Kinetics and Thermodynamics
At the heart of any chemical process is the reaction and associated energy changes.
We look at reactions in new and interesting ways.
Catalysis: We study all sorts of catalytic systems from fuel cells to carbon capture to biofuel production. For instance, we have found that when you stick tiny dipoles on the surface of a catalyst you can profoundly modify the way it works. We are developing new models to describe this complex phenomenon which will allow us to exploit the effect.
Photocatalysis: Chemical Engineering also has extraterrestrial applications! We are studying the photon-induced reaction of carbon dioxide with ice. This reaction explains the presence of formaldehyde in the Martian atmosphere.
Reaction mechanism: Reaction mechanisms are very important to Chemists and Chemical Engineers. The problem is that they are hard to determine and there are millions of important reactions that we need to understand. Here at Newcastle, we are automating this process by combining the enhanced throughput of robotics with advanced mathematics.