2023 Materials Chemistry Horizon Prize: Stephanie L Kwolek Prize Winners
Microporous Membranes Team
For the development of ion-conducting polymers of intrinsic microporosity and applications as next-generation membranes in redox flow batteries for grid-scale energy storage.
A team of chemists and engineers from Imperial College London and the University of Edinburgh have collaborated on the development of a new generation of ion-conducting membranes based on polymers of intrinsic microporosity and demonstrated their exceptional performance in organic-based redox flow batteries (RFB) chemistries.
RFBs are a promising grid-scale energy storage technology for the integration of electricity generated from intermittent renewables into the power grid. Membranes are a crucial component in flow batteries, allowing the conduction of charge-carrier ions but minimizing the crossover of redox-active species, and they contribute up to 40% of the RFB capital cost. Commercial Nafion membranes are widely used, but they are expensive, poorly selective towards redox-active molecules and are produced by environmentally damaging processes that involve the use of poly-fluoroalkyl substances, known as forever chemicals.
2023 Materials Chemistry Horizon Prize: Stephanie L Kwolek Prize Winners
Electrocatalytic Urea Synthesis Team
For the development of efficient electrocatalysts to support conversion of nitrogen towards a more sustainable and economical method of producing urea, a key compound for fertilizers.
A new, greener method of producing urea - a key compound found in fertiliser – has been discovered by a team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University, the University of Texas Austin and the University of Science and Technology of China.
Year | Name | Institution | Citation |
2022 | E-TAC water splitting | Membrane-free water splitting for hydrogen productions | Awarded for the development of an innovative membraneless water splitting technology for low-cost production of green hydrogen at scale. |
2022 | The Chiral Materials Team | Chiral organics for spin control | Awarded for the discovery of chiral organic materials that allow high control of photon and electron spin. |
2021 | Protein-based lighting | Stabilising fluorescent protein materials for bio-LEDs | Awarded for stabilisation of fluorescent proteins in polymer coatings and their use in bio-based lighting technology. |
2021 | CrystalGrower | New software to simulate crystal growth | Awarded for the development of Monte Carlo software, CrystalGrower, that simulates both crystal habit and nanoscopic surface topography of any crystal structure. |
Re-thinking recognition: Science prizes for the modern world
This report is the result of an independent review of our recognition programmes. Our aim in commissioning this review was to ensure that our recognition portfolio continues to deliver the maximum impact for chemical scientists, chemistry and society.