Two ANION researchers, Dr. Rik Mom (Leiden University) and Dr. Loredana Protesescu (University of Groningen), have each been awarded a Vidi grant from the Dutch Research Council (NWO). These competitive grants, worth up to €850,000, are part of the NWO talent programme designed to enable excellent scientists to establish their own research groups and pursue innovative research lines over the next five years.
Dr. Rik Mom will use his Vidi funding for his project HEALECTRO: Design Principles for Self-Healing Electrocatalysts. His work focuses on tackling a key challenge in electrochemical energy conversion; the degradation of electrocatalysts during operation. By developing self-healing materials that can repair themselves in situ, he aims to create long-lasting and efficient catalysts for technologies such as hydrogen production and CO₂ conversion.
Dr. Loredana Protesescu received her Vidi grant for her research on smart reactive inks based on perovskite chalcogenide nanomaterials. Her project seeks to develop a one-step process for creating multilayered, stable thin films that respond to changes in pH, temperature, or pressure. These innovative materials promise to simplify production, reduce energy use, and enhance the durability and performance of next-generation energy technologies.
These awards highlight the excellence and diversity of research within the ANION community and the leading role its members play in advancing sustainable materials and energy solutions in the Netherlands.
Read the full Leiden University announcement
Read the full University of Groningen announcement
