Nanoengineered Materials for Clean Catalytic Technologies
Lead Research Organisation:
University of York
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Catalysis lies at the heart of life on earth, powers our homes and puts food on our tables. However to a large degree our ability to transform individual atoms and molecules into new pharmaceutical medicines, fuels, and fertilisers has depended upon an equal combination of brilliant science and serendipitous discoveries. This reflects the complex interactions between reacting molecules and products, their surrounding environment, and of course the catalyst itself, which ideally remains unchanged over thousands of reaction cycles. Recent advances in chemical synthesis and analysis now offer an unprecedented opportunity to sculpt the atomic structure of solid catalysts and to peer inside their microscopic workings.Over the next five years, I propose to integrate these new experimental and theoretical breakthroughs with my own expertise in catalyst design and testing, to develop a new generation of nanoengineered materials for the clean production of valuable chemical feedstocks and sustainable biofuels. New collaborations, forged with world leaders in the areas of inorganic solid-state chemistry, nanoscale imaging and computer modelling, will help me to develop the multidisciplinary skillsets needed to achieve my vision of solid catalysts, tailored 'on demand', for efficient clean technologies that will benefit society over the coming decade.
Organisations
- University of York (Lead Research Organisation, Project Partner)
- BP Alternative Energy (Project Partner)
- BP (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- DSM (Netherlands) (Project Partner)
- Syngenta (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (Project Partner)
- RMIT University (Fellow)
Publications
Beckers J
(2009)
Bismuth-Doped Ceria, Ce 0.90 Bi 0.10 O 2 : A Selective and Stable Catalyst for Clean Hydrogen Combustion
in Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis
Bäuerlein PS
(2009)
Ion-tagged pi-acidic alkene ligands promote Pd-catalysed allyl-aryl couplings in an ionic liquid.
in Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
Ballarini N
(2009)
Phenol methylation over nanoparticulate CoFe2O4 inverse spinel catalysts: The effect of morphology on catalytic performance
in Applied Catalysis A: General
Lee A
(2009)
In situ X-ray studies of crotyl alcohol selective oxidation over Au/Pd(1 1 1) surface alloys
in Catalysis Today
Pesaresi L
(2009)
Cs-doped H4SiW12O40 catalysts for biodiesel applications
in Applied Catalysis A: General
Gai P
(2009)
In situ Aberration Corrected-Transmission Electron Microscopy of Magnesium Oxide Nanocatalysts for Biodiesels
in Catalysis Letters
Dacquin JP
(2009)
An efficient route to highly organized, tunable macroporous-mesoporous alumina.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Montero J
(2010)
In situ studies of structure-reactivity relations in biodiesel synthesis over nanocrystalline MgO
in Chemical Engineering Journal
Montero J
(2010)
Cs Promoted Triglyceride Transesterification Over MgO Nanocatalysts
in Topics in Catalysis
Naughton J
(2010)
Reactivity of crotonaldehyde and propene over Au/Pd(111) surfaces.
in Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP