Petra de Jongh wins Gilles Holst Medal
Recognition for scientific contribution to sustainable energy transition
Petra de Jongh, Professor of Catalysis and Energy Materials at Utrecht University, receives the Gilles Holst Medal 2023. The jury praises her interdisciplinary approach, her tireless quest for knowledge, and the industrial applications that emerge from her research on nanomaterials.
Catalysts
De Jongh's expertise spans many areas. She conducts fundamental research on nanomaterials that can be used as catalysts, or for storing and converting renewable energy. Her research mainly focuses on the role of catalysts - substances that accelerate chemical reactions - in enabling efficient chemical conversions.
Towards a sustainable energy transition
Using advanced methods, De Jongh investigates the relationship between the structure and effectiveness of catalysts. Her research, in collaboration with relevant companies, paves the way for new processes, such as, for example, sustainable methanol, hydrocarbon or ammonia synthesis, the key processes on the road to the circular economy.
Read more about Petra's research and the award.