Hanya Spoelstra
PhD candidate
Utrecht University
Department
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis
Contact information
Room
Vening Meinesz-C 2.06
Email address
h.y.spoelstra@uu.nl
Key expertises
heterogeneous catalysis, spectroscopy, catalyst preparation
About me
Originally, I grew up near Leiden but I moved to Utrecht in 2017. I obtained my BSc and MSc degrees in Chemistry at Utrecht University. During my master thesis I explored the synthesis of nanoplastics for fluorescence-based detection. I started my PhD in October 2023 in the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group at Utrecht University.
About my research
This research is part of a multilateral ARC CBBC project and investigates the development of new catalysts for methane decomposition. The decomposition of methane in hydrogen and functional solid carbon is an attractive route for COx-free hydrogen production. This research involves the development and comparison of metal-based and metal-lean catalysts in various forms. The catalyst materials as well as the solid carbon product formed are analyzed with in-depth in-situ and operando characterization. The study includes a multi-scale approach from single-catalyst particle up to reactor level with various characterization methods, including AFM-IR, IR, Raman, XAS, and X-ray tomography.
Academic career
PhD candidate
2023-present: PhD candidate in the group of Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis at Utrecht University, the Netherlands, under the supervision of Prof. B.M. Weckhuysen.
Internship
2023: Internship at the Exploratory R&D group of the Ketjen site in Amsterdam
Project on the synthesis of alumina-based catalyst supports under supervision of dr. Carlos Hernandez Mejia.
MSc
2021-2023: Master degree in Nanomaterials Science
Thesis on designing nanoplastics for fluorescence-based detection under supervision of dr. Laurens Mandemaker and dr. Florian Meirer in the group of Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis at Utrecht University.
Internship
2021: Internship at the High Harmonic Generation and EUV science group of ARCNL in Amsterdam
Project on the scintillation of methylammonium lead bromide perovskites under supervision of Maarten van der Geest.
BSc
2017-2021: Bachelor degree in Chemistry
Thesis on TP-DFT calculations on borazine and a 3-ring boron nitride system with oxygen and carbon substitutions under supervision of dr. Federica Frati and prof. dr. Frank de Groot in the group of Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis at Utrecht University.
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