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Graham Hutchings  CBE FRS

Professor Graham Hutchings

CBE FRS

Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Teams and roles for Graham Hutchings

Overview

  • The study of gold nanocrystals as novel active heterogeneous catalysts and their characterisation.
  • The design of selective oxidation and hydrogenation catalysts and their study using in situ spectroscopy.
  • Designing novel heterogeneous catalysts

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Publication

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1985

Articles

Book sections

Books

Conferences

Patents

Research

  • The study of gold nanocrystals as novel active heterogeneous catalysts and their characterisation.
  • The design of selective oxidation and hydrogenation catalysts and their study using in situ spectroscopy.
  • Designing novel heterogeneous catalysts

Supported gold and gold palladium alloy catalysts have been found to be particularly effective for a number of selective oxidation reactions. Supporting gold on graphite or activated carbon makes catalysts that can oxidise alkenes with molecular oxygen under mild conditions. New gold palladium catalysts have been designed that can be used under inherently safe, non-explosive conditions. The gold palladium nanocrystals have been found to have both core shell structure as well as being homogenous alloys and can give exceptionally high rates of synthesis without making water as a by-product. The same catalysts have been shown to be equally effective for the oxidation of primary alcohols using oxygen under mild solvent-free conditions.   We have found that benzyl alcohol can be oxidised using oxygen under mild reaction conditions (100-160 °C) in the absence of solvent to give benzaldehyde in high selectivity will a yield of over 90%. Other alcohols can also be reacted and, in particular, primary alcohols, which are normally very unreactive can readily be oxidised. This work has been extended to new oxidation target reactions, including hydrocarbon oxidation. We have found that toluene can be selectively oxidized to benzoyl benzoate using supported gold palladium alloy catalysts prepared using a sol-immobilisation method. In addition we have found a non complex method for removing residual ligands that can remain on the surface of metal nanoparticles prepared using the sol- immobilsation method. Research in the group is now actively investigating the oxidation of methane and other alkanes.

Links

Highly efficient catalytic production of oximes from ketones using in situ-generated H2O2; making hydrogen peroxide in situ could improve overall process efficiency for production of key nylon precursor.

 

For more information on specific projects available with Professor Graham Hutchings please review the Catalysis and interfacial science section of our research project themes.

Biography

Education and Qualifications:
1972 - BSc in Chemistry with First Class Honours, University College London
1975 - PhD in Biological Chemistry, University College London. Supervisor: Prof C Vernon
2002 - DSc (University of London)

Professional Appointments:
1975 - 1984 ICI Petrochemicals Division
1975 - 1978  Technical Officer, Research Department Wilton, Teeside
1978 - 1981  Plant Manager and Production Support manager, Oil Works, Teeside
1981 - 1983  Senior Research Officer, AECI, Modderfontein, S Africa (Seconded)
1983 - 1984  Chief Research Officer, AECI, Modderfontein, S Africa (Seconded)
1984 - 1987  University of Witwatersrand, S Africa
1984 - 1987  Lecturer (1984-6),Senior Lecturer (1986-7)in Chemistry
1987 - Professor 
1987 - 1997  University of Liverpool
1987 - 1994 Assistant Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Innovative Catalysis
1994 - 1997 Deputy Director and Professor
1997 -  present Cardiff University
1997 - 2006 Head of School and Professor of Physical Chemistry
2006 - 2019 Distinguished Research Professor
2008 - 2019 Director: Cardiff Catalysis Institute
2010 - 2012 Pro Vice-Chancellor Research
2016 - present Regius Professor of Chemistry

