Matteo Monai

Assistant Professor
Employed since: November 2017
Email: m.monai@uu.nl
Room: 4th floor study area

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:

  1. Engineering of metal-support interfaces by advanced synthesis methods
  2. Going beyond metal catalysts, by the synthesis of metal nitride and carbide phases
  3. 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

11 May 2021

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 more
01 October 2020

Matteo 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 more
22 July 2019

Matteo 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 more

Publications

Delen, G.; Monai, M.; Stančiaková, K.; Baumgartner, B.; Meirer, F.; Weckhuysen, B. M.

Structure sensitivity in gas sorption and conversion on metal-organic frameworks Journal Article

In: Nature Communications, vol. 14, no. 1, 2023, (cited By 1).

Links | BibTeX

Monai, M.; Gambino, M.; Wannakao, S.; Weckhuysen, B. M.

Erratum: Propane to olefins tandem catalysis: a selective route towards light olefins production (Chem. Soc. Rev. (2021) 50 (11503–11529) DOI: 10.1039/D1CS00357G) Journal Article

In: Chemical Society Reviews, vol. 52, no. 3, pp. 1155, 2023, (cited By 0).

Links | BibTeX

Terlingen, B.; Bos, J. W.; Ahr, M.; Monai, M.; van Lare, C.; Weckhuysen, B. M.

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).

Links | BibTeX

Sterk, E. B.; Nieuwelink, A. -E.; Monai, M.; Louwen, J. N.; Vogt, E. T. C.; Filot, I. A. W.; Weckhuysen, B. M.

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).

Links | BibTeX

Have, I. C.; Kromwijk, J. J. G.; Monai, M.; Ferri, D.; Sterk, E. B.; Meirer, F.; Weckhuysen, B. M.

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).

Links | BibTeX

Vreeswijk, S. H. Van; Monai, M.; Oord, R.; Schmidt, J. E.; Parvulescu, A. N.; Yarulina, I.; Karwacki, L.; Poplawsky, J. D.; Weckhuysen, B. M.

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).

Links | BibTeX

Lee, S.; Monai, M.; Shen, K.; Chang, J.; Vohs, J. M.; Gorte, R. J.

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).

Links | BibTeX

Vreeswijk, S. H. Van; Monai, M.; Oord, R.; Schmidt, J. E.; Vogt, E. T. C.; Poplawsky, J. D.; Weckhuysen, B. M.

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).

Links | BibTeX

Ye, X.; Oord, R.; Monai, M.; Schmidt, J. E.; Chen, T.; Meirer, F.; Weckhuysen, B. M.

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).

Links | BibTeX

Monai, M.; Banerjee, A. C.

Catalyst-support interactions in heterogeneous catalysis: From fundamental concepts to applications Journal Article

In: Catalysis Today, 2021, (cited By 0).

Links | BibTeX

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, 2021, (cited By 0).

Links | BibTeX

Monai, M.; Banerjee, A. C.

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).

Links | BibTeX

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, (cited By 1).

Links | BibTeX

Vogt, C.; Meirer, F.; Monai, M.; Groeneveld, E.; Ferri, D.; van 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, (cited By 0).

Links | BibTeX

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, (cited By 4).

Links | BibTeX

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, (cited By 8).

Links | BibTeX

Moya-Cancino, J. G.; Honkanen, A. -P.; Eerden, A. M. J. Van Der; Oord, R.; Monai, M.; Have, I. 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, (cited By 1).

Links | BibTeX