Materials Chemistry and Catalysis

Induction heating: a new route to sustainable CO₂ conversion

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Approximately 90% of all industrial chemical processes involve a catalyst, which is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed itself.¹ Next to the catalyst, these processes require energy, which is generally provided through high temperatures using fossil fuels to heat the reactors. To make these processes more sustainable, induction heating can be applied to provide the necessary energy. Induction heating requires a magnetic catalyst, which can be heated through an alternating magnetic field.² This enables local heating of the catalytically active sites and the use of electricity as energy source.

In this project, we will investigate the reverse water gas-shift reaction, an industrially relevant process that enables the conversion of CO₂ into valuable chemical feedstocks. The use of a magnetic catalyst in combination with induction heating will be investigated. A catalyst will be synthesized consisting of a magnetic support (Fe₃O₄) with Pt metal nanoparticles as catalytically active sites (Figure 1). The performance of this catalyst will be evaluated, combined with characterisation using electron microscopy techniques.

References

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[1] Chorkendorff, I.; Niemantsverdriet, J. W. Concepts of Modern Catalysis and Kinetics; WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA: Weinheim, 2007.

[2] Wang, W.; Tuci, G.; Duong-Viet, C.; Liu, Y.; Rossin, A.; Luconi, L.; Nhut, J. M.; Nguyen-Dinh, L.; Pham-Huu, C.; Giambastiani, G. Induction Heating: An Enabling Technology for the Heat Management in Catalytic Processes. ACS Catal. 2019, 9 (9), 7921–7935. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.9b02471.

C.V.

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2025-Present

Junior researcher in the Materials Chemistry and Catalysis group, Utrecht University, the Netherlands, under supervision of dr. Jessi van der Hoeven.

2023 – 2025

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

Master’s thesis in the Materials Chemistry and Catalysis group at Utrecht University: “Tuning the Structure, Controlling the Performance: Au-Pd Core-Shell Nanoparticles in Hydrogenation Catalysis” under supervision of Marta Perxés i Perich MSc and dr. Jessi van der Hoeven.

Master’s internship at CIC biomaGUNE in San Sebastian, Spain: “Pd-Coated Chiral Gold Nanoparticles: Toward Enantioselective Catalysis” in the group of Prof. Liz-Marzán.

2020 – 2023

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

Bachelor thesis: “Supported Gold Catalysts for the Oxidative Conversion of Polyethylene” under supervision of Tom Smak MSc and dr. Ina Volmer in the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group at Utrecht University, The Netherlands.