Honours and awards

Prizes/ Distinctions
*Langmuir Distinguished Lecturer Award, Division of Colloid and Surface,Science, ACS, August 1996.
*Member of the Fachbeirat of the Fritz-Haber-Institut, Berlin, 1999-2015.
*Member of Sasol (South Africa) Heterogeneous Catalysis Advisory Board : 2000-2009.
*Member of NIOK International Review Group 2000, 2006, 2010 (Chair).
*DGMK 2001 – Kolleg Lectureship, Germany, 2001.
*Invited Professor in Residence at the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, 2003-4.
*IChemE Entech Medal 2004.
*Appointed RAE panel member for Chemistry (Panel 18) 2005-2008.
*RSC 2004 Award for Heterogeneous Catalysis.
*2006 François Gault Lecturer of the European Federation of Catalysis Societies
*I Chem E Impact Award for Applied Catalysis 2005.
*RSC Green Chemistry Lecturer 2007.
*IChemE Environwise Award for Green Chemistry 2007.
*Winner Dow Methane Challenge 24th January 2008.
*Elected Fellow of the Royal Society 2009
*RSC Award for Surfaces and Interfaces 2009
*I Chem E Sustainability Award 2009
*Appointed chair of SCORE 2010-2013
*Elected member Academia Europaea September 2010
*Elected Founding Fellow Learned Society of Wales
*Appointed REF Panel member and Deputy Chair for Chemistry (Panel B8) 2011-2014.
*Appointed President Elect of the Faraday Division of RSC 2010 President 2012-2015.
*IPMI Henry J. Albert Award 2011
*France Great Britain Chemistry Prize 2011
*Dechema Alvin Mittasch Award 2012
*International Association of Catalysis Societies Heinz Heinemann Award 2012
*Thompson Reuters Citation Laureate September 2012
*Distinguished Visiting Lecturer, Catalysis Society of South Africa, 2013.
*Royal Society Davy Medal 2013
*Dewar Lectureship, Queen Mary College, London.
*Thompson Reuters Most Cited Scientist Award 2014
*Xingda Lecturer University of Peking 2015
*Institute of Chemical Engineering Innovative Product Global Award 2015
*Cardiff University International Impact Award 2016
*Appointed Inaugural Regius Professor of Chemistry, 2016, in honour of the Queen’s 90th Birthday
*C N R Rao Award Lecture Bangalore 2017
*Menelaus Medal of the Learned Society of Wales 2017
*Royal Society of Chemistry Industry-Academia Collaboration Award 2017 for the discovery of the gold catalyst for VCM.
*ENI Award for Advanced Environmental Solutions 2017
*Royal Society of Chemistry Faraday Lectureship Prize 2018
*Appointed CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2018
*Zhang Dayu Lecture DICP, China 2018
*Awarded 2019 Distinguished Scientist CAS President's International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI)

Supervisions

Heterogeneous catalysis

Gold catalysis

 

Current supervision

Sofia Mediavilla Madrigal

Sofia Mediavilla Madrigal

Auttaphon Chachvalvutikul

Auttaphon Chachvalvutikul

Lucy Fisher

Lucy Fisher

Joshua De Boer

Joshua De Boer

Oliver Wright

Oliver Wright

News articles

International team of scientists develop catalyst-free plastic recycling process with just water and oxygen

Could tiny water droplets hold the key to dissolving the global plastic waste crisis?

15 July 2026

International team of scientists develop catalyst-free plastic recycling process with just water and oxygen

Gold and palladium offer promising route to more sustainable chemical manufacturing

“Teaming up” metals can boost catalyst performance and reduce waste, study finds

11 June 2026

Gold and palladium offer promising route to more sustainable chemical manufacturing

Professor Graham Hutchings is the recipient of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Armourers and Brasiers Company Prize for 2025

Cardiff catalyst pioneer wins top Academy award

13 May 2025

Professor Graham Hutchings is the recipient of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Armourers and Brasiers Company Prize for 2025

Study marks “step-change” in carbon-neutral hydrogen production

Scientists create hydrogen with no direct CO2 emissions at source

13 February 2025

Study marks “step-change” in carbon-neutral hydrogen production

EPSRC grant to bring together expertise and facilities across UK and Europe

Partnership to create technology for sustainable chemical industry

09 July 2024

EPSRC grant to bring together expertise and facilities across UK and Europe

The Royal Society of Chemistry recognises Cardiff team’s significant step towards chemical sector’s net-zero ambitions

Horizon Prize win for developing greener route to Nylon production

12 June 2024

The Royal Society of Chemistry recognises Cardiff team’s significant step towards chemical sector’s net-zero ambitions

Cardiff hub to capitalise on huge opportunity of manufacturing identified in UK’s national semiconductor strategy

Cardiff to lead one of five hubs launched to create sustainable future for manufacturing

16 May 2024

Cardiff hub to capitalise on huge opportunity of manufacturing identified in UK’s national semiconductor strategy

Academia and industry collaboration among 10 winners of Ofwat’s inaugural Water Discovery Challenge

Top prize for game-changing technology with potential to transform water treatment in the UK and across the world

21 February 2024

Academia and industry collaboration among 10 winners of Ofwat’s inaugural Water Discovery Challenge

Cardiff team takes “significant step towards a sustainable methanol-based fuel economy”

Scientists make methanol at room temperature

22 September 2023

Cardiff team takes “significant step towards a sustainable methanol-based fuel economy”

Honour for Graham Hutchings and Wyn Meredith

Regius Professor and CS expert elected Fellows of Royal Academy of Engineering

20 September 2023

Honour for Graham Hutchings and Wyn Meredith

Cardiff researchers in Water Discovery Challenge

New process for clean drinking water reaches innovation final

04 July 2023

Cardiff researchers in Water Discovery Challenge

UK-EU science partnership aims to meet net zero challenge with new catalysts

Launch of new centre showcases innovations in catalysis research

29 March 2023

UK-EU science partnership aims to meet net zero challenge with new catalysts

Scientists warn enormous quantities of UK farmland or renewable electricity required to keep flying at today’s levels

