Materials Chemistry and Catalysis

Influence of promoters on the stability of supported nickel catalysts for CO₂ methanation

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Hydrogenation of CO₂ with green H₂ over supported nickel nanoparticle catalysts can be used to produce CH₄, so-called “Synthetic Natural Gas” (SNG), for the storage of renewable energy (“Power-to-fuels”).¹ However, the lifetime of supported Ni nanocatalysts is negatively impacted by the mobility of Ni species and Ni particles during the challenging reaction conditions, which causes the particles to grow through coalescence and Ostwald ripening.² For these phenomena, little is yet understood about the influence of Ni particle size, support morphology and other physicochemical parameters. Furthermore, the addition of promoters (e.g. alkali metals or reducible oxides) to the nickel nanoparticles can help improve the catalyst’s stability.^3,4 Promoters can also affect the activity and selectivity of the catalyst by influencing the reaction pathway and the product composition.^5,6

In this project, I will study the dynamics and growth of the (un)promoted Ni particles through in situ TEM; a highly valuable technique to study the behavior of nano-scale particles during catalysis.² The information that is gathered from in situ TEM studies can be combined with results from catalytic testing and other characterization techniques to study the role of promoters in the methanation of CO₂ with supported Ni catalysts on a more fundamental level.⁵

References

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[1] Tommasi, M.; Degerli, S. N.; Ramis, G.; Rossetti, I. Advancements in CO2 Methanation: A Comprehensive Review of Catalysis, Reactor Design and Process Optimization. Chem. Eng. Res. Des. 2024, 201, 457–482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2023.11.060.

[2] Visser, N. L.; Turner, S. J.; Stewart, J. A.; Vandegehuchte, B. D.; Van Der Hoeven, J. E. S.; De Jongh, P. E. Direct Observation of Ni Nanoparticle Growth in Carbon-Supported Nickel under Carbon Dioxide Hydrogenation Atmosphere. ACS Nano 2023, 17 (15), 14963–14973. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.3c03721.

[3] Barberis, L.; Versteeg, C. I.; Meeldijk, J. D.; Stewart, J. A.; Vandegehuchte, B. D.; De Jongh, P. E. K and Na Promotion Enables High-Pressure Low-Temperature Reverse Water Gas Shift over Copper-Based Catalysts. ACS Catal. 2024, 14 (12), 9188–9197. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.4c02293.

[4] Dalebout, R.; Barberis, L.; Visser, N. L.; Van Der Hoeven, J. E. S.; Van Der Eerden, A. M. J.; Stewart, J. A.; Meirer, F.; De Jong, K. P.; De Jongh, P. E. Manganese Oxide as a Promoter for Copper Catalysts in CO₂ and CO Hydrogenation. ChemCatChem 2022, 14 (19), e202200451. https://doi.org/10.1002/cctc.202200451.

[5] Visser, N. L. Carbon-Supported Nickel Catalysts for the Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide,  Chapter 5: Exploratory Study of the Addition of Promoters. dr., Utrecht University, 2023. https://doi.org/10.33540/2007.

[6] Tsiotsias, A. I.; Charisiou, N. D.; Yentekakis, I. V.; Goula, M. A. The Role of Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metals in the CO2 Methanation Reaction and the Combined Capture and Methanation of CO2. Catalysts 2020, 10 (7), 812. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10070812.

C.V.

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2025-Present

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

2022 – 2025

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

Master thesis in the Condensed Matter and Interfaces group at Utrecht University in collaboration with Seaborough B.V. under the supervision of dr. Federico Montanarella, dr. Marie Anne van de Haar and dr. Celso de Mello Donegá.

Master research internship at the Conservation and Science department of the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam under the supervision of Tamar Davidowitz, MA and dr. Fréderique Broers, titled: “A study on corrosion products in and on tin-alloy objects from Dutch East India Company Shipwrecks”.

Master literature study in the Materials Chemistry and Catalysis group at Utrecht University under the supervision of Just Pé Jonasse, MSc and dr. Jessi van der Hoeven, titled: “It Takes Two: How Bimetallic Nanoparticles Can Achieve Synergistic Catalytic Performance Through a Core/Shell Geometry”

2017 – 2022

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

Bachelor thesis in the Condensed Matter and Interfaces group at Utrecht University under the supervision of dr. Jur de Wit and prof. dr. Andries Meijerink, titled: “Synthesis and characterization of lanthanide-doped elpasolite microcrystals”