# Petra E. de Jongh
**Petra E. de Jongh** is a Dutch materials chemist who holds the chair of Catalysts and Energy Materials in the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science at [Utrecht University](https://www.edgepedia.org/utrecht-university).[1](https://www.rsc.org/people/petra-de-jongh) Her research studies nanostructured inorganic materials, typically metal (oxide) nanoparticles and mesoporous (material with pores between 2 and 50 nanometers) materials, to understand how composition, particle size, confinement, and pore structure determine functionality in catalysis and in energy conversion and storage.[1](https://www.rsc.org/people/petra-de-jongh) She is known for work on nanoparticle catalysts for renewable fuels and chemicals, on hydrides confined in nanoporous carbon for hydrogen storage, and on solid-state battery materials.
| Key facts | |
| --- | --- |
| Position | Full professor of Inorganic Nanomaterials, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, since 2014[2](https://www.uu.nl/staff/PEdeJongh/CV) |
| Training | MSc chemistry cum laude, Utrecht, 1995; PhD cum laude, Utrecht, 1999, thesis on photoelectrochemistry of nanoporous semiconductor electrodes[2](https://www.uu.nl/staff/PEdeJongh/CV) |
| Early career | Research scientist to project leader, Philips Research, Eindhoven, 1999–2004[2](https://www.uu.nl/staff/PEdeJongh/CV) |
| Signature work | Potassium hydride-intercalated graphite as a transition-metal-free ammonia-synthesis catalyst, *Nature Catalysis*, 2022[3](https://pure.tue.nl/ws/files/199993487/s41929_022_00754_x.pdf) |
| Major grants | NWO Vidi (2006) and Vici (2013); ERC Consolidator Grant (2015); ERC Advanced Grant of 3.5 million euros[4](https://profs.library.uu.nl/hoogleraar/jongh-p-e-2/) • [5](https://www.uu.nl/en/news/erc-advanced-grant-for-conversion-of-co2-to-fuels) |
| Prize | Gilles Holst Medal 2023, first woman recipient since the medal's establishment in 1960[6](https://materialschemistryandcatalysis.org/2024/08/28/prof-petra-de-jongh-wins-gilles-holst-medal/) |
| Society roles | Member of KHMW since 2019; editorial boards of *Reaction Chemistry & Engineering* and *ChemCatChem* |[4](https://profs.library.uu.nl/hoogleraar/jongh-p-e-2/) • [1](https://www.rsc.org/people/petra-de-jongh)
| Consortia | BATTERY NL, RELEASE, AMBHER, CONDOR; scientific advisory board of the Helmholtz Center Berlin[7](https://anion.nl/people/petra-de-jongh) |
## Education and early career
De Jongh earned an MSc in chemistry cum laude at Utrecht University in August 1995.[2](https://www.uu.nl/staff/PEdeJongh/CV) During her studies she spent 1992 to 1993 on a research project at the [University of Kent](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-kent) in [Canterbury](https://www.edgepedia.org/canterbury), studying conductivity in doped alkali borate glasses with Prof. A.V. Chadwick.[8](https://inorganic-chemistry-and-catalysis.eu/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Curriculum-Vitae-Petra-de-Jongh_July-2017.pdf)
She obtained her PhD cum laude at Utrecht in September 1999 with the thesis *Photoelectrochemistry of Nanoporous Semiconductor Electrodes*, supervised by Profs. J.J. Kelly and [D. Vanmaekelbergh](https://www.edgepedia.org/daniel-vanmaekelbergh).[2](https://www.uu.nl/staff/PEdeJongh/CV)
From 1999 to 2004 she worked at Philips Central Research Laboratories in [Eindhoven](https://www.edgepedia.org/eindhoven), first as research scientist and later as senior scientist and project leader on nanocomposite inorganic thin films, supervising eight people.[2](https://www.uu.nl/staff/PEdeJongh/CV) In 2002 she was seconded to the Philips DAP CoE in Singapore, working on nanocomposite coatings for steam irons.[2](https://www.uu.nl/staff/PEdeJongh/CV)
## Career at Utrecht University
She returned to academia in 2004 as assistant professor in the Inorganic Chemistry and [Catalysis](https://www.edgepedia.org/catalysis) group at Utrecht, was associate professor from 2009 to 2014, and has been full professor of Inorganic Nanomaterials at the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science since 2014.[2](https://www.uu.nl/staff/PEdeJongh/CV) The Utrecht professor catalog records her appointment as Profileringshoogleraar Inorganic Nanomaterials on 1 February 2014, with her inaugural oration, *De kracht van het kleine* ("the power of the small"), on 16 September 2016.[4](https://profs.library.uu.nl/hoogleraar/jongh-p-e-2/) From 2011 to 2014 she was program director of the MSc program *Nanomaterials – Chemistry and Physics*.[8](https://inorganic-chemistry-and-catalysis.eu/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Curriculum-Vitae-Petra-de-Jongh_July-2017.pdf)
## Research
Her research program asks how the composition, particle size, confinement, and pore structure of nanostructured inorganic materials govern their function in catalysis and energy storage.[1](https://www.rsc.org/people/petra-de-jongh) An NWO-Vidi grant awarded in 2006 let her build a team to study nanoconfined light metal hydrides for reversible hydrogen storage.[2](https://www.uu.nl/staff/PEdeJongh/CV) A large NWO-Vici project started in 2014, and its first results led to a *Nature Materials* paper; an ERC Consolidator Grant awarded in 2015 reinforced her line on designing new catalysts, specifically bimetallic and promoted nanoparticles, for the renewable production of fuels and chemicals.[8](https://inorganic-chemistry-and-catalysis.eu/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Curriculum-Vitae-Petra-de-Jongh_July-2017.pdf) Her lines extend to fast solid-state ion conductors for all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries, solar fuels, and the conversion of CO2 and sustainable hydrogen into fuels and chemicals by photo- and electrocatalysis.[8](https://inorganic-chemistry-and-catalysis.eu/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Curriculum-Vitae-Petra-de-Jongh_July-2017.pdf)
