On Thursday 18 March 2021, the RSC Belgium section of the Royal Society of Chemistry was treated to a fascinating talk from Professor Annemie Bogaerts of the University of Antwerp on plasma-based catalysis and processes. In this second of our online talks of 2021 Annemie described the work of her Research group PLASMANT and in particular 'Plasma-based CO2 conversion' - an area that is gaining increasing interest.
CO2 conversion into value-added chemicals and fuels is one of the great challenges of the 21st century. However, due to the limitations of traditional thermal approaches, several novel technologies are being developed. One promising approach is plasma technology that has promises mild operating conditions, easy upscaling, and gas activation by energetic electrons instead of heat.
But what are the key advantages to using plasma technology over other novel approaches? Can plasma technology be successful on its own, or can synergies be achieved by combining it with other technologies? And what are the potentials and limitations of plasma technology in general?
Annemie first provided a brief introduction to plasma science and catalysis in general: highlighting how plasma is formed and what are its major applications. Subsequently she focused on the application of CO2 conversion by plasma and plasma catalysis. Annemie gave an overview of the state-of-the-art in plasma-based CO2 (and CH4) conversion, describing the different types of plasma reactors used and discussing the differences (and potential benefits) compared to other emerging technologies for CO2 conversion.
In the last part of the talk she presented some of the results she and her group have obtained in Antwerp including experiments and modeling to obtain a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and to improve process performance and yield.
Annemie's talk was very well received and provoked a lively discussion!
You can watch the lecture again below or on our dedicated YouTube channel.
On the evening of 29 January 2021 the RSC Belgium section held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) as a webinar event via Microsoft
Teams. The meeting commenced at 19:35 with nine section members present:
Bob Crichton, David Terrell, Hendrik Emons, Julie Tuppeny, Fabio Lucaccioni, Rita
Blakeborough Woodward, Susan Schamp, Tim Reynolds and Tracy Ehiwe. Also in attendance was co-opted Committee member: Bo
Dahlqvist. And in addition, we were pleased to welcome our guests RSC President Professor Tom Welton and RSC interim CEO Dr Helen Pain.
Eleven section members who were unable to attend the AGM had
asked the Chair to act as their proxy for the meeting if a vote was required.
These members were: Prof. Dr Arthur Van Aerschot, Brian Sutcliffe, Christopher
K. Kariuki, Eveline Volcke, Giacomo Canciani, James Franklin, Joshua Holloway, Richard
Green, Steven De Feyter, Thomas Vranken, William Darnley and Marie-Beatrice
Madec.
1. Welcome and
introductory remarks from RSC President
Professor Tom Welton and RSC interim Chief Executive Dr Helen Pain
Section Chair Bob Crichton opened the AGM and welcomed Tom and
Helen to the meeting.
Tom (below) said it was a great pleasure to join the AGM and
described the RSC as still, despite recent political developments, very much a
European Chemical society.
He said that his presidency had been quite different to his expectations
due to the restrictions of COVID. He hoped the portfolio of vaccines that have
been developed would herald at least the end of this phase of the pandemic. He
noted how we have all adapted to this new normal and how we have all learned
new ways of working virtually. He thought that the use of virtual connections
would likely continue when normality, or near normality, was restored.
His president’s themes for 2021 focused on sustainability –
he has been a professor of sustainable chemistry for over 15 years – and this
was especially important to him both in terms of how we do chemistry and for
society as well. 2021 will see the COP26 meeting in Glasgow and the RSC was
determined to take an active role in it. This was the right moment to be laying
out the RSC’s plans for strategy in this area, which will be presented to
members over the next few months.
Helen Pain (right) also thanked the section for the invite to the
AGM. During 2020 she and Tom had attended nine regional meetings in the UK, and
it was important to continue to meet and talk to members, especially in these
difficult times. The RSC is thinking how it can connect better with its members
and be more inclusive. The RSC wants to hear more from its members to ensure
that the society remains relevant. It must retain its vision and ambition and
work to make a difference in the world.
Helen looked forward to continuing cooperation and collaboration around
the world and especially in Europe with its involvement with EUChems and IUPAC.
In that context she noted the appointment of previous CEO Robert Parker as RSC Ambassador
to Europe and the Commonwealth – he would be the RSC’s voice in Europe.
