IChemE-supported research opens doors to designing more efficient catalysts
25th September 2024
Research supported by IChemE has paved the way towards more efficient catalysts. Through the Andrew Fellowship, IChemE has, for the past four years, supported Jordan Ward-Williams, a Senior Research Associate at the University of Cambridge’s Magnetic Resonance Research Centre.
Mentored by Andrew York, Principal Scientist at Johnson Matthey, Jordan used Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) to better understand how molecules interact with catalyst surfaces and move within heterogeneous catalyst systems. York remarked, “Jordan's project centres on advancing techniques to characterise the properties of materials critical to catalysis — key components in the transition to a more sustainable world”.
Using a technique called fast field cycling NMR, Jordan gained quantitative insights into how molecules behave at the solid-liquid interface. The research revealed that when water and ethanol are combined in silica pores, they undergo a microphase separation instead of mixing uniformly. This rare observation has significant implications for how reactants and other molecules access active catalytic sites, potentially enhancing catalytic reaction efficiency.
In another part of his research, Jordan examined how molecules travel through catalytic materials using pulsed field gradient (PFG) NMR. By adapting the technique for lower magnetic field strengths, it became possible to measure the movement of molecules in magnetically sensitive materials. This capability is crucial for designing more effective catalysts and understanding their performance over time.
York added, “By utilising and developing novel NMR instruments and methods, Jordan’s work provides deeper insights into molecular dynamics on surfaces and their movement through catalytic materials. Understanding these factors is crucial for designing more efficient catalysts and adapting these methods for industrial applications.”
Jordan's research not only deepens our understanding of reactant-catalyst interactions but also enables the design of catalysts with optimised pore structures, reducing the likelihood of blockages. These advancements pave the way for academia and industry to develop new catalysts with superior transport properties, essential for maximising the efficiency of chemical reactions.
The Andrew Fellowship was recently relaunched and is now open to new applications. The Fellowship has been substantially revised and will now cover the Fellow’s full salary cost, plus up to £15,000 in expenses, for a 12-month period. IChemE will award two Fellowships per year. The deadline for applications is 1 December 2024. Click for more details about the Andrew Fellowship and to submit your application.
Links
More about Jordan Ward-Williams