Research
Research
Breaking Scaling Relationships in Catalysis for Waste Stream Valorization
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.
C.V.
C.V.
2021-present
ARC-CBBC Tenure Track Assistant Professor in the Inorganic Chemistry & Catalysis Group at Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
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
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.
1989
Born on the 10th of July in Cividale del Friuli, Italy.
Awards and Scientific Honors
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).
News
And 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 moreMatteo Monai wins the ‘RK Grasselli 2020’ Award
This yearly award (at its first edition) is presented to Italian researchers under the age of 37 who have made exceptional contribution to gas phase catalysis. The award consists of […]
Read moreMatteo Monai wins the Eni Young Researcher of the Year award
The Young Researcher of the Year award is presented every year to two researchers under the age of 30 who have received a research doctorate in an Italian university. It […]
Read morePublications
Structure sensitivity in gas sorption and conversion on metal-organic frameworks Journal Article
In: Nature Communications, vol. 14, no. 1, 2023, (cited By 1).
In: Chemical Society Reviews, vol. 52, no. 3, pp. 1155, 2023, (cited By 0).
Europium-Magnesium-Aluminum-Based Mixed-Metal Oxides as Highly Active Methane Oxychlorination Catalysts Journal Article
In: ACS Catalysis, pp. 5147-5158, 2023, (cited By 0).
Structure Sensitivity of CO2Conversion over Nickel Metal Nanoparticles Explained by Micro-Kinetics Simulations Journal Article
In: JACS Au, vol. 2, no. 12, pp. 2714-2730, 2022, (cited By 3).
Uncovering the reaction mechanism behind CoO as active phase for CO2 hydrogenation Journal Article
In: Nature Communications, vol. 13, no. 1, 2022, (cited By 30).
Detecting Cage Crossing and Filling Clusters of Magnesium and Carbon Atoms in Zeolite SSZ-13 with Atom Probe Tomography Journal Article
In: JACS Au, vol. 2, no. 11, pp. 2501-2513, 2022, (cited By 0).
A Study of How LaFeO3and CaTiO3Supports Affect the Oxidation, Hydrogenation, and Methane Steam Reforming Activity of Pt and Ni Catalysts Journal Article
In: Journal of Physical Chemistry C, vol. 126, no. 28, pp. 11619-11628, 2022, (cited By 3).
Nano-scale insights regarding coke formation in zeolite SSZ-13 subject to the methanol-to-hydrocarbons reaction Journal Article
In: Catalysis Science and Technology, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 1220-1228, 2022, (cited By 4).
New insights into the NH3-selective catalytic reduction of NO over Cu-ZSM-5 as revealed by operando spectroscopy Journal Article
In: Catalysis Science and Technology, 2022, (cited By 5).
Catalyst-support interactions in heterogeneous catalysis: From fundamental concepts to applications Journal Article
In: Catalysis Today, 2021, (cited By 0).
Calcination temperature effects on Pd/alumina catalysts: Particle size, surface species and activity in methane combustion Journal Article
In: Catalysis Today, 2021, (cited By 0).
Catalyst-support interactions in heterogeneous catalysis: From fundamental concepts to applications Journal Article
In: Catalysis Today, vol. 382, pp. 1-2, 2021, (cited By 0).
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, (cited By 1).
Dynamic restructuring of supported metal nanoparticles and its implications for structure insensitive catalysis Journal Article
In: Nature Communications, vol. 12, no. 1, 2021, (cited By 0).
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, (cited By 4).
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, (cited By 8).
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, (cited By 1).