Both Tom and Helen wished the section well and looked
forward to returning to be able to work in Burlington House as soon as
possible. Tom noted he had yet to touch the Presidents medal!
Bob Crichton thanked Tom and Helen for their contributions
and hoped to be able to welcome them both to Belgium once COVID has been
vanquished.
2.Apologies for absence
There were no further apologies were noted.
3. Approval of
Minutes of 2020 AGM
No corrections were suggested, and the meeting moved (David
Terrell), seconded (Bo Dahlqvist) and hence unanimously adopted the minutes.
4. Committee Report
on the Section’s 2020 Activities (Tim Reynolds – Secretary)
The Secretary presented the 2020 report.
As with most other aspects of our lives, the COVID crisis in
2020 had a major impact on RSC Belgium’s programme of activities. Yet despite
the challenges raised by the various lockdowns, travel bans and social
distancing restrictions, during 2020, RSC Belgium managed to organise three
public lectures (one physical and two virtual), held its AGM and a fund raising
social, and our two annual school outreach events - the Chemistry Challenge and
the Top of the Bench ‘European Eliminator’ – were successfully undertaken. We
also welcomed our seventh Norman Lloyd scholar at Cardiff University.
Our next planned event would have been with Prof James Durrant
of Imperial College on 31 March talking about ‘Solar driven synthesis of
sustainable fuels: photochemistry meets catalysis’, but the first pandemic
lockdown intervened. We hope to rearrange this event, either physically or
virtually, in February 2021.
On Saturday 12 September, with COVID restrictions eased
momentarily in Belgium we were able to hold an
appropriately socially-distanced fundraising event for our Norman Lloyd Scholarships
at our section treasurer Julie Tuppeny’s abode that raised some EUR 870 raised
for the fund.
Our Top of the Bench
regional heat was also a virtual affair taking place in late November and
early December. Due to the various restrictions only four teams from two
schools (St Georges in Luxembourg and ISF Waterloo) were able to take part in
the written and practice exercises set, as ever, by Rita Woodward. But, also as
ever, all the teams performed well with the overall winner being Team
Phosphorus from St. Georges school who will be representing Belgium section at
the virtual TOTB finals in March 2021.
We hope to be organising more events in 2021 – either
virtual or physical depending on the situation – and look forward to seeing
many members and friends on screen or face-to-face during the year. Details
of forthcoming events can always be found on the RSC Belgium blog but our
first two events will be on 11 February with Prof James Durrant of Imperial
College on Solar Fuels and 18 March with Prof Annemie Bogaerts of Antwerp
University on plasma chemistry for CO2 conversion.
There were no questions on the report, and it was unanimously
approved.
5. Financial Report
of 2020 (Julie Tuppeny – Treasurer)
The treasurer presented the 2020 financial report and
accounts.
Like previous years 2020 was planned to be another busy
year, until restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic saw cancellations and
lectures moved online for the Section and its committee.
The main highlights of the year were our two online lectures
from Brigitte van Tiggelen and David Cole-Hamilton and a live lecture from
Joris Proost. Our two annual competitions for schools were organised to comply
with COVID restrictions. Our Chemistry Challenge Competition was well attended and was performed online, and
the Top of the Bench (TOTB) Eliminator Round was organised in schools with four
teams from two Schools taking part.
On 1 January 2020, the net assets of RSC
Belgium Section were €5 929.46. The Annual Grant for 2020 received in June 2020
from RSC UK was € 6 589.00 which was less than the € 10 307.50 that was asked
for.
The major item of expenditure for the year was € 865 to
organise the Chemistry Challenge, of which €675 was prize money.
For the Year ending
31 December 2020, the net assets of RSC Belgium Section amount to €10,709.91.
Bearing in mind that under Belgian Law, the status of the
RSC Belgium Section holds the three Officers personally liable for debts
arising from the activities of the Belgium Section, a grant request of € 2 000
will be requested from RSC UK to cover all the activities planned for 2021.
The meeting unanimously adopted the Treasurer’s report.
6. Chairman’s Remarks
(Bob Crichton)
The Chairman thanked all members of the committee for their
hard work and support during a difficult year. It had been satisfying to have
organised several events despite the COVID situation.
