
Dr Ceri Hammond
Royal Society University Research Fellow
- Email:
- hammondc4@cardiff.ac.uk
- Telephone:
- +44 (0)29 2087 6002
- Fax:
- +44 (0)29 2087 4030
Links
Research Groups: Physical Chemistry
Research Group Website: http://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/hammond/
Research Interests
Catalysis plays an essential role in physiology, nature, and the production of chemicals and fuels. Research in my group is situated at the interface of chemistry and chemical engineering, and focuses on the design and application of new heterogeneous catalysts for the production of energy and chemicals. Typically, a combination of crosscutting techniques is utilised in order to prepare novel (improved) and highly selective materials for new (established) catalytic processes. In depth kinetic and mechanistic analysis of the synthesised catalysts is combined with in situ spectroscopic analysis and theoretical models of the catalytic active sites, with the aim of developing i) molecular-level structure-activity relationships, and subsequently ii) tailor-made heterogeneous catalysts that are more active and selective on a macroscopic scale. In general, our research is focused on the fields of selective oxidations - particularly with more sustainable oxidants such as H2O2 and O2 - and acid catalysis, with C1-building blocks, alkanes, and bio-renewable substrates representing the starting molecules of interest.
BSc/MSc in Chemistry, Cardiff University (2004-2008, 1st class honours); PhD in Catalysis and Chemical Engineering, Cardiff Catalysis Institute (2008-2011, Prof. Graham J. Hutchings FRS); Post-doctoral Research Associate, Department of Chemical Engineering at ETH Zurich (2011-2014, Prof. Ive Hermans); Visiting Research Fellow, University College London/UK Catalysis Hub (2013-Present); University Research Fellow and Independent Research Group Leader, Cardiff Catalysis Institute (2014-Present)
1 - EFCATS 'Most Outstanding PhD Thesis' prize (biennial award, 2011-2013)
2 - Visiting Research Fellowship 2013-2015 (University College London/UK Catalysis Hub)
3 - Chancellor's Independent Research Fellowship 2014-2019 (Cardiff University)
4 - PhD Scholarship 2008-2011 (Cardiff University)
2018
- Sanchez Trujillo, F. J.et al. 2018. Hydrogen production from formic acid decomposition in the liquid phase using Pd nanoparticles supported on CNFs with different surface properties. Sustainable Energy & Fuels 2(12), pp. 2705-2716. (10.1039/C8SE00338F)
- Botti, L.et al. 2018. Influence of composition and preparation method on the continuous performance of Sn-Beta for glucose-fructose isomerisation. Topics in Catalysis (10.1007/s11244-018-1078-z)
- Padovan, D., Botti, L. and Hammond, C. 2018. Active site hydration governs the stability of Sn-Beta during continuous glucose conversion. ACS Catalysis (10.1021/acscatal.8b01759)
- Sanchez Trujillo, F. J.et al. 2018. Investigation of the catalytic performance of Pd/CNFs for hydrogen evolution from additive-free formic acid decomposition. C 4(2), article number: 26. (10.3390/c4020026)
- Sanchez Trujillo, F. J.et al. 2018. Hydrogen generation from additive-free formic acid decomposition under mild conditions by Pd/C: experimental and DFT studies. Topics in Catalysis 61(3-4), pp. 254-266. (10.1007/s11244-018-0894-5)
- Hammond, C., Padovan, D. and Tarantino, G. 2018. Porous metallosilicates for heterogeneous, liquid-phase catalysis: perspectives and pertaining challenges. Royal Society Open Science 5(2), article number: 171315. (10.1098/rsos.171315)
- Tarantino, G. and Hammond, C. 2018. Catalytic formation of C(sp3)-F bonds via heterogeneous photocatalysis. ACS Catalysis 8, pp. 10321-10330. (10.1021/acscatal.8b02844)
