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Chemical Physics of Materials - Catalysis and Tribology







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Norbert Kruse


Professor Dr. Ing., Director of the "Chemical Physics of Material (Catalysis - Tribology)" research group at the Université libre de Bruxelles.

Editor-in-Chief of the Catalysis Letters and Topics in Catalysis (published by Springer)


Université libre de Bruxelles

Campus de la Plaine
CPMCT - CP 243
50, av. F.D. Roosevelt
B-1050 Bruxelles
Belgium

In Short ...


  • Since 2000: Chair for chemical physics of materials
  • Since 11/94: Professor at the Free University of Brussels, chair for inorganic chemistry
  • Since 1990: Lecturer in chemistry at the ETH
  • Since 1988: "Wissenschaftlicher Adjunkt" in the laboratory for Chemical Engineering at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH
  • 1988-1990: Lecturer in chemistry in the Institute for "Technische Chemie" of the Technical University of Berlin
  • 1986-1988: Lecturer at the University of Aix-Marseille, France
  • 1985-1986: Research staff member at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society
  • 1980-1985: Staff member at the Institute for "Technische Chemie" of the Technical University of Berlin, lecturer in chemical engineering
  • 1977-1979: Thesis at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society

Societies & Committees


  • Editor-in-Chief of the Catalysis Letters and Topics in Catalysis (Springer).
  • President of the International Field Emission Society, since 2008.
  • Executive chairman of CAPoC (Catalysis and Automotive Pollution Control)
    • CAPoC4 Brussels 1997
    • CAPoC5 Brussels 2000
    • CAPoC6 Brussels 2003
    • CAPoC7 Brussels 2006
    • CAPoC8 Brussels 2009
    • CAPoC9 Brussels 2012
  • President of the Department of Chemistry at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (2003-2004).
  • Belgian delegate in the EFCATS council (since 2001)

Research interests along with selected articles


  • Imaging surfaces with atomic resolution. Chemical probing during ongoing catalytic reactions


    • Elementary steps in the nucleation and growth of carbon nanotubes


      • M. Moors, T. Visart de Bocarmé, and N. Kruse : "C2H2 interaction with Ni nanocrystals: towards a better understanding of carbon nanotubes nucleation in CVD synthesis", Ultramicroscopy 109 (2009) 381


      • M. Moors, H. Amara, T. Visart de Bocarmé, C. Bichara, F. Ducastelle, N.Kruse, and J.-C. Charlier : "Early Stages in the Nucleation Process of Carbon Nanotubes", ACS Nano, 3 (2009) 511


      • D. Cheng, M. Hou, M. Moors, T. Visart de Bocarmé and N. Kruse : "Triggering surface nickel diffusion by adsorption of carbon", Chem. Phys. Lett. (2010) doi: 10.1016/j.cplett.2010.03.088 (in press)


    • Reaction intermediates : hydrogenation of oxygen, CO and NOx


      • N. Kruse, J. Schweicher, A. Bundhoo, A. F. Frennet and T. Visart de Bocarmé : "Catalytic CO Hydrogenation: Mechanism and Kinetics from Chemical Transients at Low and Atmospheric Pressures", Top. Catal., 48 (2008) 145


      • J.-S. McEwen, P. Gaspard, T. Visart de Bocarmé, and N. Kruse : "Nanometric Chemical Clocks", Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 106, 3006-3010 (2009)


      • J.-S McEwen, A. Garcia Cantu Ros, P. Gaspard, T. Visart de Bocarmé and N. Kruse : "Non-equilibrum surface pattern formation during catalytic reactions with nanoscale resolution: Investigations of the electric field influence", Catalysis Today (2010) doi: 10.1016/j.cattod.2010.02.070 (in press)


    • Adsorbate-induced reconstruction


      • R. Bryl, T. Olewicz, T. Visart de Bocarmé and N. Kruse : "Oxygen-Induced Thermal Faceting of Pd Nanosized Crystals", J. Phys. Chem. C 114 (2010) 2220-2226



  • Catalysis in air pollution control


    • Methane combustion


      • A.M. Venezia, G. Di Carlo, G. Pantaleo, L.F. Liotta, G. Melaet and N. Kruse : "Oxidation of CH4 over Pd supported on TiO2-doped SiO2: Effect of Ti(IV) loading and influence of SO2", Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 88 (2009) 430-437


    • CO oxidation on metal oxides catalysts


      • K. Frey, V. Yablokov, G. Melaet, L. Guczi, and N. Kruse : "CO oxidation over Ag/TiO2 catalysts", Catal. Lett., 124 (2008) 74


