Stavros-Alexandros Theofanidis,
Ghent University. 
PhD student on Rational Catalyst Design for Hydrocarbons mixture Reforming: A Kinetics Driven Methodology. His supervisors are Vladimir Galvita and Guy B. Marin. The study is carried out within the FASTCARD work package WP1 Hydrocarbon reforming.

- Why did you choose to work within the area of biofuels and renewable energy?
- The field of renewable energy is growing fast and is gaining more attention. People need to be aware of environmental issues that our society face. Between these constraints renewable energy seems the perfect scientific field for completing my PhD.

- How does your study relate to the aims of FASTCARD?
- The target of my study is to design a novel steam reforming catalyst Ni-Pd-FeOx for exploitation of hydrocarbon mixtures (CH₄+C₂H₄+---+tar) produced by biomass gasification. WP1 of FASTCARD aims at reforming such a biomass gasification effluent. So there is a strong relationship between my project and FASTCARD.

- Please explain your approach and the methods/instrumentation/tools you use to obtain your goals.
- Characterization techniques are used: XRD, TEM, SEM, BET for the as-prepared catalysts. Then as-prepared, characterized catalysts are tested with respect to activity and stability. Spent samples will also be characterized trying to unravel the main mechanistic aspects of the reforming reactions. More advanced characterization techniques (in-situ XRD, Mossbauer spectroscopy, XPS, EXAFS, CO-FTIR) will be used for "the best candidates", as well as TAP experiments. Simultaneously, a global kinetics model will be developed to simulate the obtained data. This model will be used to rationally guide catalyst and/or process optimization.

- What research challenge are you currently focusing on?
- I am focusing on synthesis of a reforming catalyst that is more resistant to carbon formation.