He hoped that all section members were managing well under
the lockdown regime and looked forward to a more active year in 2021 with a
fuller programme – either virtual or physical or a bit of both.
7. Election of
committee members and section officers
The following nominations had been received:
Section
Chair:Robert Crichton
Section
Treasurer:Julie Tuppeny
Section
Secretary:Tim Reynolds
Ordinary
members of the committee: Fabio
Lucaccioni, Susan Schamp, Rita Woodward
Election to the committee is for a two-year term.
There being no further nominations and the number of
nominations being less than the number of vacancies (A maximum of five ordinary
members are allowed and David Terrell is mid-way through his current term as an
ordinary member of the committee) the nominees were duly elected to the
committee for 2021.
At the first committee meeting of 2021 Bo Dahlqvist will be
co-opted onto the committee.
8. Auditing
arrangements for 2021
Having reviewed the section rules (which state the section
auditor could be any member of the section who was not a current member of the
committee) and the financial audit requirements for the section reports to RSC
HQ (no formal audit required) at the first committee meeting in 2020 it had
been decided to approach a section member (Lance Smallshaw) to review/ audit
the section accounts, rather than seek to continue an external audit by an
accountant.
9. Any Other Business
It was noted that the first event of the 2021 programme will
be on Thursday 11 February 2021 via Teams with Prof. James Durrant of Imperial
College talking about Solar Fuels.
The meeting Adjourned at 19:55. The first meeting of the 2021
committee will take place on Tuesday 16 March 2021 via Teams from 19h15.
On the evening of Thursday 11 February 2021 Prof. James Durrant, of Imperial College London gave the section an online talk on 'The solar driven synthesis of sustainable fuels: photochemistry meets catalysis'.
In the webinar Prof Durrant talked about the increasing interest in the development of artificial photosynthetic systems for solar driven fuel synthesis. He started by discussing the challenge of the solar driven synthesis of sustainable fuels and chemistry, and its potential role in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. He then went on to review approaches to artificial photosynthesis, and the lessons which can be learnt from biological photosynthesis.
Prof Durrant introduced his own particular research interest, the role of charge carrier dynamics in determining the efficiency of such systems, focusing on photocatalysts and photoelectrodes for water oxidation and reduction. His talk primarily focused on metal oxide materials, although he also covered organic polymer photocatalysts and hybrid molecular / inorganic systems for solar driven proton and CO2 reduction. Experimentally, these studies are based around transient absorption spectroscopy on timescales from femtoseconds to seconds, which are correlated with the results of photoelectrochemical analyses of device efficiency. These studies address the dynamics of charge separation and recombination, as well as the kinetics of water oxidation / reduction at semiconductor / liquid interfaces.
During the talk Prof Durrant addressed issues including the underlying photochemistry of oxides, the role of the space charge layers at electrochemical junctions in spatially separating charges, and the role of heterojunctions and catalysts layers in enhancing system efficiency. Particular consideration was placed on the mechanism of water oxidation / reduction, and the extent oxide surfaces function as heterogeneous catalysts for this reaction.
Despite the challenges and restrictions due to COVID, RSC Belgium successfully organised and ran its annual 'international eliminator' for the Royal Society of Chemistry's Top of the Bench (TOTB) competition in 2020 - and the results are now in. This year, the competition was run remotely during late November and early December with the results evaluated over the Christmas holiday period. The winning team, who will now represent Belgium in the TOTB grand final in March, is Team Phosphorus from St. Georges International School in Luxembourg. The school therefore retains the Keith Price Cup as their Team Sulfur was Belgium's TOTB winners in 2019.
Our 2020 TOTB eliminator retained the usual elements of the competition: a written test component for individual team members and a practical group exercise. Also as usual the questions were set by RSC committee member Rita Woodward.
TOTB teams need to be composed of four students with two students from Year 9 (UK equivalent to 3rd year or Grade 8), one student from Year 10 UK (4th year or Grade 9) and one student from Year 11 (5th year or Grade 10). With COVID restrictions/ bubbles this added an extra complication to the event.
