Discover how heavy metals are helping detect diseases, power sustainable chemistry and create innovative materials with Professor James Wilton-Ely, Professor of Inorganic Chemistry.
Please register to attend in person. A live stream link for online attendance is available on this page.Ìý
We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday 20 May!
Imperial Inaugurals are term-time lectures that celebrate our newest Professors, recognising their academic journey and showcasing their research
Abstract
Heavy metals have had a bad press over theÌýyearsÌýbut the heavier metallic elements are vital in so many applications of chemistry, from catalysis to chemotherapy. This lecture will explore the research contributions we have made using heavy metals that address many of the key challenges we all face. For example, the early diagnosis and treatment (with light!) of disease can be achieved using nanomaterials of gold, while targetedÌýmultimetallicÌýgadolinium compounds can reveal theÌýearly stagesÌýof heart disease. Colour changing moleculesÌýcontainingÌýruthenium can alert us to chronic carbon monoxide poisoning but can also illuminate the protective presence of carbon monoxide in our bodies. Palladium and gold can be recovered from waste in ‘urban mines’ and re-used as catalysts for major industrial processes, providing a sustainable andÌýglobally-accessibleÌýway to use rare metals responsibly. Underpinning these discoveries is the design and synthesis of new molecules and materials, all based on the unique and fascinating properties of heavy metals.Ìý
Biography
ProfessorÌýJames Wilton‑ElyÌýis a Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, where he has been a member of staff since 2009 following research leadership roles at the University of Oxford and University College London. His academic background includes a BSc and PhD from ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, along with prestigious fellowships such as the Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship. He has extensiveÌýexpertiseÌýin coordination and organometallic chemistry, particularly involving metals from groups 8–11, and his contributions to the field were recognised with theÌýSir Geoffrey Wilkinson AwardÌýfrom the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2021.Ìý
