Programme

Wednesday 

29 March 2023

Time Activity Venue
13:00

Arrival of students for workshop.

Please contact Dr Jean du Toit for registration before or on 22 March 2023.

 NWU Sports Village Foyer
13:40

Workshop for Students on Public Speaking (optional).

Click here for more information on this workshop. 

 NWU Sports Village
14:30 Tea break Restaurant at NWU Sports Village
14:45 Workshop continues NWU Sports Village
16:45 Workshop ends NWU Sports Village
17:00 Conference registration and welcoming drinks NWU Sports Village Foyer
18:00 Welcome and Opening Prof Nora de Leeuw and Prof Cornie van Sittert Restaurant at NWU Sports Village
18:15

Icebreaker: poster session

  • Dr Tsepiso Khutlane (North-West University, RSA) – Application of Pd-Fe3O4(111) catalysts for efficient CO2 hydrogenation to methanol
  • Dr Mduduzi Cele (North-West University, RSA) – Synthesis and modification of MOF-5 catalyst for CO2 cycloaddition
  • Dr Chris Olatunde (North-West University, RSA) – Structurally defective graphitic carbon nitride as a catalyst for NaBH4 assisted catalytic reduction of methylene blue
  • Mr Sabelo Jeza (University of KwaZulu-Natal, RSA) – Development of an Electrocatalyst to Produce Green Hydrogen Using Density Functional Theory (DFT)
  • Miss Precious Makhubela (University of Limpopo, RSA) – Modelling of O2-Li0.69MnO2 and O3-Li2MnO3 Type Materials for Utilization as Core-Shell Materials
  • Mr. Brian Ramogayana, presented by Prof. Khomotso Maenetja (University of Limpopo, RSA) – Exploring the heteroepitaxial α-Al2O3/LiMn2O4 interfaces
  • Miss Monique van den Berg (North-West University, RSA) - Bimetallic Nickel nanoparticles as catalysts for water electrolysis: A DFT study
  • Miss Cherise Thesner (North-West University, RSA) - Building Ni1-xAlx bulk structures using the Site Occupation Disorder program
  • Mrs Annarie Oelofse (North-West University, RSA) - Synergy in bimetallic Au/Cu nanoparticles: A DFT investigation
  • Miss Caroline Ayo-Olaojo (North-West University, RSA) - A DFT Study of the Properties and Structure of Zinc Oxide
 Restaurant at NWU Sports Village
19:00 Dinner Restaurant at NWU Sports Village

Thursday

30 March 2023

Time Activity Venue
09:00

Announcements

 NWU Sports Village
Nanoparticles and Surface Processes (Chair: Prof. Cornie van Sittert) NWU Sports Village
09:10 Keynote: Prof. Lyudmila Moskaleva (University of Free State, RSA)
Insight into surface chemistry and catalysis on nanoporous gold from modelling studies		 NWU Sports Village
10:00 Dr Athule Ngqalakwezi (Mintek, RSA) – Chemical modification of the surface properties of carbon in Pt/C electrocatalyst to improve the oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells NWU Sports Village
10:25 Prof Hasani Chauke (University of Limpopo, RSA) – The effect of metal doping on MnO2 nanoclusters for enhanced cathode materials NWU Sports Village
10:50

Tea break

 Restaurant at NWU Sports Village
Microporous Materials for Energy Applications (Chair: Prof. Cornie van Sittert)
11:20 Prof Ernie Langner (University of Free State, RSA) – CO2 adsorption and fixation by ZIF nanoparticles NWU Sports Village
11:45 Mr Sabelo Cele (University of Free State, RSA) – Computational modelling of a prototypical photo-catalyst: a zeolite encapsulated TiO2-supported Cu5 cluster NWU Sports Village
12:10 Dr E Batisai (University of Venda, RSA) – CO2 sorption studies of mixed ligand metalorganic frameworks NWU Sports Village
12:35 Mrs Saureille Moafor (UNISA, RSA) – Synthesis and characterization of catalysts base on cobalt-zeolite H-ZSM-5 composite encapsulated with carbon shell for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis NWU Sports Village
13:00

Lunch

 Restaurant at NWU Sports Village
Catalysis for Energy Applications (Chair: Dr. Rosinah Modiba)
14:15 Keynote: Prof. Nico Fischer (University of Cape Town, RSA)
Empowering catalyst supports		 NWU Sports Village
15:05 Dr Marietjie Ungerer (Cardiff University, UK) – Ruthenium fcc Nanoparticles for Hydrogen Production NWU Sports Village
15:30 Mr Theunis Nel (North-West University, RSA) – Comparison of Sulphur Dioxide adsorption on Pt(111) and Pt(211): A DFT study NWU Sports Village
15:55 Tea break Restaurant at NWU Sports Village
Advanced Energy Materials (Chair: Dr. Rosinah Modiba)
16:25 Dr Francis Otieno (University of the Witwatersrand, RSA) – Probing the charge generation rate (Gmax), transfer and collection capabilities in organic solar cells and their future prospects NWU Sports Village
16:50 Dr Alec Desmoutier (University College London, UK) – Study of Hydroxyl Nests in Zeolites NWU Sports Village
17:15 Close of Day NWU Sports Village
19:00 Dinner Restaurant at NWU Sports Village

