Catalysis: Fundamental Science Supporting Industry, Energy & the Environment

Date of Lecture: 11 October 2022 About the Lecture: Catalysis – the process whereby chemical reactions are accelerated by reagents that are not consumed in the reaction – is of key economic and societal importance. Catalytic technologies are vital in the production of fuels and pharmaceuticals and in a wide range of manufacturing industry; they also play a crucial role in environmental protection and remediation. Over the last thirty years the field has been transformed by the application of computational modelling and advanced characterisation techniques, with the latter increasingly employing large scale central facilities including the UK Diamond Light Source and ISIS Neutron and Muon Source. This lecture will show how fundamental science, using these techniques, undertaken by UCL scientists and others, has led to major impact in industry in the UK and worldwide. We will also discuss the future impacts of the field including its vital role in achieving the target of net zero carbon. About the Speakers: Professor Andrew Beale , Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at UCL Professor Sir Richard Catlow , Professor of Computational and Materials Chemistry at UCL