Jonas Hereijgers obtained his PhD in Engineering Sciences in 2016 at the University of Brussels (VUB). Afterwards, he became a post-doctoral researcher at the research group Applied Electrochemistry & Catalysis (ELCAT) of the University of Antwerp, and since the first of October 2022, he has been appointed as a tenure-track professor at the Faculty of Applied Engineering of the same university. Currently, he is the author of more than 30 peer-reviewed A1 publications, promotor of the ERC Starting Grant project RECHARGE, and (co-)promotor of multiple research projects.

As a researcher, Jonas studies the effects of mass transfer, hydrodynamics, and electrode geometry in the field of electrochemical engineering. Electrochemistry is one of the answers to a greener and more renewable chemical industry. For instance, electrochemical processes typically occur at ambient conditions, no longer requiring heating up the process like in conventional chemical processes. Hence, utilizing renewable electricity to drive the reaction, the process can proceed much more efficiently. In addition, electrochemistry offers a way to store energy chemically, for instance, through the production of hydrogen gas or (flow) batteries. This allows our society to make the shift from a fossil-based economy to a green and sustainable one.

The electrode surface at which the electrochemical reaction takes place is the heart of any electrochemical process. Consequently, the transport of reagents towards this surface is crucial and should be large enough to obtain a satisfying yield. Jonas investigates how to improve these parameters, for instance, through the development of innovative, ordered 3D electrodes and flow profiles.