Richard van de Sanden

Richard van de Sanden is a Full Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and Scientific Director of the Eindhoven Institute for Renewable Energy Systems (EIRES). He previously served as Director of the Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER) from 2011 to 2020. His academic career includes a Ph.D. in Plasma Physics from TU/e (1991), followed by roles as Assistant Professor (1990) and Full Professor (2000). He specializes in plasma-surface interactions, renewable energy conversion, and thin film technologies.

Research Expertise: His work focuses on plasma-assisted materials processing, CO₂ conversion to fuels, atomic layer deposition (ALD), and sustainable energy systems. He has authored over 500 peer-reviewed papers and holds >20 patents.

Awards & Roles: Recipient of the European William Crookes Plasma Prize (2008), AVS Plasma Prize (2014), and Lloyd Thomas Prize (2018). He chairs the ECCM advisory committee and serves on EASAC’s Energy Committee. He is a Fellow of AVS, IUPAC, IOP, and IPCS.

Collaborations & Impact: Advised companies like General Electric and Linde Gas Group. Editor for Plasma Sources: Science and Technology and Plasma Processes and Polymers. Active in international energy policy and sustainable development goals (SDGs 7, 13).