      • V. Iablokov, K. Frey, O. Geszti and N. Kruse : "High Catalytic Activity in CO Oxidation over MNOx Nanocrystals", Catal. Lett. 134 (2010) 210-216


    • De NOx


      • T.N. Angelidis, S. Christoforon, A. Bongiovanni, and N. Kruse : "Studies of the Promotional Effect of SO2 on the Catalytic Reduction of NOx by C3H6/C3H8 over Ag/α-Al2O3", Appl. Catal. B: Environ., 39 (2002) 197



  • Catalysis for a sustainable feedstock production


    • Fischer-Tropsch synthesis


      • N. Kruse, J. Schweicher, A. Bundhoo, A. F. Frennet and T. Visart de Bocarmé : "Catalytic CO Hydrogenation: Mechanism and Kinetics from Chemical Transients at Low and Atmospheric Pressures", Top. Catal., 48 (2008) 145


      • A. Bundhoo, J. Schweicher, A. F. Frennet, and N. Kruse : "Chemical Transient Kinetics applied to CO hydrogenation: A study on pure Nickel catalyst", J. Phys. Chem. C, 113(24) (2009) 10731-10739


      • J. Schweicher, A. Bundhoo, A. Frennet, N. Kruse, H. Daly and F.C. Meunier : "DRIFT/MS Studies during Chemical Transients and SSITKA of the CO/H2 Reaction over Co-MgO Catalysts", J. Phys. Chem. C 114 (2010) 2248-2255


    • Alcohols from biomass-derived platforms molecules



  • Catalysis for sensors


    • Simultaneous detection of CO2 and CH4



  • Hydrogels


    • Structure and tribological properties


      • T.R. Matzelle, D.A. Ivanov, D. Landwehr, L.A. Heinrich, C. Herkt-Bruns, R. Reichelt, and N. Kruse : "Micromechanical Properties of "Smart" Gels: Studies by Scanning Force and Scanning Electron Microscopy of PNIPAAm", J. Phys. Chem. B, 106 (11) (2002) 2861


      • T. R. Matzelle, R. Reichelt and N. Kruse : "The Influence of Crosslinking Density on the Elastic Properties of "Smart" Polymers: A Scanning Force and Scanning Electron Microscopy Study", Microsc. Microanal. 9/3 (2003)


Publications since 2006



  • T. Visart de Bocarmé, T. D. Chau, and N. Kruse

    "Dynamic Interaction of CO/H2O mixtures with Gold Nanocrystals : Real-Time Imaging and Local Chemical Probing"

    Surf. Sci. 600 (2006) 4205


  • S. P. Chenakin, M. A. Vasylyev, N. Kruse , and A. B. Tolstogouzov

    "XPS and ToF-SIMS characterisation of a Finemet surface: effect of cooling"

    Surf. Interface Sci. 38 (2006) 1164


  • B. Heinrichs, G. Beketov, S. Lambert, J. W. Geus, N. Kruse, and J.-P. Pirard

    "Immobilizing metal nanoparticles in porous silica through sol-gel process"

    Stud. Surf. Sci. Catal. 162 (2006) 521


  • N. Kruse , T. Visart de Bocarmé

    "Heterogeneous Catalysis and High Electric Fields"

    in "Handbook of Heterogeneous Catalysis", Eds. G. Ertl, H. Knözinger, J. Weitkamp, F. Schüth, Wiley-VCH (2006)


  • Gutiérrez, C. Munuera, M. F. López, J. A. Jiménez, C. Morant, T. Matzelle, N. Kruse, and C. Ocal

    "Surface Microstructure of the oxide protective layers grown on vanadium-free Ti alloys for use in biomedical applications"

    Surf. Sci. 600 (2006) 3780-3784


  • T. Visart de Bocarmé, T. D. Chau, and N. Kruse

    "Imaging and Probing Catalytic Surface Reactions on the Nanoscale"

    Topics Catal. 39 (2006) 111


  • T. Visart de Bocarmé, T.D. Chau, N. Kruse

    "Dynamic Interaction of CO / H2O Mixtures with Gold Nanocrystals: Real-Time Imaging and Local Chemical Probing"

    Surf. Sci. 600 (2006) 4205-4210.


  • S.P. Chenakin, M.A. Vasylyev, G.G. Galstyan, N. Kruse

    "Temperature-dependent modifications in the surface composition of Finemet: A ToF-SIMS study"

    Surf. Sci. 600 (17) (2006) 3394-3402.


