High-throughput synthesis and characterization of catalysts

High-throughput synthesis and characterization of catalysts
1st promotor: Prof. Albert van den Berg
2nd promotor: Prof. Bert Weckhuysen (UU)
1st supervisor and co-promotor: Associate Prof. Mathieu Odijk
2nd supervisor: Prof. Guido Mul
Affiliation: University of Twente
Research theme: Catalyst Diagnostics to Develop More Active Catalysts

The search for new catalytically active materials is at present often still a matter of testing many differently synthesized materials. Considering that each material most likely will need slightly different operating conditions to work optimally, and it is clear that this work is laborious. In this project, a platform is proposed where this search for new catalyst materials is carried out in many parallel chambers. Each chamber is fitted with tools such as heaters, sensing elements, or electrodes required to measure and operate at different reaction conditions.

The main aim of this project is to develop this device, containing valves, waveguides or windows for sensing, electrodes for heating and electrochemical actuation, and reaction chambers. Due to the nature of the reactions studied, this device needs to be developed in chemically and high-temperature resistant materials. Applications include the study of electrocatalytic materials or (single) catalyst particles.

Key words:

• Large-scale integration
• Catalyst screening
• Operando spectroscopy
• Microfluidics
• Microfabrication