The University of Sheffield
Department of Chemistry

Marco ConteDr. Marco Conte

Lecturer in Physical Chemistry

Room: C92

Tel: +44-(0)114-22-29506

Fax: +44-(0)114-22-29346

email:   

 

 

General  Research Teaching

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Marco Conte obtained a Laurea in Chemistry from the University of Padova in 2003. This was followed by a PhD from Cardiff University in 2006. He was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of York from 2006 to 2009 and at the Cardiff School of Chemistry from 2010 to 2013. In 2013 he was appointed as Lecturer at the University of Sheffield.

Research Keywords

X-ray powder diffraction, electron paramagnetic resonance, diffuse reflectance spectroscopies, heterogeneous catalysis, in situ and operando techniques. Metal oxides and nanoparticles, reaction mechanisms, molecular modelling.

Teaching Keywords

Physical Chemistry, Catalysis, Mathematics

Selected Publications

  • Non-lattice surface oxygen species implicated in the catalytic partial oxidation of decane to oxygenated aromatics, S. Pradhan, J. K. Bartley, D. Bethell, A. F. Carley, M. Conte, S. Golunski, M. P. House, R. L. Jenkins, R. Lloyd and G. J. Hutchings, Nat Chem 2012, 4, 134-139.
  • Enhanced acyl radical formation in the Au nanoparticle-catalysed aldehyde oxidation, M. Conte, H. Miyamura, S. Kobayashi and V. Chechik, Chem. Commun. 2010, 46, 145-147.
  • Spin Trapping of Au-H Intermediate in the Alcohol Oxidation by Supported and Unsupported Gold Catalysts, M. Conte, H. Miyamura, S. Kobayashi and V. Chechik, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 7189-7196.
  • Hydrochlorination of acetylene using a supported gold catalyst: A study of the reaction mechanism, M. Conte, A. F. Carley, C. Heirene, D. J. Willock, P. Johnston, A. A. Herzing, C. J. Kiely and G. J. Hutchings, J. Catal. 2007, 250, 231-239.
  • Chemically induced fast solid-state transitions of omega-VOPO4 in vanadium phosphate catalysts, M. Conte, G. Budroni, J. K. Bartley, S. H. Taylor, A. F. Carley, A. Schmidt, D. M. Murphy, F. Girgsdies, T. Ressler, R. Schloegl and G. J. Hutchings, Science 2006, 313, 1270-1273.

Research Interests

The aim of my research is the identification of structure-activity correlations in heterogeneous catalysis. The understanding of the catalyst structure under the reaction conditions as well as the knowledge of the intermediates generated during the catalytic process are essential factors to design catalysts with enhanced selectivity to the desired products.

To achieve this target an array of spectroscopic tools complemented with molecular modelling are used.

Target reactions are oxidation and halogenation reactions of hydrocarbons over metal oxides and metal nanoparticles in gas and liquid phase.

Teaching Section

Physical Chemistry

Undergraduate Courses Taught

  • Physical Principles in Chemistry (Year 1)
    The course develops the skills and ability in physical science required for Chemistry. Successful students will, at the end of the course, be able to perform the necessary physical analysis required for a modern Chemistry degree.
  • Mathematics for chemists 2 (Year 1)
    This course introduces concepts of differentiation and integration to introduce the link between those and practical chemistry (kinetics, thermodynamics, synthetic organic and inorganic chemistry, polymer chemistry, practical laboratory work and others); and to create a basis for the courses where more advanced mathematics will be introduced.
  • The Physical Chemistry of Heterogeneous Catalysis (Year 4)
    This course is focused on the description and application of physical chemistry principles that are at the basis of heterogeneous catalysis, applied to relevant industrial processes.

Tutorial & Workshop Support

  • First Year General Tutorials
  • Second Year Physical Chemistry Tutorials
  • Third Year Literature Review

Laboratory Teaching

  • Second Year Demonstrating
  • Fourth Year Research Project