Nanoengineered Materials for Clean Catalytic Technologies
Lead Research Organisation:
Cardiff University
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.
People |
ORCID iD |
Adam Lee (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Zhang X
(2018)
Sulfated Zirconia Catalysts for D-Sorbitol Cascade Cyclodehydration to Isosorbide: Impact of Zirconia Phase
in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
Zeinalipour-Yazdi C
(2016)
CO adsorption over Pd nanoparticles: A general framework for IR simulations on nanoparticles
in Surface Science
Woodford J.
(2010)
Hierarchical nanoporous solid base catalysts for biofuels
in ACS National Meeting Book of Abstracts
Woodford J.
(2010)
Hierarchical nanoporous solid base catalysts for biofuels
in ACS National Meeting Book of Abstracts
Woodford J
(2012)
Better by design: nanoengineered macroporous hydrotalcites for enhanced catalytic biodiesel production
in Energy & Environmental Science
Woodford J
(2013)
Identifying the active phase in Cs-promoted MgO nanocatalysts for triglyceride transesterification
in Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology
Wilson K
(2012)
Rational design of heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel synthesis
in Catalysis Science & Technology
Wilson K
(2012)
Catalysis for Alternative Energy Generation
Walker RA
(2012)
Preservation of York Minster historic limestone by hydrophobic surface coatings.
in Scientific reports
Description | See EP/G007594/4 |
Exploitation Route | Yes |
Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Energy,Environment,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | Selective catalytic transformations for agrochemicals |
Organisation | Syngenta International AG |
Country | Switzerland |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Two part-sponsored PhD studentships have undertake fundamental research into the mechanism of palladium catalysed transformations and identified key factors controlling the catalytic performance and stability of nanoparticles. |
Collaborator Contribution | Access to laboratories, intellectual guidance, provision of catalysts |
Impact | One PhD graduated to date, and 2 peer-reviewed publications. |
Start Year | 2009 |
Description | Synchtrotron studies of nanostructured materials |
Organisation | Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | New research areas in catalysis and materials science developed resulting in numerous jointly authored publications over 17 years. |
Collaborator Contribution | Access to synchtrotron facilities and training of 8 PhD students and PDRAs |
Impact | Joint publications, contributions to annual highlights, invited seminar and Fonda-Fasella 2004 award |