Researchers from the University of Liverpool's Department of Chemistry have been recognised with two prestigious Horizon Prizes from the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), celebrating outstanding collaborative research and innovation in the chemical sciences.
The Horizon Prizes, established by the RSC in 2020, honour teams and collaborations where each individual's contribution is acknowledged. Reflecting the modern research landscape, the awards highlight the value of interdisciplinary collaboration and diverse expertise in driving scientific discovery.
Horizon Prize for Environment, Sustainability and Energy
The UKRI Circular Chemical Economy Centre has been awarded the Horizon Prize for Environment, Sustainability and Energy for pioneering research into circular economy solutions for the UK chemical industry. Their work focuses on chemical recycling, biomass conversion, and direct CO₂ reduction. University of Liverpool researchers recognised as part of this collaborative team include Professor Alexander Cowan, Professor Matthew Rosseinsky, Dr Bhavin Siritanaratkul, Dr Alexandros Katsoulidis, Dr Ajay Tomer, and Dr Donald Inns.
Professor Alexander Cowan, from the University's Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, said: "We are delighted that the Circular Economy Centre team has been recognised in this way. Over the last four years, we've developed new devices for the electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide into valuable chemical feedstocks. It's exciting to see the journey from fundamental science to real-world industrial applications, and this award highlights the collective achievements of the entire team."
Professor Matthew Rosseinsky, based in the Materials Innovation Factory, added: "It's an honour to be part of the Circular Chemical Economy Centre. Our contribution focused on designing new catalytic materials to convert waste plastics into useful chemicals. This award underscores the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in creating sustainable technologies for the future of the chemical sector."
Dalton Horizon Prize
The Dalton Horizon Prize has been awarded for the discovery and development of hybrid glasses-a new class of materials that combine the properties of inorganic, organic, and metallic glasses. These materials exhibit a wide range of multifunctional capabilities, including thermoelectric performance, gas separation, and ion conduction, while retaining the desirable transparency found in traditional glasses.
The University of Liverpool made a significant contribution to this work through the development and application of advanced characterisation methods that provide atomic-scale insight into the structure and chemical interactions within these hybrid glasses. Professor Frédéric Blanc, from the Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy and the University's High-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Facility, is one of the researchers recognised by this prize.
Professor Blanc said: "I'm honoured to be part of the team receiving this award. Our NMR-based approaches have significantly advanced the understanding of hybrid glass structures. NMR is uniquely suited to studying amorphous solids because it reveals detailed short-range chemical environments, even in complex, non-crystalline materials."
An example of this contribution is demonstrated in the paper Interfacial Bonding between a Crystalline Metal-Organic Framework and an Inorganic Glass, which explores the chemical interface between a zeolitic imidazolate framework and a phosphate glass matrix. The study illustrates how NMR enables researchers to understand the interfacial chemistry that underpins the properties and performance of hybrid glasses.
The University of Liverpool is a national leader in NMR spectroscopy, with strategic capabilities supporting both the physical and life sciences. Through cutting-edge infrastructure and interdisciplinary expertise, the University continues to shape the evolving landscape of UK research in this field.
