Event Details

These two mini webinars are part of a series, 'Creating Chemistry', for prospective/current applicants looking to complete a Chemistry undergraduate degree at Lancaster University. Current students and staff are welcome to attend.

Please join us to hear about the secret life of surfaces from Stijn Mertens and for an introduction to synthetic organic chemistry methodology with Julien Doulcet.

Title: The secret life of surfaces: from catalysis to the smallest light switch in the world

Presenter: Stijn (Stan) Mertens

Abstract: Surfaces of solid materials can have very different properties from the deeper layers—including the temperature at which they melt! In this talk, I will discuss where this effect comes from, and how we can use this to make chemical reactions go faster. I will also explain how we can use a scanning tunnelling microscope to look at atoms and molecules on surfaces, and even build the smallest light switch in the world with single atoms.

Title: Synthetic Organic Chemistry Methodology – What, Why and How?

Presenter: Dr Julien Doulcet

Abstract: The design of chemical reactions has fascinated chemists since the late 17th century. Initial accidental discoveries of novel reactions have been supplanted by careful design of reagents and reaction conditions to obtain specific chemical targets. The 20th century saw vast developments of novel chemical reactions that allow for the efficient making of complex molecules. Since the 1970s, significant breakthroughs in the field of metal catalysed and organocatalysed cross-coupling reactions (for which several Nobel prizes were awarded) have allowed the efficient synthesis of evermore complex molecules that are now routinely used for the treatment of human or plant diseases. The development of novel ways to make organic molecules is what we refer to as synthetic organic chemistry methodology. In this webinar, we will introduce you to the research area of synthetic organic chemistry methodology, discuss why it is important, and how we develop novel methods for chemical reactions.