- Yakabi, K.et al. 2018. Chemoselective lactonization of renewable succinic acid with heterogeneous nanoparticle catalysts. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering 6(12), pp. 16341. (10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b03346)
2017
- Padovan, D.et al. 2017. Overcoming catalyst deactivation during the continuous conversion of sugars to chemicals: maximising the performance of Sn-Beta with a little drop of water. Reaction Chemistry and Engineering 3(2), pp. 155-163. (10.1039/C7RE00180K)
- Yakabi, K.et al. 2017. Continuous production of biorenewable, polymer-grade lactone monomers through Sn-β-catalyzed baeyer-villiger oxidation with H2 O2. Chemsuschem 10(18), pp. 3652-3659. (10.1002/cssc.201701298)
- Hammond, C. 2017. Intensification studies of heterogeneous catalysts: probing and overcoming catalyst deactivation during liquid phase operation. Green Chemistry 19(12), pp. 2711-2728. (10.1039/C7GC00163K)
- Hammond, C. 2017. Green chemistry emerging investigators 2017 themed issue. Green Chemistry 19(12), pp. 2707-2710. (10.1039/c7gc90063e)
- Tarantino, G.et al. 2017. Catalytic formation of C(sp3 )–F bonds via decarboxylative fluorination with mechanochemically-prepared Ag2O/TiO2 heterogeneous catalysts. RSC Advances 7(48), pp. 30185-30190. (10.1039/C7RA06180C)
- Hammond, C. 2017. Sn-substituted zeolites as heterogeneous catalysts for liquid-phase catalytic technologies. In: Fornasiero, P. and Cargnello, M. eds. Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis., Vol. 177. Elsevier, pp. 567-611., (10.1016/B978-0-12-805090-3.00015-2)
- Padovan, D., Al-Nayili, A. and Hammond, C. 2017. Bifunctional Lewis and Brønsted acidic zeolites permit the continuous production of bio-renewable furanic ethers. Green Chemistry 19(12), pp. 2846-2854. (10.1039/C7GC00160F)
2016
- Yakabi, K.et al. 2016. Selectivity and lifetime effects in zeolite-catalyzed Baeyer-Villiger oxidation investigated in batch and continuous flow. ChemCatChem 8(22), pp. 3490-3498. (10.1002/cctc.201600955)
- Padovan, D.et al. 2016. Intensification and deactivation of Sn-Beta investigated in the continuous regime. Green Chemistry 2016(18), pp. 5041-5049. (10.1039/C6GC01288D)
- Villa, A.et al. 2016. Characterisation of gold catalysts. Chemical Society Reviews 45(18), pp. 4953-4994. (10.1039/C5CS00350D)
- Ab Rahim, M. H.et al. 2016. Low temperature selective oxidation of methane to methanol using titania supported gold palladium copper catalysts. Catalysis Science & Technology 6(10), pp. 3410-3418. (10.1039/C5CY01586C)
- Villa, A.et al. 2016. Depressing the hydrogenation and decomposition reaction in H2O2 synthesis by supporting gold-palladium nanoparticles on oxygen functionalized carbon nanofibers. Catalysis Science & Technology 6, pp. 694-697. (10.1039/C5CY01880C)
- Dimitratos, N.et al. 2016. Valorisation of glycerol to fine chemicals and fuels. In: Al-Mergen, H. and Xiao, T. eds. Petrochemical Catalyst Materials, Processes, and Emerging Technologies.. IGI, pp. 352-384.
- Al-Nayili, A., Yakabi, K. and Hammond, C. 2016. Hierarchically porous BEA stannosilicates as unique catalysts for bulky ketone conversion and continuous operation. Journal of Materials Chemistry A 4, pp. 1373-1382. (10.1039/C5TA08709K)
2015
- Dimitratos, N.et al. 2015. Effect of the preparation method of supported Au nanoparticles in the liquid phase oxidation of glycerol. Applied Catalysis A: General 514, pp. 267-275. (10.1016/j.apcata.2015.12.031)
- Dimitratos, N., Hammond, C. and Wells, P. P. 2015. Liquid phase oxidation using Au-based catalysts. In: Prati, L. and Villa, A. eds. Gold Catalysis: Preparation, Characterization and Applications.. Pan Stanford, pp. 341-388.
