From catalyst development and reaction monitoring to polymer optimisation and process safety, laser technologies at the Central Laser Facility provide the precision, speed and insight needed to solve today’s most complex industrial challenges.
Ultrafast laser characterisation tools allow the detection and characterisation of transient species, monitoring the dynamics of molecules inside materials, and understanding chemistry at the surface and inside materials. Laser-based methods provide powerful tools to: probe homogeneous photocatalysis processes for optimisation of industrial catalytic processes; understand how chemistry at the surface and inside materials, such as zeolites, enables heterogenous catalysed chemical reactions; study how battery or solar energy generating materials work through monitoring dynamics of molecules inside the materials or observing states of the materials as they operate; and enable a deep exploration of surface science to better understand and characterise interface species and their activity. This enables chemists and materials scientists to observe reactions as they happen, uncover degradation pathways and validate new formulations with unprecedented accuracy.
Using a combination of spectroscopic and imaging approaches, laser-based techniques offer real‑time, non‑destructive chemical and structural analysis. These tools help identify impurities, track molecular changes, and verify material consistency throughout development and manufacturing.
For chemical producers, the benefits are clear: faster product development, reduced risk, enhanced quality assurance and deeper understanding of material behaviour. For downstream users, this translates into more reliable products, improved operational performance and more sustainable solutions. As the sector pushes towards net‑zero, circularity and digitalisation, laser‑enabled research is at the core of creating the next generation of chemicals, materials and industrial processes.