The competition itself was managed remotely by the participating schools and consisted of a Multiple-Choice ‘Written’ Section, with questions and marking schemes tailored to the three age groups that was delivered in an appropriate 'timed' manner at the schools and a practical element with input from all four team members. The practical task for 2020 was to construct a calibration graph and use it to determine the percentage of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) present in a commercially produced baking powder. Practical kits were sent to participating schools.
Challenging event
In the end four teams from two schools were able to complete and return a full set of results for evaluation. The participating teams were teams Barium and Nitrogen from the International School of Flanders (ISF) in Waterloo and teams Magnesium and Phosphorus from St. George's International School in Luxembourg.
The competition was close but the overall winner - ranked first in the practical test and second in the written test - was the Phosphorus team from Luxembourg.
Our congratulations to Team Phosphorus and our thanks to everyone who took part in the TOTB eliminator this year. RSC goodies are on the way to participants at ISF and St. George's. Thanks to St. George's for providing photos from their eliminator.
On the evening of 12 November, Dr Brigitte van Tiggelen gave a virtual talk to the section on 'Women in Science' and in particular their contribution to the chemical sciences. Brigitte is joint editor of a recent significant book on the subject -'Women in their Element' - that traces the contributions of many women to shaping the chemical sciences and the evolution of the Periodic Table.
When telling the history of the periodic system, it often seems that only (white and often bearded) men contributed. Women however are far from absent. Brigitte’s talk focused on a number of significant female contributions, beyond the well-known personalities such as Marie Curie or Lise Meitner, with the aim of making historical women chemists more visible, and also to shed light on the multifaceted character of their work on the chemical elements and their periodic relationships. Her stories of female contributions looked to create new stories that may contribute to a better understanding of the collaborative nature of science as opposed to the traditional depiction of the lone genius.
The stories of female scientific input illustrated by Dr van Tiggelen also provided a spectrum of 'recognition' covering the full range from universal fame to invisibility. For instance, Marie Skłodowska-Curie and her discovery of polonium and radium in collaboration with her husband Pierre Curie are well celebrated by the general public: she rose to fame, even during her lifetime, as the awardee of two Nobel prizes, among other achievements. The same goes, to a lesser extent, for Lise Meitner or Irène Joliot-Curie. But others, like Harriet Brooks, Stefanie Horovitz, Erika Cremer or Yvette Cauchois are known only to specialised circles of scholars despite their important contributions. Indeed many female contributions have remained almost invisible, for example Toshiko Mayeda or Maria Del Carmen Brugger and Trinidad Salinas, even though they spent most of their life working at the laboratory bench, and participating actively to their field of interest.
Biography
Brigitte Van Tiggelen is Director for European Operations at the Science History Institute, Philadelphia, USA and member of the Centre de Recherche en Histoire des Sciences, Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium.
Her latest book is devoted to Women’s contribution to the Periodic System: Women in Their Element, ed. with Annette Lykknes, published in August 2019.
Cara Watkins (pictured below) has been selected as the seventh recipient of a Dr Norman C. Lloyd Scholarship at Cardiff University. Cara has just started her first year at Cardiff on a MCheM degree course. The Norman Lloyd Scholarship is given to a new student in the Cardiff School of Chemistry who is of high academic standing and resident in Wales.
Cara was absolutely delighted to be selected for the award.
"I am very grateful to be selected as the beneficiary of the Dr Norman C Lloyd Scholarship for this year," says Cara. "As an aspiring chemist I believe this will help me significantly invest in the resources I need to complete my degree. It is an honour to be associated with Dr Norman C Lloyd as he has achieved many great things and is an inspiration for Welsh students."
"I first started to consider a career in chemistry after watching a detective drama when I was younger," she continues. "It was through this that I was introduced to how chemistry is much more than just reactions and elements and opened my eyes to how chemistry can be used in areas outside of research science. Ever since then I've dreamt of becoming a forensic scientist and I believe a degree in chemistry will bring me closer to achieving this. I'm sure that the skills and experience I gain through my degree will play a pivotal role in my success in becoming a CSI."
Our best wishes to Cara and our congratulations on her selection for the scholarship. We will hope to follow her progress with interest and wish her every success for the future.
