Dr. E.M. (Eline) Hutter

Vening Meineszgebouw C
Princetonlaan 6
Kamer 2.11
3584 CB Utrecht

Dr. E.M. (Eline) Hutter

Assistant Professor
Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis
e.m.hutter@uu.nl

I'm intrigued by the amount of energy we derive from sunlight and how we can create materials that efficiently harness this light energy. These materials can be designed to produce electricity, catalyze chemical reactions, or generate heat. However, many existing commercial materials and devices contain toxic elements or rely on scarce resources. In my research, I'm focused on discovering new materials that can convert light into useful energy forms without using harmful components. I'm investigating how these materials interact with light using specialized tools to understand their properties and their functionality in solar panels. Ultimately, my goal is to identify safe and efficient materials capable of converting sunlight into electricity.

As a teacher, I am involved in courses related to solids, materials and solar cells. In these courses, we focus on knowledge about the content, as well as applications, and challenges associated with the energy transition. We developed an assignment about 'critical elements' (scarcity, geopolitical dependence, local mining conditions). In addition, I am setting up a living lab on campus, in which students can work with solar panels.