Chemical Communications Blog

Day one of the ChemComm symposium was packed with 12 talks and a two hour poster session. A good hearty breakfast was essential to ensure energy levels remained high. At breakfast I was joined by Luet Wong, ChemComm Associate Editor Jonathan Sessler and the co-organiser of the event, Wonwoo Nam. Jonathan managed to work the conversation round to the topic of beer and its importance in collaborative research – a theme that would reappear later in the day! I also received an invitation to say a few words, as Editor, at the Korean ChemComm symposium. I accepted with pleasure, although I am sure I will be be less enthusiastic on Thursday with the onset of nerves.      

Following opening remarks from organiser Professor Shunichi Fukuzumi, Gary Brudvig (Yale) discussed model systems for water splitting based on photosystems 2 (it would be highlighted later that these systems currently rank as some of the best examples in the literature). My favourite talk of the day was given by Craig Hill (Emory). Craig discussed his cobalt polyoxometalates and highlighted that these are the most effective water splitting catalysts around to date, also benefitting from the fact that they are homogenous and simple to produce. He also alluded to new cobalt catalysts that have been produced in his lab, yet to be published, that are producing even more spectacular results.

Is that water or sake Jonathan's about to drink?

After such a great day of science there was only one way to finish: a speakers dinner consisting of 12 courses lubricated with fine Japanese beer and sake. En route to the dinner I shared the lift with 15+ Japanese ladies who appeared to be at a convention in the hotel. A surreal experience where I felt like a giant!

At dinner, Jonathan Sessler continued to highlight the importance of alcohol in research. I am sure this will not be the last time we hear this…. It should be added that such a philosophy has been wonderfully supported by our hosts already. The dinner ended with a group photo and three cheers for Wonwoo Nam and Shunichi Fukuzumi led by Harry Gray. A fine end to an excellent first day.

ISACS 2 is continuing where ISACS 1 left off – more world-class scientists discussing the very best in cutting edge chemistry. This time it’s the turn of physical chemistry and nanoscience, set in the beautiful city of Budapest.    

 

 

 

ISACS 2 speakers in Budapest

 Moungi Bawendi opened the meeting with a fascinating talk on the science and technology of semiconductor nanocrystals, revealing that ‘it is all about the excitons.’ Hongkun Park then discussed his strategy for engineering light-matter interactions using nanoscale plasmonic and optoelectronic interfaces. Photochemistry was up next, with talks on methanol photodissociation on TiO2 surfaces and pi-sigma* excited states from Xueming Yang and Mike Ashfold. The afternoon talks covered electron transfer across interfaces (Martin Wolf), nanopatterning with molecules at interfaces (Steven De Feyter) and last but by no means least, nanoscale spectroscopy with optical antenna (Lukas Novotny). The day finished with a lively poster session and a members’ reception, where we welcomed many new members to the RSC. 

 

 

ISACS 2 poster session

 

 

Day two has been another jammed-packed event, with the morning covering single molecule optics for probing dynamics (Michel Orrit), single nano-objects spectroscopy (Vahid Sandoghdar), reactions of vibrationally excited molecules (Kopin Liu) and energy transfer at interfaces (Alec Wodtke). The afternoon session started on a more biophysical angle, with Toshio Yanagida discussing single molecule nanobioscience and Haw Yang talking about quantum dots as nanoscale local temperature sensors for measuring the temperature inside cells. The focus then switched to femto- and attosecond photoelectron experiments (Daniel Neumark) before David Clary closed the day’s session with his general procedure for predicting the kinetics and dynamics of polyatomic molecules.

ISACS 3 is due to take place next week, 20th – 23rd July, in the spectacular venue of Hong Kong and will take a look at the challenges in inorganic and materials chemistry.