Dr Alex Hawkins
Having started his career in industrial catalysis research, Alex developed an interest in how advanced spectroscopy techniques could answer questions conventional analysis techniques could not. This lead him to pursue a PhD with the University of Glasgow based at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, using inelastic neutron scattering spectroscopy to study the reactions and evolution of industrial zeolite catalysts. In 2021, Alex moved to the Donaldson group to work on developing techniques for operando measurements of heterogeneous catalysts by ultrafast spectroscopy.
Research Interests
Alex's research focusses on observation of the dynamic processes which occur in heterogeneous catalytic systems. Observations of adsorbate motions and high-time-resolution monitoring of spectral changes allows us to observe catalytic reactions as they occur in situ, providing insight into the fundamental mechanisms by which the catalyst operates. Knowledge of these mechanisms in turn allows the optimisation of the catalyst selectivity, throughput, and lifetime by highlighting the key physical parameters which control these properties.
