Arjan Houtepen

Arjan Houtepen is a Full Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Faculty of Applied Sciences. He leads the NCFun research group, which focuses on the fundamental and functional aspects of colloidal nanomaterials for optoelectronic applications. Since October 2024, he has also served as the scientific director of e-Refinery, an institute dedicated to electrochemical conversion technologies for sustainable chemical and fuel production.

His research integrates synthesis, advanced spectroscopy, and electrochemistry to explore and engineer semiconductor nanomaterials. Key research themes include quantum dots, photodetectors, light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs), and surface trap engineering. The NCFun group emphasizes both scientific discovery and practical applications, particularly in renewable energy technologies such as solar cells and infrared detectors.

Arjan Houtepen teaches several courses at TU Delft, including Physics and Chemistry of Solar Cells (CH3632), Design and Synthesis of Advanced Chemical Products (CH3161a), Chemical Product Design (4052TLEO3Y), and Electrochemistry for Renewable Energy (Parts 1 and 2). He is also the Educational Activities Coordinator for the Chemical Product Design course.

He is a board member of the Young Academy (DJA) of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), reflecting his leadership and engagement in the broader scientific community.

His academic journey includes:

• PhD from Utrecht University (2007), supervised by Prof. Daniel Vanmaekelbergh and Prof. John Kelly
• Tenure-track Assistant Professor at TU Delft
• Promoted to Full Professor of Colloidal Nanomaterials in 2020
• Visiting Scientist at LMU Munich (2008–2009)
• Guest Professor at Ghent University (2014–2019)

The NCFun group hosts current PhD students and postdoctoral researchers and has a strong alumni network, with former members now in academic and industrial leadership roles worldwide. Notable alumni include Ward van der Stam (Assistant Professor, Utrecht University), Yunan Gao (Professor, Beijing University), and Nick Kirkwood (Research Lab Manager, University of Melbourne).

Current student projects focus on:

• Predicting charge transfer in quantum dots for infrared photodetectors
• Developing light-emitting electrochemical cells using heavy-metal-free quantum dots (e.g., InP/ZnSe/ZnS)

While no specific scientific awards or publications are listed in the provided texts, his leadership roles, research impact, and educational contributions highlight his prominence in the field of nanomaterials and sustainable energy.