Research
Research
The CO2 hydrogenation reaction is a promising technique to produce value-added chemicals such as methane and other hydrocarbons, and is simultaneously an interesting pathway towards a more circular economy. Recently is has been shown by Ten Have et al. that CoO/TiO2 catalysts display interesting characteristics in CO2 hydrogenation surpassing fully reduced Co/TiO2 [1]. To further study this phenomenon, this project will investigate the surface reducibility of the TiO2 support and try to gain a better understanding of the strong-metal support interactions (SMSI) involving Co and TiO2.
Techniques such as X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) and Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Spectroscopy (DRIFTS) will be employed as they are ideal to study the Co oxidation state and surface intermediates, respectively, under relevant reaction conditions (i.e., elevated temperatures and pressures).
[1] Ten Have et al., Nature Communications 2022, 13, 324 and Ten Have et al., Chem Catalysis 2021, 1, 339
C.V.
C.V.
2023 – present
PhD candidate at the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group.
2020-2023
Master’s degree Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University
Master thesis: “In-situ Raman Spectroscopy to Monitor the Reaction Intermediates of the Electrochemical CO2 Reduction on Well-defined Cu2O Submicro-Crystals.” Performed at the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group, supervised by Jim de Ruiter, MSc. and Dr. Ward van der Stam.
Master research project: “On the Design of a Thorough Catalytic Testing System for Titania-based Electrodes in the Photoelectrochemical CO2 Reduction Reaction.” Performed at SINTEF, Oslo, supervised by Dr. Kenneth Schneider and Dr. Matteo Monai.
2017 – 2021
Bachelor’s degree Chemistry, Utrecht University
Bachelor thesis: “A first attempt at making a nickel hydrogenation catalyst via colloidal synthesis.” Performed at the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group, supervised by Nienke Visser, MSc. and Prof. Petra de Jongh.