Peter Dunne

Dr. Peter Dunne is an Assistant Professor in Inorganic Energy Materials at Trinity College Dublin's Department of Chemistry. His research focuses on sustainable nanomaterials synthesis, particularly hydrothermal and solvothermal methods for producing inorganic nanocrystals. He has expertise in photocatalytic materials, layered double hydroxides, and 2D nanocomposites for water purification. Dunne's work emphasizes scalable production techniques and environmental impact assessment of nanomaterials.

Education:

• BSc (Hons) Chemistry, National University of Ireland, Galway (2005)
• PhD in Chemistry, National University of Ireland, Galway (2009)

Research Interests:

His research integrates sustainable synthesis methods with advanced material characterization, emphasizing:

• Development of carbon dots from seaweed derivatives for optoelectronics
• Continuous-flow hydrothermal systems for energy materials
• Environmental lifecycle analysis of nanomaterial production
• Photocatalytic activity of transition metal-doped nanocrystals

Current Project:

Leading the SEAI-funded C-Weed project (2023–2026), exploring seaweed-derived carbon dots for energy applications like LEDs and photovoltaics. This work addresses sustainable materials design and renewable energy needs.

Awards:

No specific awards listed, but active in professional societies including the American Chemical Society.

Grants/Labs:

Recipient of SEAI funding for C-Weed project. Collaborates with international teams on nanomaterials projects, particularly in energy and environmental applications.