Weckhuysen and researchers from Greece, Spain, Flanders and Italy is granted. The granted project in which Weckhuysen is involved is called […]
Read moreTA fund granted
In December, NWO CW granted a Technology Area (TA) to the project lead by Prof. Detlef Lohse (University of Twente). With Bert Weckhuysen as co-applicant, Utrecht University is involved in […]
Read moreFirst CHIPP grant awarded
The first CHIPP grant of the NWO-NCI Fund is awarded to Krijn de Jong, as main applicant of the research proposal ‘Structure-Stability Relationships for Supported Catalysts’. Co-applicants are Bert Weckhuysen, […]
Read morePublications
Cover Gallery

ChemSusChem
2019, Vol. 12, Issue 15

Chem. Sci
2018, Vol. 9, Issue 30

Nature Chem.
2018, Vol. 10, Issue 8

Chem. Eur. J.
2018, Vol. 2018, Issue 24

ChemPhysChem
2018, Vol. 19, Issue 4

Angewandte Chemie, Int. Ed.
2018, Vol. 57, Issue 1

Chem. Commun.
2017, Vol. 53, Issue 97

Angewandte Chemie, Int. Ed.
2017, Vol. 56, Issue 37

Chemical Communications
2017, Vol 53, Issue 28

Chemistry A European Journal
2017, Vol. 23, Issue 26

Angewandte Chemie, Int. Ed.
2016, Vol. 55, Issue 51

ChemCatChem
2016, Vol. 8, Issue 19

Green Chemistry
2016, Vol. 18, Issue 9

Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters

Catalysis Science & Technology
2016, Vol. 6, Issue 8

Angewandte Chemie, Int. Ed.
2016, Vol. 55, Issue 17

Catalysis Science & Technology
2016, Vol. 6, Issue 3

Journal of the American Chemical Society
2015, Vol. 137, Issue 20

ChemPhysChem
2015, Vol. 16, Issue 3

Chemistry - A European Journal
2014, Vol. 20, Issue 51

ChemCatChem
2014, Vol. 6, Issue 3

Catalysis Science & Technology
2013, Vol. 3, Issue 10

ChemSusChem
2013, Vol. 9, Issue 6

Catalysis Science & Technology
2013, Vol. 3, Issue 5

ChemPhysChem
2013, Vol. 14, Issue 3

European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry
2012, Issue 10

Chemistry - A European Journal
2012, Vol. 18, Issue 4

Angewandte Chemie, Int. Ed.
2012, Vol. 51, Issue 43

Chemistry - A European Journal
2011, Vol. 17, Issue 7

ChemCatChem
2011, Vol. 3, Issue 5

Angewandte Chemie, Int. Ed.
2011, Vol. 50, Issue 43

ChemCatChem
2010, Vol. 2, Issue 5

Angewandte Chemie, Int. Ed.
2009, Vol. 48, Issue 47

Angewandte Chemie, Int. Ed.
2009, Vol. 48, Issue 20

ChemSusChem
2008, Vol. 1, Issue 3

Angewandte Chemie, Int. Ed.
2008, Vol. 47, Issue 19

Angewandte Chemie, Int. Ed.
2007, Vol. 46, Issue 46

Chemistry A European Journal (2007/13)
2007, Vol. 13, Issue 25

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
2005, Vol. 8, Issue 19

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
2005, Vol. 7, Issue 4

European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry
2005, Issue 13

Chemical Communications
2005, Issue 24

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
2003, Vol. 5, Issue 20

Chemical Communications
2002, Issue 2