Peter Edwards (chemist)

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Peter Philip Edwards
Born (1949-06-30) 30 June 1949 (age 74)
Toxteth, Liverpool, UK
Alma mater University of Salford
Known forSolid-State Chemistry, the Metal-Insulator Transition, utilisation of CO2
Awards Hughes Medal (2003)
Chinese Academy of Sciences Einstein Professor (2011)
Royal Society Bakerian Medal (2012)
Scientific career
Fields Chemistry, Physics
Institutions University of Oxford

Peter Philip Edwards FRSC FRS (born 1949, Liverpool) is a British Emeritus Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and former Head of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of St Catherine's College, Oxford. [1] Edwards is the recipient of the Corday-Morgan Medal (1985), [2] the Tilden Lectureship (1993–94) [3] and Liversidge Award (1999) [4] of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1996 and was awarded the 2003 Hughes Medal of the Royal Society [5] "for his distinguished work as a solid state chemist. He has made seminal contributions to fields including superconductivity and the behaviour of metal nanoparticles, and has greatly advanced our understanding of the phenomenology of the metal-insulator transition". In 2009 Edwards was elected to the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, [6] and he was elected Einstein Professor for 2011 by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. [7] In 2012 he was awarded the Bakerian Lecture by the Royal Society "in recognition of decisive contributions to the physics, chemistry and materials science of condensed matter, including work on the metal-insulator transition". [8] In the spring of 2012 he was elected International Member of the American Philosophical Society; [9] one of only four people from the UK in that year to be awarded this honour across all subjects and disciplines. Later in 2012 he was awarded the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers Materials Science Venture Prize for his work on new, low-cost, high-performance conducting oxide coatings for solar cells and optoelectronic materials. [10] In the Autumn of 2013 he was elected Member of Academia Europaea, [11] and he was elected as a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2014. [12] [13]

Contents

Together with Tiancun Xiao and John Thomas and their teams Edwards demonstrated in 2020 a new method using microwaves to initiate the catalytic decomposition of plastic waste to generate hydrogen and multiwalled carbon nanotubes. [14] [15] This approach was subsequently developed by the spin-out company Oxford Sustainable Fuels. [16] As of 2022 Edwards is also working with CarbonMeta Technologies to commercialise the approach. [17]

Selected publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ammonia</span> Chemical compound

Ammonia is an inorganic chemical compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula NH3. A stable binary hydride and the simplest pnictogen hydride, ammonia is a colourless gas with a distinctive pungent smell. Biologically, it is a common nitrogenous waste, and it contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to fertilisers. Around 70% of ammonia produced industrially is used to make fertilisers in various forms and composition, such as urea and diammonium phosphate. Ammonia in pure form is also applied directly into the soil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carbon monoxide</span> Colourless, odourless, tasteless and toxic gas

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, flammable gas that is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and slightly less dense than air. Carbon monoxide consists of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom connected by a triple bond. It is the simplest carbon oxide. In coordination complexes, the carbon monoxide ligand is called carbonyl. It is a key ingredient in many processes in industrial chemistry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuel cell</span> Device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity

A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel and an oxidizing agent into electricity through a pair of redox reactions. Fuel cells are different from most batteries in requiring a continuous source of fuel and oxygen to sustain the chemical reaction, whereas in a battery the chemical energy usually comes from substances that are already present in the battery. Fuel cells can produce electricity continuously for as long as fuel and oxygen are supplied.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydrogen</span> Chemical element, symbol H and atomic number 1

Hydrogen is a chemical element; it has symbol H and atomic number 1. It is the lightest element and, at standard conditions, is a gas of diatomic molecules with the formula H2, sometimes called dihydrogen, but more commonly called hydrogen gas, molecular hydrogen or simply hydrogen. It is colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, and highly combustible. Constituting approximately 75% of all normal matter, hydrogen is the most abundant chemical substance in the universe. Stars, including the Sun, primarily consist of hydrogen in a plasma state, while on Earth, hydrogen is found in water, organic compounds, and other molecular forms. The most common isotope of hydrogen consists of one proton, one electron, and no neutrons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formic acid</span> Simplest carboxylic acid (HCOOH)

Formic acid, systematically named methanoic acid, is the simplest carboxylic acid, and has the chemical formula HCOOH and structure H−C(=O)−O−H. It is an important intermediate in chemical synthesis and occurs naturally, most notably in some ants. Esters, salts and the anion derived from formic acid are called formates. Industrially, formic acid is produced from methanol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nonmetal</span> Chemical element that mostly lacks the characteristics of a metal

Nonmetals are chemical elements that mostly lack distinctive metallic properties. They range from colorless gases like hydrogen to shiny crystals like iodine. Physically, they are usually lighter than metals; brittle or crumbly if solid; and often poor conductors of heat and electricity. Chemically, nonmetals have high electronegativity ; and their oxides tend to be acidic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydrogen sulfide</span> Poisonous, corrosive and flammable gas

Hydrogen sulfide is a chemical compound with the formula H2S. It is a colorless chalcogen-hydride gas, and is poisonous, corrosive, and flammable, with trace amounts in ambient atmosphere having a characteristic foul odor of rotten eggs. Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele is credited with having discovered the chemical composition of purified hydrogen sulfide in 1777.