Friday

31 March 2023

Time Activity Venue
09:00 Announcements NWU Sports Village
Catalysis for Energy Applications (Chair: Prof. Nora de Leeuw)
09:10 Keynote: Prof Emiel Hensen (Eindhoven University of Technology, NL)
Structure sensitivity in CO2 hydrogenation by tuning metal-metal oxide interfaces		 NWU Sports Village
10:00 Dr Thelma Ngwenya (Mintek, RSA) – Pt-Ni nano frames as PEM fuel cell ORR catalysts NWU Sports Village
10:25 Dr Michael Higham (University College London, UK) – Mechanism of NH3 Synthesis on Fe3Mo3Nb NWU Sports Village
10:50 Tea Time (All posters to be removed from Restaurant) Restaurant at NWU Sports Village
Catalysis for Energy Applications (Chair: Prof. Nora de Leeuw)
11:20 Dr Matthew Quesne (Cardiff University, UK) – A combined Heterogeneously/Homogeneously Catalysed Approach to the Direct Hydrogenation of Captured Carbon Dioxide NWU Sports Village
11:45 Ms Maipelo Nyepetsi (Botswana International University of Science & Technology, BW) – ReaxFF study of the decarboxylation of methyl palmitate on nickel molybdate catalyst (021) surfaces NWU Sports Village
12:10 Miss Cleo Matsheku (University of Johannesburg, RSA) – Homogeneous catalytic Hydrogenation of CO2 for the sustainable production of green liquid fuels NWU Sports Village
12:35 Mr Teshome Lelisho (North-West University, RSA) – Synergism of Potassium Iodide (KI) and ascorbic acid (AA) in promoting fixation of CO2 with propylene oxide to produce propylene carbonate: A DFT study NWU Sports Village
13:00 Lunch Restaurant at NWU Sports Village
Advanced Energy Materials (Chair: Prof. Phuti Ngoepe)
14:15 Keynote: Dr Nelson Dzade (Penn State University, USA) Green hydrogen: A Viable Option for Transforming Africa's Energy Sector and Green Industrialization NWU Sports Village
15:05 Mr Mandy Madigoe (CSIR, RSA) – Effect of niobium content on the properties of TiNb-Ta-Zr alloy NWU Sports Village
15:30 Mr Edward Stacey (Cardiff University, UK) – Computational Anharmonic Simulations of H2O in NaZSM5 NWU Sports Village
15:55 Tea Break Restaurant at NWU Sports Village
Advanced Energy Materials (Chair: Prof. Phuti Ngoepe)
16:25 Dr Dong-Gi Kang (University College London, UK) – Atomistic Exploration of Energy Materials NWU Sports Village
16:50 Mr Ntwanano Chauke (Tshwane University of Technology, RSA) – An Investigative Approach to Electrochemical Energy Storage Applications of CeO2/GNPs Hybrid Materials NWU Sports Village
17:15 Close of day NWU Sports Village
19:00 Gala dinner TBC

Saturday

1 April 2023

Time Activity Venue
09:00 Announcements NWU Sports Village
Materials Modelling (Chair: Prof. Richard Catlow)
09:10 Keynote: Prof Scott Woodley (University College London, UK)
Methods for Modelling Energy Materials		 NWU Sports Village
10:00 Dr Lehlohonolo Mongalo (CHPC, RSA) – CHPC and Atomistic simulation of pyrometallurgical slags NWU Sports Village
10:25 Mr Donald Hlungwani (University of Limpopo, RSA) – Derivation of Buckingham Potential parameters: Guided by first-principles potential energy surfaces NWU Sports Village
10:50 Tea Break NWU Sports Village
Advanced Energy Materials (Chair: Prof. Richard Catlow)
11:20 Ms Fortunate Sejie (University of Botswana, BW) – Transfer Hydrogenation of Cinnamaldehyde Using Homogeneous and heterogeneous Cobalt(II) and Nickel(II)-An Experimental and In Silico Approach NWU Sports Village
11:45 Miss Violet Moagi (Tshwane University of Technology, RSA) – Preparation and characterization of lignin derived carbon as electrode material for supercapacitors NWU Sports Village
12:10 Mr John Mwangi (Maasai Mara University, Kenya) – Online Talk – Fabrication and Electrochemical analysis of an Aluminium-citrate ion cell from recycled Aluminium wastes NWU Sports Village
12:35 Close by Prof. Cornie van Sittert & Prof. Nora de Leeuw NWU Sports Village
13:00 Lunch (Provided as packed lunch) NWU Sports Village
Excursion with buses to Vredefort Dome (optional, separate registration required)
13:15 Prof Frans Waanders’s presentation

NWU Sports Village
14:00 Buses depart to Vredefort Dome NWU Sports Village
14:30 Video presentation (25 minutes) and rock exhibition Thabela Thabeng
19:00 Dinner Old Imperial Inn, Vredefort Dome
21:00 Busses depart for Sports Village  

Sunday

2 April 2023

Time Activity Venue
08:00 Bus departs to the airport (check with organisers) NWU Sports Village
Before 10:00 Check out for all guests NWU Sports Village