Simon Freakley

Dr. Simon Freakley is a researcher at the Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University. His work focuses on heterogeneous catalysis, challenging the conventional reliance on supported metallic nanoparticles by exploring isolated cationic species and colloidal nanoparticles for enhanced catalytic activity and selectivity.

His research spans three key areas:

• Selective oxidation of methane to methanol using colloidal AuPd particles at room temperature
• Operando X-ray absorption studies of Au-Cl species in acetylene hydrochlorination
• Investigation of isolated Pd sites for hydrogen peroxide generation via oxygen reduction reactions

His findings bridge heterogeneous, homogeneous, and electrocatalysis through rational design of catalytic environments.