  • Visart de Bocarmé, T.D. Chau, N. Kruse

    "Imaging and probing on the nanoscale model catalysts in their working state: field ion microscopy and atom probe studies of the systems H2-O2/Rh and NO-H2/Pt"

    Topics Catal. 39 (2006) 111.


  • F. Tielens, J. Andrés, Th-D. Chau, T. Visart de Bocarmé, N. Kruse, P. Geerlings P.

    "Molecular oxygen adsorption on electropositive nano gold tips"

    Chem. Phys. Let. 2 (2006) 4380


  • T. Visart de Bocarmé, T.-D. Chau, F. Tielens, J. Andrés, P. Gaspard, R. L. C. Wang, H. J. Kreuzer, and N. Kruse

    "Oxygen Adsorption on Gold Nanofacets and Model Clusters"

    Journal of Chemical Physics 125 (2006) 054703


  • T. Visart de Bocarmé, N. Kruse, P. Gaspard, & H. J. Kreuzer

    "Field induced CO adsorption and formation of carbonyl waves on gold nanotips"

    Journal of Chemical Physics 125 (2006) 054704.


  • Munuera, T.R. Matzelle, N. Kruse, M.F. Lopez, A. Gutierrez, J. A. Jimenez, C. Ocal

    "Surface elastic properties of Ti alloys modified for medical implants: A force spectroscopy study"

    Acta Biomaterialia 3 (2007) 113–119


  • T. Visart de Bocarmé, T.D. Chau, N. Kruse

    "The interaction of CO–O2 gas mixtures with Au tips: in situ imaging and local chemical probing"

    Surf. Interface Anal. 38 (2007) 166.


  • M. Moors, T. Visart de Bocarmé, N. Kruse

    Surface reaction kinetics with nanoscal lateral resolution"

    Catalysis Today 124 (2007) 61


  • S.P. Chenakin, R.P. Prada Silvy, N. Kruse

    "TOF-SIMS characterisation of an aluminovanadate oxide catalyst"

    Surf. and Interface Sci., 39 (2007) 567


  • N. Kruse, J. Schweicher, A. Bundhoo, A. F. Frennet and T. Visart de Bocarmé

    "Catalytic CO Hydrogenation: Mechanism and Kinetics from Chemical Transients at Low and Atmospheric Pressures"

    Top. Catal., 48 (2008) 145


  • J.-S. McEwen, P. Gaspard, F. Mittendorfer, T. Visart de Bocarmé, N. Kruse

    "Field-assisted Oxidation of Rhodium"

    Chem. Phys. Lett., 452 (2008) 133


  • K. Frey, V. Yablokov, G. Melaet, L. Guczi, and N. Kruse

    "CO oxidation over Ag/TiO2 catalysts"

    Catal. Lett., 124 (2008) 74


  • A.M. Venezia, G. Di Carlo, G. Pantaleo, L.F. Liotta, G. Melaet and N. Kruse

    "Oxidation of CH4 over Pd supported on TiO2-doped SiO2: Effect of Ti(IV) loading and influence of SO2"

    Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 88 (2009) 430-437


  • M. Moors, T. Visart de Bocarmé, and N. Kruse

    "C2H2 interaction with Ni nanocrystals: towards a better understanding of carbon nanotubes nucleation in CVD synthesis"

    Ultramicroscopy 109 (2009) 381


  • M. Moors, H. Amara, T. Visart de Bocarmé, C. Bichara, F. Ducastelle, N.Kruse, and J.-C. Charlier

    "Early Stages in the Nucleation Process of Carbon Nanotubes"

    ACS Nano, 3 (2009) 511


  • S. P. Chenakin, G. G. Galstyan, A. B. Tolstogousov and N. Kruse

    "XPS and TOF-SIMS characterization of a Finemet surface: effect of heating"

    Surf. Interface Anal. 41 (2009) 231


  • T. Visart de Bocarmé, M. Moors, N. Kruse, I. S. Atanasov, M. Hou, A. Cerezo and G. D. W. Smith

    "Surface segregation of Au-Pd alloys in UHV and reactive environments: quantification by a catalytic atom probe"

    Ultramicroscopy, 109 (2009) 619


  • J.-S. McEwen, P. Gaspard, T. Visart de Bocarmé, and N. Kruse

    "Nanometric Chemical Clocks"

    Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 106, 3006-3010 (2009)


  • A. Bundhoo, J. Schweicher, A. F. Frennet, and N. Kruse

    "Chemical Transient Kinetics applied to CO hydrogenation: A study on pure Nickel catalyst"

    J. Phys. Chem. C, 113(24) (2009) 10731-10739


  • Chenakin S.P., Bongiovanni A., Vasylyev M.A., Makeeva I.N., Kruse N.

