Thokozile Kathyola

Thoko specialises in the design, development, and deployment of advanced X-ray analytical technologies for real-time operando monitoring of complex chemical processes, such as high pressure, high temperature, and multiphase flow systems.

Her current research focuses on the synthesis and characterisation of catalytically active metal organic frameworks for carbon capture and utilisation. In parallel, she co-supervises a PhD student with the University of St Andrews and beamline B07 on the conversion of biomass using Fischer-Tropsch catalysts. She works on collaborative projects with academia, industry, and other research facilities as part of her research and the user programme at Diamond.

She has led on the design, development, and application of research tools that have contributed to at least four EPSRC grants. These tools include a continuous flow liquid jet setup for combined operando X-ray absorption and infrared spectroscopy studies on calcium carbonate fuel lubricant additives; and a compact high pressure and high temperature reaction cell for combined operando X-ray spectroscopy, scattering, and tomography studies on zeolitic imidazolate framework adsorbents and Fischer-Tropsch catalysts.

Thoko is a Senior Support Scientist at beamline B18. She has previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Diamond with the InFUSE Prosperity Partnership and the University of Leeds. These were knowledge transfer roles working with industrial partners, which involved the development and application of advanced X-ray and neutron analytical techniques for the characterisation of sustainable functional materials. She has worked on fuel additives, catalysts, adsorbents, batteries, and pharmaceuticals and become an expert in a wide range of spectroscopy, scattering, and imaging synchrotron techniques and synthetic methods for industrially relevant organic and inorganic materials.

Her qualifications include an integrated MSc and PhD degree in Complex Particulate Products and Processes (University of Leeds), an MSc degree in Pharmaceutical Science & Engineering (University of Leeds), and a BEng (Hons) degree in Chemical Engineering (University College London).

1. Kathyola, T.A., Chang, S.Y., Willneff, E.A., Willis, C.J., Cibin, G., Wilson, P., Kroner, A.B., Shotton, E.J., Dowding, P.J., and Schroeder, S.L.M., How non-aqueous media direct the reaction of Ca(OH)₂ with CO₂ to different forms of CaCO₃: operando mid-infrared and X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CP04774E

2. Kathyola, T.A., Keylock, S.J., Ignatyev, K., Filik, J., Drnec, J., Webb, P.B., Kroner, A.B., and Diaz-Moreno, S., A multimodal high pressure reaction cell for combined X-ray spectroscopy, scattering, and imaging, Review of Scientific Instruments, 2024, 95, 105122. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0230527

3. Kathyola, T.A., Willneff, E.A., Willis, C.J., Dowding, P.J., and Schroeder, S.L.M., Reactive CaCO₃ formation from CO₂ and methanolic Ca(OH)₂ dispersions: transient methoxide salts, carbonate esters and sol-gels, ACS Physical Chemistry Au, 2024, 4(5), 555-567. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphyschemau.4c00041

4. Straiton, A. J., Kathyola, T.A., Sweeney, C., Parish, J. D., Willneff, E.A., Schroeder, S. L. M., Morina, A., Neville, A., Smith, J.J., Johnson, A. L., Green Alternatives to Zinc Dialkyldithiophosphates: Vanadium Oxide-Based Additives, ACS Applied Engineering Materials, 2023, 1 (11), 2916-2925. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaenm.3c00425

5. Kathyola, T.A., Chang, S.Y., Willneff, E.A., Willis, C.J., Wilson, P., Dowding, P.J., Cibin, G., Kroner, A.B., Shotton, E.J. and Schroeder, S.L.M., X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy as Process Analytical Technology: Reaction Studies for the Manufacture of Sulfonate-Stablized Calcium Carbonate Particles, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research. 2023, 62(40), 16198-16206. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.3c02540

6. Chang, S.Y., Kathyola, T.A., Willneff, E.A., Willis, C.J., Wilson, P., Dowding, P.J., Cibin, G., Kroner, A.B., Shotton, E.J. and Schroeder, S.L.M. A versatile liquid-jet/sessile droplet system for operando studies of reactions in liquid dispersions and solutions by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Reaction Chemistry & Engineering. 2019, 4(4), 679-687. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C8RE00207J