Bert Weckhuysen, Utrecht University, The Netherlands, explains the importance of understanding catalysts. His work is focused on recording what happens in a working catalytic solid. He aims to bring this technology to a level that enables imaging catalysis at macro-, meso- and micro-scales, from the reactor down to interactions between single atoms and molecules.

Bert Weckhuysen studied chemistry at Leuven University, Belgium, where he received his Ph.D. in 1995. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow with Israel Wachs at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA, with Jack Lunsford at Texas A&M University College Station, USA, and at the Belgian National Science Foundation. He joined Utrecht University in 2000 as Professor at the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis Group, became Distinguished Professor at the Faculty of Science in 2012, and since 2018, he is Distinguished University Professor at Utrecht University.

Among many other honors, Bert Weckhuysen has received the 2006 KNCV Gold Medal from the Koninklijke Nederlandse Chemische Vereniging (KNCV; Royal Dutch Chemical Society), the 2011 Paul H. Emmett Award in Fundamental Catalysis from the North American Catalysis Society (NACS), and the 2012 International Catalysis Award from the International Association of Catalysis Societies (IACS).

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Article information: https://doi.org/10.1002/chemv.201900051

 

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Also of interest:

• CatchBio — Speaking With Consortium Partners
  Bert Weckhuysen, E. Bouwnan, E. de Jong, consortium partners in CatchBio, talk about their experiences, their expectations, why CatchBio is so unique
  ChemViews Mag. 2012.
  https://doi.org/10.1002/chemv.201200025