- Hammond, C. and Tarantino, G. 2015. Switching off H2O2 decomposition during TS-1 catalysed epoxidation via post-synthetic active site modification. Catalysts 5(4), pp. 2309-2323. (10.3390/catal5042309)
- Dimitratos, N., Hammond, C. and Wells, P. 2015. Liquid-phase oxidation using au-based catalysts. In: Prati, L. and Villa, A. eds. Gold Catalysis: Preparation, Characterization, and Applications.. USA: Pan Stanford, pp. 341-376., (10.1201/b19911-13)
- Conrad, S.et al. 2015. Cover picture: silica-grafted SnIV catalysts in hydrogen-transfer reactions (ChemCatChem 20/2015). ChemCatChem 7(20), pp. 3188. (10.1002/cctc.201501018)
- Hammond, C.et al. 2015. Identification of active and spectator Sn sites in Sn-β following solid-state stannation, and consequences for Lewis acid catalysis. ChemCatChem 7(20), pp. 3322-3331. (10.1002/cctc.201500545)
- Conrad, S.et al. 2015. Silica-grafted SnIV catalysts in hydrogen-transfer reactions. ChemCatChem 7(20), pp. 3270-3278. (10.1002/cctc.201500630)
- Villa, A.et al. 2015. Glycerol oxidation using gold-containing catalysts. Accounts of Chemical Research 48(5), pp. 1403-1412. (10.1021/ar500426g)
- Hammond, C., Hermans, I. and Dimitratos, N. 2015. Biomimetic oxidation with Fe-ZSM-5 and H2O2? Identification of an active, extra-framework binuclear core and an FeIII-OOH intermediate with resonance-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy. ChemCatChem 7(3), pp. 434-440. (10.1002/cctc.201402642)
- Whiting, G. T.et al. 2015. Methyl formate formation from methanol oxidation using supported gold-palladium nanoparticles. ACS Catalysis 5(2), pp. 637-644. (10.1021/cs501728r)
2014
- Dimitratos, N., Hammond, C. and Hutchings, G. J. 2014. Gold-based nanoparticle catalysts for catalytic applications. In: Zhou, B. et al. eds. Nanotechnology in Catalysis., Vol. 248. Nanostructure Science and Technology Springer, pp. 289-307., (9780387346885)
- Dimitratos, N., Hammond, C. and Hutchings, G. J. 2014. Gold-based nanoparticle catalysts for catalytic applications [Abstract]. Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society 248, article number: 1 p..
- Dimitratos, N.et al. 2014. Catalysis using colloidal-supported gold-based nanoparticles. Applied Petrochemical Research 4(1), pp. 85-94. (10.1007/s13203-014-0059-9)
- Wolf, P.et al. 2014. Post-synthetic preparation of Sn-, Ti- and Zr-beta: a facile route to water tolerant, highly active Lewis acidic zeolites. Dalton Transactions 43(11), pp. 4514-4519. (10.1039/c3dt52972j)
- Forde, M.et al. 2014. Light alkane oxidation using catalysts prepared by chemical vapour impregnation: tuning alcohol selectivity through catalyst pre-treatment. Chemical Science 5(9), pp. 3603-3616. (10.1039/C4SC00545G)
2013
- Ab Rahim, M. H.et al. 2013. Systematic study of the oxidation of methane using supported gold palladium nanoparticles under mild aqueous conditions. Topics in Catalysis 56(18-20), pp. 1843-1857. (10.1007/s11244-013-0121-3)
- Hammond, C.et al. 2013. Hydrogen transfer processes mediated by supported iridium oxide nanoparticles. ChemCatChem 5(10), pp. 2983-2990. (10.1002/cctc.201300253)
- Hammond, C., Schuemperli, M. T. and Hermans, I. 2013. Insights into the oxidative dehydrogenation of amines with nanoparticulate iridium oxide. Chemistry - a European Journal 19(39), pp. 13193-13198. (10.1002/chem.201301596)
- Mania, P.et al. 2013. Thermal restructuring of silica-grafted -CrO2Cl and -VOCl2 species. Dalton Transactions 42(35), pp. 12725-12732. (10.1039/C3DT50843A)
- Fella, C. M.et al. 2013. Formation mechanism of Cu2ZnSnSe4 absorber layers during selenization of solution deposited metal precursors. Journal of Alloys and Compounds 567, pp. 102-106. (10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.03.056)
- Forde, M. M.et al. 2013. Partial oxidation of ethane to oxygenates using Fe- and Cu-containing ZSM-5. Journal of the American Chemical Society 135(30), pp. 11087-11099., article number: 130716133536007. (10.1021/ja403060n)
- Mania, P.et al. 2013. Thermal restructuring of silica-grafted TiClx species and consequences for epoxidation catalysis. Chemistry - a European Journal 19(30), pp. 9849-9858. (10.1002/chem.201300842)
- Hammond, C.et al. 2013. Elucidation and evolution of the active component within Cu/Fe/ZSM-5 for catalytic methane oxidation: from synthesis to catalysis. ACS Catalysis 3(4), pp. 689-699. (10.1021/cs3007999)
- Hammond, C., Conrad, S. and Hermans, I. 2013. Simple and scalable synthesis of highly active Lewis acidic Sn-b [Abstract]. Presented at: 245th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, 7-11 April 2013. American Chemical Socieity:
