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Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� graduate Jochem Wijten has won the , for his Master’s research into more efficient storage methods for solar energy. The prize includes a trophy and a monetary award of € 2,500.

Wijten attended the Graduate Program on Solar Fuels Catalysis, an honours track of the Utrecht Master’s programme in Nanomaterials. His supervisors, Professors Bert Weckhuysen and Monica Barroso from Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� and Jan Philipp Hofmann at TU Eindhoven, nominated Wijten for his remarkable talent and huge passion for research.

MOFs

In his Master’s research, Wijten proved that Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) can contribute to the more efficient storage of solar energy. MOFs, a new category of nanomaterials, can accelerate the conversion of water into oxygen and hydrogen. They are safe, cheap and sustainable, and could therefore play a major role in the development of cleaner supplies of energy.

Cooperation with TU Eindhoven

The Graduate Program on Solar Fuels Catalysis is a programme of the Netherlands Institute for Catalysis Research. For his Master’s research, Wijten combined the expertise and technical infrastructure available at Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� and TU Eindhoven.

Jochem Wijten

Jochem Wijten earned his Bachelor’s degree cum laude in Chemistry at Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ��. He also earned honours for his Master’s degree. At the moment, Wijtens is working as a PhD student in Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ��’s Anorganic Chemistry and Catalysis research group, studying the electro-catalytic splitting of water molecules using nickel-molybdenum alloys.