Syngaschem BV starts building up SynCat@DIFFER

February 4, 2016. Precisely one month ago, Syngaschem BV moved its Headquarter to the new building of the Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER) on the campus of Eindhoven University of Technology. There, Syngaschem’s staff has started to build up its new lab, called SynCat@DIFFER, which will be dedicated to fundamental research on the use of synthesis gas (CO + H₂) as an intermediate step in storing green electricity as clean synthetic fuels.

Syngaschem scientists building up their equipment at DIFFER (middle, right) after moving it from their former headquarters at Eindhoven University (left). The team of Syngaschem BV in front of the DIFFER building. From left to right: Hans Fredriksson, Antonio Vaccaro, Jan Karel Felderhof, Kees-Jan Weststrate, Foteini Sapountzi, and Hans Niemantsverdriet (foto on the side by Toon de Vos)

SynCat@DIFFER will serve as a base for Syngaschem’s collaboration with SynCat@Beijing, the fundamental research lab of Synfuels China Technologies Co., Ltd., and with other international partners. It also serves to give shape to Syngaschem’s partnership with DIFFER: “We have looked forward to this moment since April 2015, when we signed the memorandum of understanding with DIFFER”, comments Hans Niemantsverdriet, Director of Syngaschem BV. “We are eager to energize this partnership with full thrust.” Kees-Jan Weststrate, Senior Research Scientist at Syngaschem BV, adds: “It is an exciting process to build up a new lab from scratch. We enjoy our cooperation with the lab design experts of DIFFER very much.”

SynCat@DIFFER is located next door to the new beautiful Syngaschem BV office and offers 50 m² of lab space. It will house set-ups for electrochemistry, suitable to study e.g. electrochemical water splitting into hydrogen and oxygen or the electrochemical activation of CO₂, as well as surface science set-ups suitable to study the reaction steps of the Fischer Tropsch Synthesis on a molecular level. In addition, equipment for catalyst treatment and advanced catalytic testing equipment will enable the study of 2D model catalysts and novel reactor concepts.

Although there is still a lot of work to be done, the first set-up is expected to be operational later in February.

Published on February 4, 2016