
Rik Mom
Assistant professor
- Name
- Dr. R.V. Mom
- Telephone
- +31 71 527 4484
- r.v.mom@lic.leidenuniv.nl
- ORCID iD
- 0000-0002-5111-5591
Rik Mom uses spectroscopic tools to study the electrode-electrolyte interface during electrochemical reactions. In this way, he wants to learn which features in the atomic structure of the interface determine the catalytic performance in key processes for sustainable energy technology.
Rik Mom studied chemistry at Leiden University, where he became interested in the chemical reactions that take place at the surface of catalysts. Following this interest, he did his PhD in the group of Prof. Joost Frenken and Dr. Irene Groot, at the Leiden Institute of Physics, where he studied the structure of MoS2 particles during the catalytic removal of sulfur from organic molecules. Such operando studies require highly specialized equipment (a high-pressure scanning tunneling microscope in this case), which is home-built. This combination of instrument design and catalysis studies is what defined Rik’s further career, which he continued at the Fritz Haber Institute/BESSY synchrotron in Berlin. Here, he investigated the electrochemical conversion of water to oxygen on metal oxide electrodes using operando X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, again developing and using purpose-built instrumentation. In his current position at Leiden University, he continues this tradition, with the current research focus on fuel cell and electrolyzer electrocatalysis.
Curriculum Vitae
Personal information
Nationality: Dutch
Date of Birth: 28-11-1988
Education
2013 - 2017 PhD, Leiden Institute of Physics, Leiden University, The Netherlands (cum laude)
Thesis title: “Imaging complex model catalysts in action”
Advisors: Prof. Joost W.M. Frenken, Dr. Irene Groot
2010 - 2013 MSc in Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, The Netherlands (cum laude)
Current and previous research positions
2020 - present Tenure Track Assistant Professor, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, The Netherlands
2018 - 2020 Alexander von Humboldt Fellow, Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Germany (Prof. Robert Schlögl)
2017 - 2018 Postdoctoral researcher, Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Germany (Prof. Robert Schlögl)
Grants, awards, recognitions since 2010
2020 ECCM Tenure Track grant (k€ 950)
2019 Beam time at NSRRC (Taiwan)
2018 Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (k€ 70)
2016 SFV Michel Cantarel Grant
2014 - 2016 Beam time at ESRF (3x)
2013 Akzo Nobel KHMW Young Talent Award
Other responsibilities since 2010
- Reviewer for the Journal of Physical Chemistry, Journal of Catalysis, Journal of Synchrotron Radiation, Journal of Chemical Physics and New Journal of Chemistry
- Founding board member of the Leiden Honours Community Foundation
Assistant professor
- Science
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry
- LIC/Energy & Sustainability
- LIC/ES/Catalysis and Surface Chemistry
No relevant ancillary activities