- Hammond, C.et al. 2013. Insights into the selective and catalytic oxidation of methane to methanol with Cu-promoted Fe-ZSM-5 at mild conditions [Abstract]. Presented at: 245th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, 7-11 April 2013. American Chemical Society
- Hammond, C.et al. 2013. Nanoparticulate tungsten oxide for catalytic epoxidations. ACS Catalysis 3(3), pp. 321-327. (10.1021/cs300826c)
- Ab Rahim, M. H.et al. 2013. Oxidation of methane to methanol with hydrogen peroxide using supported gold-palladium alloy nanoparticles. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 52(4), pp. 1280-1284. (10.1002/anie.201207717)
- Hammond, C.et al. 2013. Aqueous-phase methane oxidation over Fe-MFI zeolites: promotion through isomorphous framework substitution. ACS Catalysis 3(8), pp. 1835-1844., article number: 130702113713003. (10.1021/cs400288b)
2012
- Hammond, C.et al. 2012. Catalytic and mechanistic insights of the low-temperature selective oxidation of methane over Cu-promoted Fe-ZSM-5. Chemistry - a European Journal 18(49), pp. 15735-15745. (10.1002/chem.201202802)
- Hammond, C., Conrad, S. and Hermans, I. 2012. Simple and scalable preparation of highly active Lewis acidic Sn-beta. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 51(47), pp. 11736-11739. (10.1002/anie.201206193)
- Hammond, C., Conrad, S. and Hermans, I. 2012. Rücktitelbild: Einfache und skalierbare Synthese von hochaktivem Lewis-saurem Sn-β (Angew. Chem. 47/2012). Angewandte Chemie 124(47), pp. 12076. (10.1002/ange.201208116)
- Hammond, C., Conrad, S. and Hermans, I. 2012. Einfache und skalierbare Synthese von hochaktivem Lewis-saurem Sn-β. Angewandte Chemie 124(47), pp. 11906-11909. (10.1002/ange.201206193)
- Hammond, C., Conrad, S. and Hermans, I. 2012. Back Cover: Simple and scalable preparation of highly active Lewis acidic Sn-? (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 47/2012). Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 51(47), pp. 11906. (10.1002/anie.201208116)
- Hammond, C., Conrad, S. and Hermans, I. 2012. Oxidative methane upgrading. ChemSusChem 5(9), pp. 1668-1686. (10.1002/cssc.201200299)
- Su, R.et al. 2012. Promotion of phenol photodecomposition over TiO2 using Au, Pd, and Au-Pd nanoparticles. ACS Nano 6(7), pp. 6284-6292. (10.1021/nn301718v)
- Schuemperli, M. T., Hammond, C. and Hermans, I. 2012. Developments in the aerobic oxidation of amines. ACS Catalysis 2(6), pp. 1108-1117. (10.1021/cs300212q)
- Ab Rahim, M. H.et al. 2012. Gold, palladium and gold-palladium supported nanoparticles for the synthesis of glycerol carbonate from glycerol and urea. Catalysis Science & Technology 2(9), pp. 1914-1924. (10.1039/C2CY20288C)
- Hammond, C.et al. 2012. Direct catalytic conversion of methane to methanol in an aqueous medium by using copper-promoted Fe-ZSM-5. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 51(21), pp. 5129-5133. (10.1002/anie.201108706)
- Schuemperli, M. T., Hammond, C. and Hermans, I. 2012. Reactivity of alpha-amino-peroxyl radicals and consequences for amine oxidation chemistry. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 14(31), pp. 11002-11007. (10.1039/C2CP41306J)
- Hammond, C.et al. 2012. Cover Picture: Catalytic and mechanistic insights of the low-temperature selective oxidation of methane over Cu-promoted Fe-ZSM-5 (Chem. Eur. J. 49/2012). Chemistry - A European Journal 18(49), pp. 15557. (10.1002/chem.201290208)
2011
- Brett, G. L.et al. 2011. Selective oxidation of glycerol by highly active bimetallic catalysts at ambient temperature under base-free conditions. Angewandte Chemie. International Edition 50(43), pp. 10136-10139. (10.1002/anie.201101772)
- Lopez-Sanchez, J. A.et al. 2011. Facile removal of stabilizer-ligands from supported gold nanoparticles. Nature Chemistry 3(7), pp. 551-556. (10.1038/nchem.1066)
- Hammond, C.et al. 2011. Synthesis of glycerol carbonate from glycerol and urea with gold-based catalysts. Dalton Transactions 40(15), pp. 3927-3937. (10.1039/c0dt01389g)
- Lopez-Sanchez, J. A.et al. 2011. Reactivity studies of Au-Pd supported nanoparticles for catalytic applications. Applied Catalysis A: General 391(1-2), pp. 400-406. (10.1016/j.apcata.2010.05.010)
2010
- Lopez-Sanchez, J. A.et al. 2010. Using gold catalysts for upgrading glycerol from biodiesel production: Selective oxidation and synthesis of glycerol carbonate [Abstract]. Presented at: 240th ACS National Meeting, Boston, USA, 22-26 August 2010.