## Representative work
Her 2011 paper in *Energy & Environmental Science* showed that the hydrogen desorption from sodium borohydride (NaBH4) becomes reversible when the hydride is confined in nanoporous carbon, addressing a central obstacle to using borohydrides for hydrogen storage.[9](https://materialschemistryandcatalysis.org/publications-p-e-de-jongh/)
Her most recent signature result is the 2022 *Nature Catalysis* paper on potassium hydride-intercalated graphite as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for ammonia synthesis.[10](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-022-00754-x)
## Batteries and energy materials
Her group's battery research targets next-generation batteries with enhanced safety, reduced weight, and increased efficiency.[6](https://materialschemistryandcatalysis.org/2024/08/28/prof-petra-de-jongh-wins-gilles-holst-medal/) A recurring finding is that creating large specific interface areas in nanocomposites raises solid-state electrolyte performance by orders of magnitude.[7](https://anion.nl/people/petra-de-jongh) Her group has published work on room-temperature solid-state lithium-ion batteries using LiBH4-based electrolytes (*ACS Applied Energy Materials*, 2021).[9](https://materialschemistryandcatalysis.org/publications-p-e-de-jongh/)
## Honours and recognition
Her external grants include the NWO Vidi (2006) and Vici (2013), the US Department of Energy EFRC-CALCD Innovation Award (2012), and the ERC Consolidator Grant (2015).[4](https://profs.library.uu.nl/hoogleraar/jongh-p-e-2/) • [7](https://anion.nl/people/petra-de-jongh) In 2023 she received the Gilles Holst Medal, established in 1960 by the KNAW and awarded every four years for significant achievements in applied physics or chemistry in the Netherlands; she is the first woman to receive the medal.[6](https://materialschemistryandcatalysis.org/2024/08/28/prof-petra-de-jongh-wins-gilles-holst-medal/) Her professor record lists membership of KHMW from 2019;[4](https://profs.library.uu.nl/hoogleraar/jongh-p-e-2/) the Royal Society of Chemistry describes her as a member of the Royal Dutch National Academy of Sciences.[1](https://www.rsc.org/people/petra-de-jongh) She serves on the editorial boards of *Reaction Chemistry & Engineering* and *ChemCatChem*.[1](https://www.rsc.org/people/petra-de-jongh)
## Recent developments
The Gilles Holst Medal award was announced on 28 August 2024.[6](https://materialschemistryandcatalysis.org/2024/08/28/prof-petra-de-jongh-wins-gilles-holst-medal/) She has since received an ERC Advanced Grant of 3.5 million euros, including 1 million euros for scientific instruments, for a five-year project on fundamental research into catalyst operation that could enable efficient conversion of CO2 and hydrogen into sustainable fuels.[5](https://www.uu.nl/en/news/erc-advanced-grant-for-conversion-of-co2-to-fuels) She participates in the BATTERY NL and RELEASE consortia and the European Horizon programs AMBHER and CONDOR, and joined the scientific advisory board of the Helmholtz Center Berlin.[7](https://anion.nl/people/petra-de-jongh)
## References
1. [Petra de Jongh – Royal Society of Chemistry](https://www.rsc.org/people/petra-de-jongh)
2. [CV – Prof. dr. P.E. (Petra) de Jongh, Utrecht University](https://www.uu.nl/staff/PEdeJongh/CV)
3. [Potassium hydride-intercalated graphite as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for ammonia synthesis (Nature Catalysis, 2022)](https://pure.tue.nl/ws/files/199993487/s41929_022_00754_x.pdf)
4. [Catalogus professorum | Jongh P.E., Utrecht University](https://profs.library.uu.nl/hoogleraar/jongh-p-e-2/)
5. [ERC Advanced Grant for conversion of CO2 to fuels – Utrecht University](https://www.uu.nl/en/news/erc-advanced-grant-for-conversion-of-co2-to-fuels)
6. [Prof. Petra de Jongh wins Gilles Holst Medal – Materials Chemistry and Catalysis group](https://materialschemistryandcatalysis.org/2024/08/28/prof-petra-de-jongh-wins-gilles-holst-medal/)
7. [Petra de Jongh – ANION](https://anion.nl/people/petra-de-jongh)
8. [Curriculum Vitae Petra de Jongh (July 2017)](https://inorganic-chemistry-and-catalysis.eu/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Curriculum-Vitae-Petra-de-Jongh_July-2017.pdf)
9. [Publications P.E. de Jongh – Materials Chemistry and Catalysis](https://materialschemistryandcatalysis.org/publications-p-e-de-jongh/)
10. [Potassium hydride-intercalated graphite as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for ammonia synthesis, Nature Catalysis 5 (2022) 222–230](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-022-00754-x)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Physical world and mathematics › Physical and mathematical scientists › Chemists › Researchers in inorganic chemistry, catalysis, and electrochemistry › Nanomaterials and nanochemistry*
*Initially written Sep 21, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 25, 2026; Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 25, 2026*
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