Thimo Jacobs

Research

Detecting and exploiting local phenomena in catalytic CO₂ conversion

Co-funding: Tata Steel & M2i

Promotor: Prof. dr. ir. Bert Weckhuysen & dr. Ward van der Stam

One of the largest CO₂ emitting industries is the metallurgical industry, including steel producers. Tata Steel recently developed a new process, called HIsarna, in which the CO₂ emissions are reduced by at least 20%. [1] The works arising gases (WAGs) of the HIsarna process are CO₂-rich (almost 70% CO₂) and high in temperature (up to 1500°C). The overall project aims to develop the necessary thermo- and electrocatalysts to convert these WAGs into valuable chemical building blocks, using the high temperature of the HIsarna WAGs.

Within this project, analytical tools are required to monitor the CO₂ conversion. By designing bifunctional electrodes, containing the catalyst, shell-isolated nanoparticles (SHINs) and temperature probes, local adsorbates and heat effects can be studied. These local sensors enable a direct comparison between the electrochemical and thermochemical conversion routes, where the mechanistic pathways of the CO₂ conversion can be investigated using the SHINs. Since the electrochemical conversion is performed at temperatures of up to 200°C, local heat effects can play a crucial role. Thermometry will be used to study these local heat effects, for example the effect of the current density on the local temperature.

The combination of shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) and luminescence thermometry for operando monitoring of catalysis has already been studied within our group, but was limited to temperatures of ~ 350°C. [2] The main challenge for this project is therefore to increase the thermal stability of both the SHINs and temperature probes, since the second step in the thermocatalytic CO₂ conversion (i.e., CH₄ to aromatics; dehydroaromatization) requires temperatures of up to 800°C. The deployment of these analytical techniques at high temperatures enables a more detailed study of the CO₂ conversion and can contribute to an even further decrease in CO₂ emissions from the steel industry.

[1] Keys, A., van Hout, M., Daniëls, B., Decarbonisation options for the Dutch Steel Industry, PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency & ECN part of TNO, The Hague (2019).

[2] Hartman, T., Geitenbeek, R.G., Whiting, G.T., Weckhuysen, B.M., Operando monitoring of temperature and active species at the single catalyst particle level. Nat. Catal. 2, 986–996 (2019).

C.V.

2020 – present
PhD candidate in the group of prof. dr. ir. Bert Weckhuysen, Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Utrecht University

Project: Detecting and exploiting local phenomena in catalytic CO₂ conversion, in the frame of a the TRANSCRIPT (“Transforming carbon-rich industrial waste gases of metallurgical plants into valuable products”) project in the frame of an NWO-ENW Industrial Partnership Program.

2017 – 2019
Master Nanomaterials Science at Utrecht University
Master thesis: Support Influence of Metallocene Catalysts on Ethylene Polymerization Activity

Internship at Avantium, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Topic: PLA/lignin blends

2014 – 2017
Bachelor Chemistry at Utrecht University
Bachelor thesis: Operando temperature measurements with luminescent NaYF₄:Er³⁺,Yb³⁺ during the methanol-to-olefins process

2008 – 2014
Secondary education (Gymnasium) at Chr. College Nassau-Veluwe, Harderwijk, the Netherlands

1996
Born in Dronten, the Netherlands