Chemistry laboratory
CPE academics Jenny Nelson, Felice Torrisi and Nicola Gasparini have won accolades in this year’s RSC prizes.
The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has announced the winners of its prestigious 2024 prizes. With 10 winners from the Departments of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, this year has been a record-breaking one for Imperial - with three of the 10 being members of the CPE.
Professor Ian Walmsley, Provost of Imperial College London, said: “We celebrate an exceptional achievement this year with so many of our brilliant researchers being honoured with Royal Society of Chemistry prizes.
“Their pioneering work spans a remarkable range of disciplines, underscoring the interdisciplinary nature of modern scientific inquiry. These awards not only highlight the invaluable contributions of chemistry to innovation and research but also reinforce the pivotal role Imperial’s academics play in advancing knowledge and addressing global challenges.”
The CPE winners are:
- Dr Nicola Gasparini - Materials Chemistry Early Career Prize
- Dr Felice Torrisi - Harrison-Meldola Early Career Prize
- Professor Jenny Nelson - Faraday Lectureship Prize
Dr Nicola Gasparini - Materials Chemistry Early Career Prize
Dr Nicola Gasparini, from the Department of Chemistry, has won the Materials Chemistry Early Career Prize for his work in understanding processes in materials for advanced solar cells and light detectors. Dr Gasparini also receives £3,000, a medal and a certificate.
Dr Gasparini investigates charge recombination processes in thin-film organic and perovskite semiconductor materials used in solar and photodetector applications. These materials are about as thin as a human hair, and yet they can conduct electricity and convert light into usable current. They are lightweight, flexible, solution-processable, and cost-effective for large-area manufacturing. They can also convert weak indoor light into electricity more efficiently than other photovoltaic (PV) technologies.
These technologies are essential in society for cost-effective, reliable, durable, and efficient devices and for more sustainable energy generation solutions that can replace, for example, primary batteries.
On receiving the prize, Dr Gasparini commented: “I am delighted to receive the Materials Chemistry Early Career Prize. This is a milestone for my career and for my group. This prize is the coronation of my collaborative work with many talented people that have crossed my academic life.”
Dr Felice Torrisi - Harrison-Meldola Early Career Prize
Dr Felice Torrisi, from the Department of Chemistry, has won a Harrison-Meldola Early Career Prize for innovative contributions to the understanding of charge transport in networks of two-dimensional materials to develop printed electronics. In addition to this, Dr Torrisi wins £5,000 and a medal.
Dr Torrisi's work is groundbreaking in studying the physical mechanisms responsible for electricity transport in printed two-dimensional materials. His research includes using solution processing techniques and electrochemical synthesis to create functional polymer composites and advanced printable and sprayable inks for wearable electronics, quantum computing, and optimising electronic devices.
After receiving the prize, Dr Torrisi said: “I am thrilled to be awarded the Harrison-Meldola Prize. I am grateful to the collaborators and funders who supported my work, and I am so proud of the research group I am working with daily.”
Professor Jenny Nelson - Faraday Lectureship Prize
Professor Jenny Nelson, from the Department of Physics, has won the Faraday Lectureship Prize for contributions to the understanding and development of novel electronic materials for solar energy conversion. Professor Nelson also receives £3,000 and a medal.
She investigates new materials for solar energy conversion, including taking inspiration from nature. New, cheaper and more flexible materials to make solar cells have been developed over recent years, but these often lack performance and stability. Much of the early improvements in design were achieved through trial and error, but Professor Nelson has pioneered approaches to rationally design new photovoltaics based on an understanding of their functioning principles.
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Reporter
Lisa Bushby
Department of Physics
