Oscar Brandt Corstius

Research: Metal clusters for selective hydrogenation of olefins

Selective hydrogenation of poly-unsaturated hydrocarbons is a challenging process with great relevance for a wide range of industrial applications, such as high purity polymer-grade olefins or fuel upgrading. Supported noble metal (sub-nm) clusters are an exciting new class of catalysts which can show high selectivity, activity and stability in the hydrogenation of carbonaceous feedstocks.

In this project we focus on the preparation, characterisation and catalytic testing of supported noble metal clusters for the selective hydrogenation of small poly-unsaturated organic molecules. This includes rational design of supported clusters and fundamental studies into their genesis with advanced characterisation methods (e.g. TEM, EXAFS), as well as monitoring selectivity, activity and stability under industrially relevant reaction conditions.

C.V.

2019 – Present
PhD candidate in the group of Prof. dr. P.E. de Jongh, Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Utrecht University, Research topic: Metal clusters for selective hydrogenation of olefins

2017 – 2019
Debye Honours Programme in Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht Universiteit Utrecht
Master thesis: ‘Novel interface-engineered sodium-based nanocomposites as solid-state-electrolytes’ under supervision of P. Ngene and P.E. de Jongh
Research internship at Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, United Kingdom.

2014 – 2017
Bachelor Chemistry (honours), Utrecht University
Bachelor thesis: ‘Upconversion luminescence of Mn⁴⁺ by Yb³⁺ excitation’ under supervision of T. Senden and A. Meijerink.

2008 – 2014
Secondary education at Stedelijk Gymnasium Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, Amersfoort, The Netherlands