Richard Turnbull

• Mchem (Hons) Chemistry
• Lanthanide Catalysts on Silicon Surfaces

Homogeneous catalysts are dissolved alongside the reactants in a chemical reaction, and have advantages in terms of their ability to control the outcome of a chemical reaction. Heterogeneous catalysts are typically insoluble solids, instead interacting with the reaction mixture via their exposed surface. Such a catalytic surface is highly chemically active, making heterogeneous catalysts an effective tool in improving the rates and yields of chemical reactions. Furthermore, heterogeneous catalysts are more easily recovered and re-used once a reaction is complete, due to their solid nature.

This work explored the possibility of a combined approach, building a heterogeneous catalyst by binding a homogeneous catalyst to a silicon surface using a DNA linker. The chemistry of this functionalisation was already known, making the study of the functionalised surface’s properties the experimental focus.

Funding source: Newcastle University

Supervisor: Dr Andrew Pike