    "XPS-SIMS characterization of a gold catalyst supported on TiO2: effect of preparation conditions"

    Metallofiz. Noveishie Technol., 31, N° 5, P. 589 – 602. (2009)


  • V. Iablokov, K. Frey, O. Geszti and N. Kruse

    "High Catalytic Activity in CO Oxidation over MNOx Nanocrystals"

    Catal. Lett. 134 (2010) 210-216


  • R. Bryl, T. Olewicz, T. Visart de Bocarmé and N. Kruse

    "Oxygen-Induced Thermal Faceting of Pd Nanosized Crystals"

    J. Phys. Chem. C 114 (2010) 2220-2226


  • J. Schweicher, A. Bundhoo, A. Frennet, N. Kruse, H. Daly and F.C. Meunier

    "DRIFT/MS Studies during Chemical Transients and SSITKA of the CO/H2 Reaction over Co-MgO Catalysts"

    J. Phys. Chem. C 114 (2010) 2248-2255

  • J.-S McEwen, A. Garcia Cantu Ros, P. Gaspard, T. Visart de Bocarmé and N. Kruse

    "Non-equilibrum surface pattern formation during catalytic reactions with nanoscale resolution: Investigations of the electric field influence"

    Catalysis Today (2010) doi: 10.1016/j.cattod.2010.02.070 (in press)

  • J.-S McEwen, P. Gaspard, T. Visart de Bocarmé and N. Kruse

    "Electric field induced oscillations in the catalytic water production on rhodium: a theoretical analysis"

    Surface Science (2010) (in press)


  • D. Cheng, M. Hou, M. Moors, T. Visart de Bocarmé and N. Kruse

    "Triggering surface nickel diffusion by adsorption of carbon"

    Chem. Phys. Lett. (2010) doi: 10.1016/j.cplett.2010.03.088 (in press)


  • N. Kruse and S. Chenakin

    "XPS characterization of Au/TiO2 catalysts: binding energy assessment and irradiation effects"

    Applied Catalysis A, General (2010) doi: 10.1016/j.apcata.2010.05.039 (in press)


  • G. Di Carlo, G. Melaet, N. Kruse, L. F. Liotta, G. Pantaleoc and A-M. Veneziac

    "Combined sulfating and non-sulfating support to prevent water and sulfur poisoning of Pd catalysts for methane combustion"

    Chem. Commun., 2010, 46, 6317–6319, doi: 10.1039/c0cc00723d (in press)


Additional :

  • patent: US 6,362,239 B1 Mar. 26, 2002

    P. Buess, R. F. I. Caers, A. Frennet, E. Ghenne, C. Hubert, N. Kruse

    "Improved Catalysts for the Conversion of Syngas to linear Alcohols", following a contract with Exxon Chemicals Europe

  • Editor of the Proceedings of the 4th conference on "Catalysis and Air Pollution Control", Stud. Surf. Sci. Catal., Vol 116, Elsevier, Editors: N. Kruse, A. Frennet and J-M. Bastin, 1998
  • Editor of the Proceedings of the 5th conference on "Catalysis and Air Pollution Control", "Topics in Catalysis", Editors: N. Kruse, A. Frennet and J-M. Bastin, Volumes 16/17, No. 1-4, 2001
  • Editor of the Proceedings of the 6th conference on "Catalysis and Air Pollution Control", "Topics in Catalysis" Editors: N. Kruse, A. Frennet and J-M. Bastin and T. Visart de Bocarmé, 30/31, No. 1-4, 2004
  • Editor of the Proceedings of the 7th conference on "Catalysis and Air Pollution Control", "Topics in Catalysis" Editors: N. Kruse, A. Frennet and J-M. Bastin and T. Visart de Bocarmé, 42/43, 2007
  • Editor of the Proceedings of the 8th conference on "Catalysis and Air Pollution Control", "Topics in Catalysis" Editors: N. Kruse, A. Frennet and J-M. Bastin and T. Visart de Bocarmé, 13-20, 2009
  • N. Kruse and G. Somorjai, "Editorial", Catal. Lett. 134 (2010) 1