Nanoengineered Materials for Clean Catalytic Technologies

Completed

Not Energy Related
Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Production of transport biofuels (incl. Production from wastes))

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)

Not Cross-cutting

Dr AF Lee
Chemistry
Cardiff University

Standard

EPSRC

01 March 2009

31 July 2009

5 months

£1,351,103

Chemical synthesis

Wales

NC : Physical Sciences

Dr AF Lee, Chemistry, Cardiff University

Project Contact, BP Alternative Energy International Ltd
Project Contact, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), France
Project Contact, Koninklijke DSM N.V., The Netherlands
Project Contact, Liverpool John Moores University
Project Contact, University of York
Project Contact, Syngenta
Project Contact, BP Chemicals Ltd

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

22/08/08