This thesis is dedicated to the exploration of the primordial dark ages: unknown physics during the earliest stages of the Universe’s expansion that have not yet been directly probed by observations. Cosmic inflation is a burst of exponential expansion of space after the “Big Bang”.

Nowadays, it is well known that hydrogen and helium (and small traces of lithium and beryllium) were created shortly after the Big Bang, while the heavier elements are created in the cores of stars at different evolutionary stages. When these stars explode as supernovae, they expel metals synthesised…

Promotor: Jelle S. Kaastra Co-promotor: Jelle de Plaa

In-use stocks of products can be considered as intermediaries between human needs and the physical world.

With the energy transition toward a renewable energy supply and a CO2-neutral economy, electrification of the energy system is rising in importance, which leads to the challenge of long-term storage of renewable electricity.

As a virtually inexhaustible source, solar energy plays a major role in future global energy scenarios.

Promotor: Prof.dr. E. Bouwman, Co-promotor: S. Bonnet

The research presented in this thesis makes use of small molecules (as H2 , D2 and O2 ) on well-defined single crystal surfaces (flat Pt(111), flat Cu(211) and curved Pt(111)) to elucidate the role of surface structure and degrees of freedom in the reactant in specific surface reactions.

Humanity stands at a pivotal juncture, facing the dual challenge of environmental sustainability and rapid population growth, projected to exceed 11 billion by century’s end.

Lezing, Tuesday Talks: Science Insights

Before the large scale use of renewable energy sources can be implemented in our society, the storage of electrical energy needs to be tackled. Storage the energy as hydrogen via the reduction of protons is a good option.

On a structural level, the properties featured by a majority of mechanical metamaterials can be ascribed to the finite number of soft internal degrees-of freedom allowing for low-energy deformations.

Human civilization consumes a huge amount of fossil fuels, which has resulted in an atmospheric CO2 level which has not been higher in over 800 millennia.

This thesis studied in depth the energy use and CO2 emissions of the industrial sector in China.

In the current global context, there is a pressing need to address sustainable energy supplies to safeguard our Planet and its ecosystems. The choices made by human society have a significant impact on genetic evolution and climate.

Promotor: M.T.M. Koper, Co-promotor: L. Juurlink

Promotor: P.J.J. Hooykaas, Co-Promotor: E.J. van der Zaal

The growing demand of energy indicates that global energy resources in the form of fossil fuels will not be sufficient in the future. In order to solve potential future energy problems development of a sustainable hydrogen economy is highly desirable.

This thesis addresses the problem of designing performance and energy efficient embedded streaming systems, that is, systems which process a stream of input data coming from the environment and generate a stream of output data going into the environment.

With increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and their detrimental effect on the global climate, modern society needs to push for more renewable energy sources. Storing widely accessible and abundant solar energy in chemical bonds in the form of molecular fuel via artificial photosynthesis…

The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) reduces vehicle emissions to combat climate change. EVs raise concerns regarding the production of lithium-ion batteries and related emissions; while batteries can also provide energy storage services for the electricity system.

Om windturbines en elektrische auto’s te bouwen, hebben we tonnen magneten nodig. Momenteel importeren we die voornamelijk uit China, waardoor Europa voor de energietransitie erg afhankelijk is van deze grootmacht. Daar moet verandering in komen, aldus Industrieel ecoloog René Kleijn. In het project…

Heterogeneous catalyzed processes are highly significant to the chemical industry. Dissociative chemisorption (DC) of molecules on surfaces is always considered as a step with a high degree of rate control for heterogeneous catalysis.

Fundamental understanding of molecular reactions on metal surfaces is important for improving heterogeneous catalysis.

Promotors: Prof.dr. J. Zaanen, Prof.dr.ir. H. Hilgenkamp

Promotor: W.Th.F. den Hollander, Co-promotor: F.R. Nardi

This thesis examines the impacts and challenges of water use of electric power system. This thesis found that there are large differences in water use of electricity technologies, with hydropower and thermal power being two large water users.

Hoe kunnen we op een interdisciplinaire wijze de classificatie van migranten en mensen met een beperking bestuderen en onderzoekers van deze velden samenbrengen om raakvlakken met elkaar te vinden?

Promotor: T.J. Aartsma, Co-promotor: R.N. Frese

Het Europaeum is een netwerk van 17 vooraanstaande Europese universiteiten, met als doel om talentvolle studenten en docenten met elkaar in contract te brengen en door samenwerking en academische mobiliteit een 'Europees gevoel' te bevorderen.

Festival

Festival

Promotie

What are the pressing issues of our time, and how can different disciplines come together to address them? Studium Generale and Leiden University College (LUC) present the Global Challenges series: events that bring together researchers from LUC and experts from other disciplines to tackle a shared…

Van een nietszeggend blok kunststof tot een geavanceerd onderdeel dat bijdraagt aan de energietransitie. De technici en wetenschappers van onze faculteit denken het tot in de details uit én maken het werkelijkheid. Ook dit bijzondere project laat zien dat ze niet zonder elkaar kunnen.

Tin electrodeposition applications have rapidly evolved in the past 25 years.

Promotor: K.E. Schalm, Co-promotor: S.S. Lee

Promotor: K. Kuijken, Co-Promotor: H. Hoekstra

One of the most important correlation functions in physics, especially in cosmology, is the energy density, which describes how much energy is present at each point in spacetime due to matter fields. A key contribution to the energy density of the primordial universe comes from gravitational waves (GWs),…

We find ourselves in an era of transition, not just towards a more computing- and data-driven society but also away from unsustainable fossil fuels as an energy source.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is one of the most pressing challenges that humanity faces in the coming decades.

Inspired by natural photosynthesis, perovskite-based photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems are being developed for artificial photosynthesis, aiming to enhance solar-to-hydrogen conversion for green energy.

This thesis describes a study from both a theoreticaL and an experimental point of view.

In this thesis, we study different curved single crystals because of the diversity of surface structures across their curvature.

To meet the rising demand for minerals driven by the global shift to clean energy technologies, ensuring responsible and resilient supply chains is critical. Minerals like cobalt, lithium, and nickel for batteries, neodymium and zinc for wind turbines, and indium for solar panels are essential.