​​Collaboration involving B22 scientists wins RSC award

The RSC Dalton Horizon prize was awarded to the Functional Framework Materials: Design and Characterisation Team for its seminal contributions to in situ and operando characterisation of porous materials and catalysts for the binding, capture and separation of fuels, hydrocarbons and pollutants.

Dr Gianfelice Cinque and Dr Mark Frogley

Dr Gianfelice Cinque and Dr Mark Frogley, respectively principal scientist and senior scientist at the infrared beamline B22 of Diamond, are part of the prize-winning international team led by Prof Martin Schröder and Prof Sihai Yang’s group at The University of Manchester alongside collaborators from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source STFC, Berkeley Advanced Light Source, Peking University, Xiamen University and the University of Chicago.

Their work has contributed to the production of advanced materials and the development of techniques to understand their behaviour in operating conditions, with the aim of tackling environmental and energy challenges that affect the world.

On hearing the news, Gianfelice said, “I am thrilled that our collaboration has received this RSC award: it’s a fantastic recognition of our work together along the years, as well as confirmation of the outstanding capabilities offered by the synchrotron infrared beamline and the team at B22.”

“This award highlights the contribution that Diamond makes to the advancement of chemical sciences and impact on solving complex problems toward real-life applications directly related to climate change and global energy solutions.”

Molecular structure of framework material MFM-190(F). The coloured shapes show the accessible pores. W. Li et al, Journal of the American Chemical Society 2022, 144, 29, 13196-13204

Mark added: “It is an honour to receive this award for my part in such an exciting collaboration. The research has driven us to develop cutting edge high-throughput techniques for studying gas-solid interactions”.    

Mark was responsible for setting up the in situ/operando infrared microspectroscopy experiments at Diamond and was part of the team collecting and interpreting the data. He managed a project to develop novel sample environments compatible with aggressive gases as well as gas handling systems ensuring a high level of safety during the experiments.

He continued: “Working in a large collaboration has enabled a comprehensive understanding of these novel materials, which have been synthesised and characterised using multiple complementary techniques by highly expert colleagues. This approach provides a very robust understanding and gives so much extra insight into the chemistry of these materials.”

The Royal Society of Chemistry’s Dalton Horizon prize focuses on pioneering chemical science at the cutting edge or research and innovation. This team prize is presented to those who are opening new directions in their field through ground-breaking scientific developments. It is part of a larger prize portfolio that recognises those undertaking excellent work in the chemical sciences from across the world. 

Congratulating the award winners, Dr Helen Pain, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said: “Our prize winners come from a vast array of backgrounds, all contributing in different ways to our knowledge-base and bringing fresh ideas and innovations. We recognise chemical scientists from every career stage and every role type and celebrate winners from both industry and academia, as well as individuals, teams, and the science itself.

The Royal Society of Chemistry is an international organisation connecting chemical scientists with each other, with other scientists, and with society. Founded in 1841 and based in London - UK, it has an international membership of over 50,000. It develops, recognises and celebrates professional capabilities, and brings people together to spark new ideas and new partnerships.  

More information is available at: rsc.li/prizes. 

Li, W.; Li, J.; Duong, T. D.; Sapchenko, S. A.; Han, X.; Humby, J. D.; Whitehead, G. F. S.; Victórica-Yrezábal, I. J.; Da Silva, I.; Manuel, P.; Frogley, M. D.; Cinque, G.; Schröder, M.; Yang, S. Adsorption of Sulfur Dioxide in Cu(II)-Carboxylate Framework Materials: The Role of Ligand Functionalization and Open Metal Sites. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 13196– 13204,  DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c03280

Cinque, G., Frogley, M., Wehbe, K., Filik, J., & Pijanka, J. (2011). Multimode InfraRed Imaging and Microspectroscopy (MIRIAM) Beamline at Diamond. Synchrotron Radiation News, 24(5), 24–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/08940886.2011.618093