Simon Freakley

Simon Freakley is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Bath, affiliated with the Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technologies (CSCT) and the Institute of Sustainability and Climate Change. His research focuses on heterogeneous catalysis for sustainable chemical transformations, emphasizing the relationship between catalytic material structure and activity under operating conditions. He specializes in utilizing renewable energy (e.g., electrocatalysis, photocatalysis) to upgrade CO₂ and bio-ethanol into valuable chemicals.

His expertise includes catalytic materials characterization via spectroscopic techniques and the design of efficient catalysts for energy conversion. Key projects include the Sustainable Chemicals and Materials Manufacturing Hub (EPSRC-funded) and research on photocatalysis and plasmonic effects in catalytic systems. He has secured grants from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and The Royal Society.

Recent research highlights involve alkali metal-incorporated catalysts for oxygen evolution, lithium-directed iridium catalysts, and in situ H₂O₂ synthesis for selective ketone oxidation. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to affordable and clean energy and responsible consumption.

Notable collaborations include studies on gold-palladium nanoparticles and the development of stable catalysts for acetylene hydrochlorination. He supervises doctoral students and actively contributes to advancing sustainable chemical manufacturing technologies.