Syngas, or synthesis gas, is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, in various ratios. The gas often contains some carbon dioxide and methane. It is principally used for producing ammonia or methanol. Syngas is combustible and can be used as a fuel. Historically, it has been used as a replacement for gasoline, when gasoline supply has been limited; for example, wood gas was used to power cars in Europe during WWII.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyrolysis</span> Thermal decomposition of materials

The pyrolysis process is the thermal decomposition of materials at elevated temperatures, often in an inert atmosphere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polymer degradation</span> Alteration in the polymer properties under the influence of environmental factors

Polymer degradation is the reduction in the physical properties of a polymer, such as strength, caused by changes in its chemical composition. Polymers and particularly plastics are subject to degradation at all stages of their product life cycle, including during their initial processing, use, disposal into the environment and recycling. The rate of this degradation varies significantly; biodegradation can take decades, whereas some industrial processes can completely decompose a polymer in hours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alternative fuel</span> Fuels from sources other than fossil fuels

Alternative fuels, also known as non-conventional and advanced fuels, are fuels derived from sources other than petroleum. Alternative fuels include gaseous fossil fuels like propane, natural gas, methane, and ammonia; biofuels like biodiesel, bioalcohol, and refuse-derived fuel; and other renewable fuels like hydrogen and electricity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Direct methanol fuel cell</span> Type of fuel cell

Direct methanol fuel cells or DMFCs are a subcategory of proton-exchange fuel cells in which methanol is used as the fuel. Their main advantage is the ease of transport of methanol, an energy-dense yet reasonably stable liquid at all environmental conditions.

The Fischer–Tropsch process (FT) is a collection of chemical reactions that converts a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, known as syngas, into liquid hydrocarbons. These reactions occur in the presence of metal catalysts, typically at temperatures of 150–300 °C (302–572 °F) and pressures of one to several tens of atmospheres. The Fischer–Tropsch process is an important reaction in both coal liquefaction and gas to liquids technology for producing liquid hydrocarbons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steam reforming</span> Method for producing hydrogen and carbon monoxide from hydrocarbon fuels

Steam reforming or steam methane reforming (SMR) is a method for producing syngas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) by reaction of hydrocarbons with water. Commonly natural gas is the feedstock. The main purpose of this technology is hydrogen production. The reaction is represented by this equilibrium:

The water–gas shift reaction (WGSR) describes the reaction of carbon monoxide and water vapor to form carbon dioxide and hydrogen:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waste-to-energy</span> Process of generating energy from the primary treatment of waste

Waste-to-energy (WtE) or energy-from-waste (EfW) is the process of generating energy in the form of electricity and/or heat from the primary treatment of waste, or the processing of waste into a fuel source. WtE is a form of energy recovery. Most WtE processes generate electricity and/or heat directly through combustion, or produce a combustible fuel commodity, such as methane, methanol, ethanol or synthetic fuels, often derived from the product syngas.

Hydrogen gas is produced by several industrial methods. Nearly all of the world's current supply of hydrogen is created from fossil fuels. Most hydrogen is gray hydrogen made through steam methane reforming. In this process, hydrogen is produced from a chemical reaction between steam and methane, the main component of natural gas. Producing one tonne of hydrogen through this process emits 6.6–9.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide. When carbon capture and storage is used to remove a large fraction of these emissions, the product is known as blue hydrogen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydrogen storage</span> Methods of storing hydrogen for later use

Several methods exist for storing hydrogen. These include mechanical approaches such as using high pressures and low temperatures, or employing chemical compounds that release H2 upon demand. While large amounts of hydrogen are produced by various industries, it is mostly consumed at the site of production, notably for the synthesis of ammonia. For many years hydrogen has been stored as compressed gas or cryogenic liquid, and transported as such in cylinders, tubes, and cryogenic tanks for use in industry or as propellant in space programs. The overarching challenge is the very low boiling point of H2: it boils around 20.268 K (−252.882 °C or −423.188 °F). Achieving such low temperatures requires expending significant energy.

A solar fuel is a synthetic chemical fuel produced from solar energy. Solar fuels can be produced through photochemical, photobiological, and electrochemical reactions.

Paola Lettieri is a British-Italian chemical engineer who is a Professor of Chemical Engineering and Pro-Provost of UCL East at University College London. Her research considers fluidisation and life-cycle assessment. She has developed novel, sustainable fluid-bed processes.

References

  1. ↑ "EDWARDS, Prof. Peter Philip". Who's Who 2012 online edition. A & C Black. 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "Corday-Morgan Medal and Prize Winners" . Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "Tilden Lectureships Winners" . Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "Liversidge Award Winners" . Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  5. ↑ "Hughes Medal Winners" . Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  6. ↑ "List of Members: Prof. Dr. Peter P. Edwards" . Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  7. ↑ "Einstein Professorship Program". Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  8. ↑ "Royal Society award winners". Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "American Philosophical Society Member History: Professor Peter P. Edwards" . Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "Materials Science Venture Prize Winners" . Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  11. ↑ "Academia Europaea Members" . Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "Newly Elected Members" (PDF). American Academy of Arts and Sciences. April 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  13. ↑ "Honour for academics". Oxford Mail . 29 May 2014. p. 17.
  14. ↑ Lopez, Gartzen; Santamaria, Laura (2020). "Microwaving plastic into hydrogen and carbons". Nature Catalysis. 3 (11): 861–862. doi:10.1038/s41929-020-00538-1. S2CID   226308787.
  15. ↑ Whipple, Tom (17 October 2020). "Microwaves could turn plastic waste into hydrogen fuel". The Times . Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  16. ↑ "Oxford Sustainable Fuels to tackle plastic crisis by recycling waste into fuels". Energy Manager Magazine. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  17. ↑ Kelly, Amelia (4 July 2022). "Oxford trial turns plastic waste to hydrogen fuel". Resource Magazine. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
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