Marc Koper

Prof. Marc Koper is a Professor of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry at Leiden University, affiliated with the Leiden Institute of Chemistry (LIC). His research focuses on sustainable energy and chemistry, particularly electrocatalytic redox reactions of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen compounds. He leads a dynamic research group with 17 current PhD candidates, including Ariba Adnan, Karen van den Akker, and others. Koper’s work bridges experimental, theoretical, and catalyst design principles to advance energy transition technologies.

His research interests span catalysis, electrochemistry, and surface chemistry, with a focus on CO₂ reduction, nitrate reduction, and electrochemical water oxidation. Recent studies emphasize solvent effects, cation roles in catalysis, and nanostructured electrode design to enhance reaction selectivity and efficiency.

Notable achievements include the Antwerp Honorary Doctorate (2024) for contributions to sustainable energy research. His publications explore topics like platinum hydride formation, double-layer capacitance measurement challenges, and the mechanisms of electrochemical CO₂ reduction on metal surfaces. Koper’s work also addresses industrial-scale applications, such as optimizing gas bubble detachment during hydrogen evolution and designing bipolar membranes for CO₂ electrolysis.

Advisor to over 38 former PhD students, Koper’s teaching spans Electrochemistry (MSc) and Chemical Energy Transition (Minor). He collaborates widely, with projects funded by initiatives like the ANION Gravitation Program and the ELCOREL EU Horizon 2020 Project.