Trinity Hosts International Electrochemical ‘Gathering’

Sep 13, 2012

Cutting edge advances in energy, nanoelectrochemistry, bio electrochemistry, fundamental electrochemistry and electrochemical sensors were recently discussed at a major international conference ‘Electrochem 2012: Electrochemical Horizons’ in Trinity College Dublin.  Over 180 electrochemists from the UK, Europe, China, Australia and Ireland gathered at the meeting which was chaired by Professor Mike Lyons, Principal Investigator in the School of Chemistry and CRANN.

Commenting on the significance of the conference, Professor Lyons said: “The hosting of Electrochem 2012 at Trinity College reflects the robust position of electrochemistry today in Ireland and its high international profile in these challenging times. Trinity’s reputation in the fields of energy, electrochemistry and nanoelectrochemistry led to this prestigious conference being held in the country for the second time.”

Plenary Speakers and Local Organisers, from left,  Prof Richard Compton, University of Oxford, Prof Edmund Magner, University of Limerick, Organising Committee, Prof Robert Dryfe, University of Manchester, Organising Committee, Dr Donal Leech, NUI Galway, Prof Fraser Armstrong, University of Oxford, Prof Wolfgang Schuhmann, Ruhr-Universitat, Bochum, Germany, Prof Mike Lyons, TCD, Conference Chair, Prof Zhong-Qun Tian, Xiamen University, China and Prof Robert Forster, DCU, Organising Committee

Scientific highlights of the meeting included the Faraday Medal 2012 Award Lecture by Professor Zhong-Qun Tian, Xiemen, University China and the Barker Medal Award Lecture by Professor Fraser Armstrong, University of Oxford. Other plenary lectures were given by Professor Richard Compton, Oxford University, Professor Wolfgang Schuhmann, Ruhr-Universitat Bochum, and Dr Donal Leech, NUI Galway. The plenary lectures were selected to reflect the current practice and to highlight recent developments in nanoelectrochemistry, medical diagnostic advances and energy.

A further highlight of the meeting was the inaugural LD Burke Energy Symposium, held in honour of the late Professor Declan Burke, UCC, Ireland’s most distinguished physical electrochemist who established a worldwide reputation in electrocatalysis. Many of the speakers in the Energy Symposium were researchers and academics based in Ireland and reflected the very dynamic activity in the electrochemical energy conversion/storage/electrocatalysis arena in Ireland today. Among the topics covered in the Energy Symposium were bioelectrocatalysis using enzyme or microbe films on electrodes (Donal Leech), nanorod/nanowire synthesis fabrication for Li ion batteries and thin film PV applications (Kevin Ryan), nanostructured, nonporous materials for energy applications (Lorraine Nagle), direct alcohol fuel cell advances (Weng Fen Lin), artificial photosynthesis at liquid/liquid interface (Michael Scanlon), electrochemical water splitting at hydrous oxide surfaces (Mike Lyons & Richard Doyle) and solar energy conversion (Don McElroy).

The Electrochem series of conferences, organised by the SCI Electrochemical Technology Group and the RSC Electrochemistry Group, represent the premier Electrochemical Science and Technology forum for the electrochemistry community in industry and academia in Ireland and the UK, especially for the upcoming generation of interdisciplinary researchers. 

Many of the conference topics on cutting edge advances in electrochemical science represented a concrete manifestation of some of the key scientific areas of interest to Science Foundation Ireland, a major sponsor of the conference. The meeting was also sponsored by the Electrochemical Society and the International Society of Electrochemistry.