UK’s ‘jet zero’ ambitions must resolve resource and research questions around alternatives, Royal Society report argues

08 March 2023

Scientists warn enormous quantities of UK farmland or renewable electricity required to keep flying at today’s levels

Award recognises researcher’s impact and application in the field of catalytic science

Sir John Meurig Thomas Catalysis Medal 2022

01 December 2022

Award recognises researcher’s impact and application in the field of catalytic science

Cardiff University researchers demonstrate the suitability of gold as a catalyst to produce methanol and acetic acid from the methane in natural gas.

Gold solution to catalysis grand challenge

06 January 2022

Cardiff University researchers demonstrate the suitability of gold as a catalyst to produce methanol and acetic acid from the methane in natural gas.

Creation of hydrogen peroxide in situ could provide clean, drinkable water to communities in the poorest nations around the world.

Instant water cleaning method ‘millions of times’ better than commercial approach

01 July 2021

Creation of hydrogen peroxide in situ could provide clean, drinkable water to communities in the poorest nations around the world.

Prof Graham Hutchings picks up prize for ‘groundbreaking’ work using gold as a catalyst.

International catalysis award for Cardiff professor

17 March 2021

Prof Graham Hutchings picks up prize for ‘groundbreaking’ work using gold as a catalyst.

New method for creating a range of metal catalysts shows that gold still tops the class

Gold catalysts made simple with new technique

16 April 2020

New method for creating a range of metal catalysts shows that gold still tops the class

ERDF co-funds £8m Cardiff facility

Electron microscopy to boost Welsh industry

10 June 2019

ERDF co-funds £8m Cardiff facility

Stellar line-up for conference

UK’s top catalysis centre celebrates 10th anniversary

17 January 2019

Stellar line-up for conference

Professor Duncan Wass takes up role at one of the world’s leading centres for catalysis

New Director appointed to Cardiff Catalysis Institute

19 October 2018

Professor Duncan Wass takes up role at one of the world’s leading centres for catalysis

Funding boost for UK Catalysis Hub

Cardiff’s £7m role researching greener planet

08 October 2018

Funding boost for UK Catalysis Hub

Cardiff University researchers among winners

Learned Society of Wales Awards

31 May 2018

Cardiff University researchers among winners

Royal Society of Chemistry present 2018 Faraday Lectureship Prize to Cardiff University’s Professor Graham Hutchings

Golden award for pioneer of catalysis

08 May 2018

Royal Society of Chemistry present 2018 Faraday Lectureship Prize to Cardiff University’s Professor Graham Hutchings

Leading researchers celebrate success.

World’s top scientists share ideas at catalysis conference

11 December 2017

Leading researchers celebrate success.

Professor Graham Hutchings has been feted worldwide for his work on the acceleration of chemical reactions using catalysts.

Cardiff University scientist honoured by one of China’s oldest universities

20 October 2017

Professor Graham Hutchings has been feted worldwide for his work on the acceleration of chemical reactions using catalysts.

Major breakthrough by Cardiff Catalysis Institute using oxygen

Scientists make methanol using air around us

07 September 2017

Major breakthrough by Cardiff Catalysis Institute using oxygen

Joint venture between Cardiff University and Johnson Matthey is recognised at Chemistry Means Business awards 2017

Gold catalysis collaboration wins RSC prize

15 June 2017

Joint venture between Cardiff University and Johnson Matthey is recognised at Chemistry Means Business awards 2017

Researchers from across the University pick up prestigious medals from the Learned Society of Wales

Cardiff academics celebrated with awards

19 May 2017

Researchers from across the University pick up prestigious medals from the Learned Society of Wales

Cardiff University researchers throw light on mechanism responsible for gold’s remarkable ability to catalyse PVC production

Uncovering gold’s secrets

04 April 2017

Cardiff University researchers throw light on mechanism responsible for gold’s remarkable ability to catalyse PVC production

Researchers from the Cardiff Catalysis Institute uncover new method to produce a graphene-related catalyst used in the production of a wide-range of everyday materials

Going beyond gold?

03 October 2016

Researchers from the Cardiff Catalysis Institute uncover new method to produce a graphene-related catalyst used in the production of a wide-range of everyday materials

Gold catalyst is commercialised by Johnson Matthey as world-leading experts descend on Cardiff for annual conference.

Gold catalyst hits market in China

05 January 2016

Gold catalyst is commercialised by Johnson Matthey as world-leading experts descend on Cardiff for annual conference.

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