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We are a research group established in 2021 at TU Wien working on the intersection of the fields of catalysis and chemical engineering. Our research focuses on the development of novel catalytic materials and reactors for the sustainable production of chemicals. Our main objective is to generate new strategies in thermal catalysis, encompassing the catalyst nanostructure, the reaction conditions and reactor design, to overcome the current limitations of implementation of sustainable processes.

In a circular economy, reactors and catalysts must be capable to adapt to changing feedstock and reaction conditions while keeping optimal activity and selectivity to key products. We investigate the properties and performance of multifunctional catalysts based on the combination of metal oxides, acid zeolites and metal ions hosted in zeolites.

Activity and selectivity of the materials in relationship with the relevant steps of catalytic mechanisms are evaluated by catalytic tests at lab-scale reactors and temperature-programmed surface reactions. In situ and operando spectroscopies allow monitoring the dynamics of active surfaces and their response to changing chemical potentials.

News

+++ 14.10.2024: New Perspective article in Chem Catalysis +++

Our new Perspective article is published in Chem Catalysis! We examine transition metal ions hosted in zeolites for catalytic applications, dive into under-discussed effects on their speciation, and look for future research directions. Thanks to the TU Wien Bibliothek for enabling us to publish open access! https://www.cell.com/chem-catalysis/fulltext/S2667-1093(24)00317-8, opens an external URL in a new window

[Translate to English:] Stelios and Nicole at the Chemietage

© SS

+++ 7.10.2024: Nicole and Stelios at the Österreichische Chemietage +++

Last week, Nicole and Stelios presented their work at the Österreichische Chemietage at the TU Graz. Stelios gave an interesting talk about self-heating iron-based catalysts for CO2 conversion to valuable chemicals, and Nicole presented a poster on her recent research on conversion of bio-derived alcohols to fuels. It was a nice gathering with many topics covered, and a good opportunity to explain our research to the Chemistry community in Austria.

+++ 7.8.2024: New paper in Journal of Catalysis +++

We published a new paper highlighting the interesting activity of cobalt ions in ZSM-5 zeolites: Cobalt ions positioned at channel intersections in proximity to zeolite Bronsted acid sites activate methane facilitating its reaction with benzene to toluene. A nice addition for the utilization of methane! Thanks to our collaborators at TU München and TotalEnergies, and to the TU Wien Bibliothek, opens in new window for providing us with the opportunity to publish open access. You can read the paper here. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcat.2024.115686, opens an external URL in a new window

Maricruz at the EuChemS conference

© MSS

+++ 18.07.24: Maricruz held a lecture at EuChemS +++

Last week Maricruz attended the 9th EuChemS in Dublin, where she was invited to give a talk about Multifunctional materials for thermocatalytic CO2 conversion. She introduced our recent advances on Stelios’ self-heating catalysts to a broad chemistry audience. It was a nice conference, with a large representation from TU Wien, and a bit of a cool break from the hot Vienna summer!

Nicole and Maricruz at the women's run

© MS, NM

+++ 6.6.2024: Maricruz and Nicole on the Women's Run +++

Part of our team participated in the Frauenlauf (Women’s Run), which was held in Vienna’s iconic Prater park. Maricruz celebrated her 10 km run as part of the FemChem, opens an external URL team together with Frieda Kapsamer and Katharina Ehrmann, opens an external URL in a new window, and Nicole together with friends. Congrats!