Tom Welling

Tom Welling

Postdoctoral researcher
Utrecht University

Tom Welling

Department

Materials Chemistry & Catalysis

Contact information

Room
David de Wied-building - 4.62

Email address
t.a.j.welling@uu.nl

Key expertises

Gas phase electron microscopy, liquid phase electron microscopy, colloidal science, finite-element calculations

About me

I received my BSc in Physics & Astronomy and my MSc in Nanomaterials Science at Utrecht University. I did my PhD research under dr. Joost de Graaf, dr. Marijn van Huis, and prof. Alfons van Blaaderen in the Soft Condensed Matter group at Utrecht University doing electron microscopy studies on the interactions and electrokinetics of rattle-type particles for use in switchable colloidal crystals. As I want to contribute to the much-needed energy transition I joined the MCC group in mid-2021.

About my research

We study the decomposition of methane into hydrogen while growing carbon materials using Ni-based catalysts. In particular, my research focuses on imaging the growth of carbon nanofibers in real time using an electron microscope. This yields information on the nucleation of fibers and the deactivation of the catalyst on a single-particle level. In combination with statistical methods we aim to improve catalyst design for the thermocatalytic decomposition of methane.