1. Development of heterogeneous catalysts
A major focal point of our research is the synthesis and development of highly active, heterogeneous catalysts, such as metal (oxide) nanoparticles, and in particular structured solid catalysts such as zeolites, zeotypes, HPAs, POMs, MOFs, and ZIFs, principally containing Lewis acidic or redox active heteroatoms. These materials offer an exciting opportunity to tune and tailor a number of catalytic functionalities, such as redox activity, acid-base properties, Lewis and/or Bronsted acid ratio, and pore architecture, each of which can have a profound impact on the catalytic process of interest. Principally, we are interested in:
- The application of these materials as liquid phase acid and/or oxidation catalysts (see 2), particularly in continuous flow reactors;
- Investigating the influence of zeotype composition and framework architecture on the speciation and reactivity of the heteroatom of interest;
- Utilising these materials as functionalised supports/matrices for metal (oxide) nanoparticles and biological catalysts;
- The utilisation of metal oxide nanoparticles for anti-cancer nanotherapeutics and imaging agents;
The scale-up of inorganic materials.
2. Advanced catalytic processes
The activation and functionalisation of inert C-H bonds remains one of the most elusive targets in catalysis, particularly with the discovery of new natural/shale gas reserves. Our research in this area focuses on the functionalisation of lower-to-mid alkanes with heterogeneous catalysts.
- The selective oxidation of organic molecules is one of the most fundamentally important chemical processes across all levels of the value chain, and is one of the key methods of functionalising molecules for further application. Research in our group focuses on the development and optimisation of sustainable oxidation processes with more favourable oxidants, such as dioxygen and H2O2. Key examples include the epoxidation/dihydroxylation of olefins, Baeyer-Villiger oxidations, and the oxidation/ODH of alkanes, alcohols and amines.
- Naturally occurring metalloenzymes typically possess a transition metal centre, and are able to perform selected catalytic reactions (e.g. oxidations, isomerisation) with ease, under mild reaction conditions, and with exquisite chemo- and stereo-selectivity. Understanding the chemistry of these metalloenzymes, and subsequently tailoring inorganic materials that are able to mimic them is a key challenge of fundamental and practical relevance. In addition, our group focuses on the immobilisation and/or encapsulation of naturally occurring metalloenzymes, to produce hybrid biological-inorganic heterogeneous catalysts for catalytic processes.
- Over recent decades, the chemical industry has established highly efficient, integrated value-chains for the synthesis of chemicals, based primarily on crude oil resources. The dwindling supply of this finite resource, coupled with the increasing awareness of its polluting nature and environmental impact, necessitates an optimisation of existing technologies, and the development of alternative and more sustainable routes to the major building blocks of the chemical industry. Our research in this area focuses on the valorisation of alternative feedstock (methane/shale gas, bio-renewable substrates, CO2) for the production of chemicals and fuel.
3. In situ spectroscopic characterisation of solid materials
The heterogeneous catalysts produced within our group are concurrently thoroughly characterised by a number of (in situ) spectroscopic techniques, in order to obtain a (semi)quantitative overview of the number and types of active species present within the material. Typical laboratory techniques such as FT-IR, UV-Vis, Raman, XRD, XPS, BET, MAS-NMR, TPDRO and chemisorption studies, are coupled with higher-end synchrotron based techniques at the Harwell campus, such as XAS, inelastic neutron scattering and neutron diffraction, in order to gain a complete picture over the molecular-level speciation of the active sites in the catalyst. The purpose of this research is to gain an understanding of the structure of the catalyst at various stages of its lifetime (fresh, pre-treated, in operation, deactivated), and thereby allow correlation of various kinetic phenomena to structural facets of the catalyst i.e. to allow the development of structure-activity relationships. Recent work has specifically focused on the utilisation of Resonance Enhanced Raman spectroscopy to study i) heteroatom-substituted zeolites, and ii) the activity of heterogeneous materials for aqueous phase catalytic processes.