The scholarship
The Norman Lloyd scholarship was set up by RSC Belgium in collaboration with Norman’s family and Cardiff University in memory of our old friend and supporter Norman Lloyd. Norman was himself a student at an institution that is now part of the university. The funds raised provide an annual scholarship of £1,000 for an undergraduate student, usually in their first year of study, at the Cardiff School of Chemistry.
Annabel Hendley-Jones (pictured below), the sixth recipient of a Dr NormanC. Lloyd Scholarship at Cardiff University, completed her first year of her
MCheM degree in Chemistry at the university and she has submitted an end of
year report. The Norman Lloyd Scholarship is given to a new student to the
Cardiff School of Chemistry who are of high academic standing and resident in Wales.
What degree are you undertaking and why did you choose
the course here?
Currently, I am in my second year studying Chemistry (MChem)
at Cardiff University. I chose to undertake chemistry as a degree as it
incorporates many appreciated skills such as critical and analytical thinking,
a strong dedicated work ethic which allows you to be composed in tough
situations, academic and practical strengths and knowledgeable about a wide
range of specialties. I chose to do the degree at Cardiff University due to its
state-of-the-art laboratories, lecturers, research projects, investment for the
future and sandwich year placement opportunities which all stood out to me more
than any other university I considered. Since coming to study here in September
2019 it has exceeded all expectations.
What’s the best thing about studying at Cardiff?
The best thing about studying in Cardiff is the strong sense
of a community in and around the university that is a very present and large
part of the fabric of the city. It’s an exciting and safe place to live and
study with large open parks and all shops desired all within a stone’s throw of
the university buildings and accommodation and not much further out are areas
of great natural beauty from beaches to mountains. These great attractions
mixed with the strong academic lectures and research Cardiff University and the
Chemistry degree provide mean Cardiff is a fantastic place to study.
Do you have a particular career in mind after you
graduate?
I have taken particular interest over the past year in
environmental and energy resources chemistry. Seeing how chemicals created in
our environment interact with each other either around us in the air or below
in the soil or water sources and how humanity can affect and be affected by
these reactions and chemicals has really engaged me, in particular atmospheric
chemistry. I hope to specialise more to this area of chemistry during my
masters with the hope to go into either analytical testing or lab development
regarding atmospheric environmental chemistry after my graduation.
Do you have any hobbies outside of studying?
Outside of studying play for the chemistry netball team
based in the university’s IMG league, where I am on the committee and hold
responsibilities covering social sessions for players and leading coronavirus
safety and hygiene whilst training. I enjoy taking time to relax by sketching
and doing art as well as further unwinding by going on runs 4 times a week. I
have also begun a beginner’s course in Welsh for All to learn the Welsh
language as an extra skill and for a hobby centred around my country.
What difference has the Norman Lloyd scholarship made to
you?
The scholarship has made a greatly positive change to me. It
allowed me to access extra resources and specific academic books that
previously I would not have bought due to financial limitations. For example, I
purchased Atkins’ ‘Elements of Physical Chemistry’ which was popular at the
library and so owning it personally allowed me to take my time to read and
fully appreciate its contents more competently than having to return it in a
specific time-frame. The scholarship also allowed me to think more freely about
pursuing a year abroad placement with more monetary savings to achieve this
goal and feel comfortable doing so.
If you could say something to the fund donors, what would
it be?
Thank you very much, it was a great surprise when I found
out I was the recipient of the Dr. Norman C. Lloyd scholarship and continues to
be a great gift and an honour to this day. It has given me a newfound
confidence in my chemistry learning and future allowing me more opportunities
to explore and eventually accomplish.
We all wish Annabel every success as she continues her studies
at Cardiff.
The scholarship
The Norman Lloyd scholarship was set up by RSC Belgium
in collaboration with Norman’s family and Cardiff University in memory of our
old friend and supporter Norman Lloyd. Norman was himself a student at an
institution that is now part of the university. The funds raised provide an
annual scholarship of £1,000 for an undergraduate student, usually in their first
year of study, at the Cardiff School of Chemistry.
The Belgium section of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) was established in 1989. It has around 120 professional members in Belgium and an extensive list of 'Friends of RSC Belgium'. The section organises lectures, visits and social events with a principal objective of promoting the chemical sciences to the public.
