Materials Chemistry and Catalysis

Design of efficient catalysts for methane decomposition into hydrogen and carbon nanostructures

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The thermocatalytic decomposition of methane to produce hydrogen and carbon nanostructures (CNS) has received considerable attention from the field of catalysis. Solid carbon formation by decomposition used to be an undesired side reaction in steam methane reforming, leading to catalyst deactivation. However, it has recently been recognized as a potential way of producing COx-free hydrogen from abundant methane . By careful control of the catalyst properties and reaction conditions, high-value CNS such as nanofibers and nanotubes can be obtained as the solid carbon product. Supported Ni catalysts are widely recognized as the most promising catalyst for this process [1,2].

In this project, some of the factors influencing the activity of supported Ni nanoparticles are studied. For example, we can play with metal-support interactions [3], support morphology, particle size and promotor effects to understand their influence on the amount and type of solid carbon produced during the reaction. (In-situ) TEM is an incredibly useful tool for this purpose and will be an important part of the project [4]. By understanding the key factors determining steady CNS growth, we can design more efficient catalysts for this reaction.

References

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1. Qian, J. X., Chen, T. W., Enakonda, L. R., Liu, D. bin, Mignani, G., Basset, J. M., & Zhou, L. (2020). Methane decomposition to produce COx-free hydrogen and nano-carbon over metal catalysts: A review. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 45(15), 7981–8001.
2. Ashik, U. P. M., Wan Daud, W. M. A., & Hayashi, J. ichiro. (2017). A review on methane transformation to hydrogen and nanocarbon: Relevance of catalyst characteristics and experimental parameters on yield. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 76(March), 743–767.
3. Choi, J. bin, Im, J. S., Kang, S. C., Lee, Y. S., & Lee, C. W. (2023). Effect of metal–support interaction in Ni/SiO2 catalysts on the growth of carbon nanotubes by methane decomposition. Carbon Letters, 33(2), 477–488.
4. A. J. Welling, T., E. Schoemaker, S., P. de Jong, K., & E. de Jongh, P. (2023). Carbon Nanofiber Growth Rates on NiCu Catalysts: Quantitative Coupling of Macroscopic and Nanoscale In Situ Studies. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 127(32), 15766–15774.
5. Schoemaker, S. E., Welling, T. A. J., Wezendonk, D. F. L., Reesink, B. H., van Bavel, A. P., & de Jongh, P. E. (2023). Carbon nanofiber growth from methane over carbon-supported NiCu catalysts: Two temperature regimes. Catalysis Today, 418, 114110.

C.V.

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2023 – present

PhD candidate in the Materials Chemistry and Catalysis group under supervision of prof. dr. Petra de Jongh, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.

Project: “Design of efficient methane decomposition catalysts for hydrogen and carbon nanostructures production.”

2022 – 2023

Year in Bologna, Italy funded by the Collegio dei Fiamminghi “Jean Jacobs” grant.

Master research internship at Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia “Augusto Righi” (supervision: dr. Alberto Piccioni and prof. dr. Luca Pasquini), Università di Bologna, Italy:

“Thin layer deposition to create efficient photoelectrodes for PEC water splitting.”

2020 – 2023

Master’s degree in Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.

Master thesis in the Materials Chemistry and Catalysis group (supervision: Suzan Schoemaker, MSc and prof. dr. Petra de Jongh):

“Iron-based catalysts for carbon nanostructures by the thermocatalytic decomposition of methane.”

2016 – 2019

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.

Bachelor thesis in the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group (supervision: dr. Justine Harmel and prof. dr. ir. Krijn de Jong): “Metal-acid bifunctional catalysts for hydro-isomerization of alkanes: Investigating the use of Ni as active (de)hydrogenation function.”

2010 – 2016

Secondary education at Gymnasium Camphusianum, Gorinchem, The Netherlands.

1998

Born in Asperen, The Netherlands.