We are delighted to say that Professor Boris Mizaikoff and Dr Christine Kranz from the Institute of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, University of Ulm visited the University of Warwick to give a talk on " New Ways of Combining Electrochemistry and Spectroscopy Toward Multifunctional Analytical Platforms".

The talk was inspiring and insightful, discussing the relative merits and challenges of combining different analytical techniques such as Infrared spectroscopy (IR), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)and Electrochemistry. The importance of minaturisation and instrument design in order to reach low detection limits was also discussed, including the groups success in creating a handheld IR device, using room-temperature operated tunable quantum cascade lasers (QCLs).

Once again, the Warwick Electrochemistry and Interfaces Group hosted 23 young enthusiastic international students participating in the annual 'London International Youth Science Forum' (LIYSF). LIYSF is a two week residential event held at Imperial College London, with lectures and demonstrations from leading scientists, visits to industrial sites, research centres, scientific institutions and organisations, including world class laboratories and universities. LIYSF attracts over 350 of the world's leading young scientists aged 17-21 years old from more than 60 participating countries. There is an active social calendar with events designed to enable those from around the world to learn about different cultures. The scope of LIYSF extends further than broadening scientific understanding to engage students in education on other cultures and develop lasting, international friendships.

The students enjoyed a day full of hands-on activities, giving them a glimpse of the cutting-edge research at the electrochemistry and interfaces group.

This year, LIYSF’s underlying theme is ‘Eureka - Breakthrough and Development in Science’, focussing on exploring the way that we as scientists develop novel solutions and approaches to important challenges.

Small groups of students investigated structural and electrochemical properties of in-house grown carbon nanotube network (CNT), prepared by Sharel. The students got hands-on experience with electrochemical techniques, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). They also got to build dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) devices, measure their performance and realize how closely related they are to photosynthesis! Most important was the interaction between the young visitors and group members who both hugely inspired each other, talking over lunch. We were extremely impressed with the questions asked by the students in attendance.

Big thanks must go to Barak Aaronson and Binoy Paulose Nadappuram for organising the event, and for everyone else involved (Faduma Maddar, Sharel Pei, Maria Adobes-Vidal, Minkyung Kang, Sze-yin Tan, Alexander Parker and Zoë Ayres.

We have hosted the LIYSF for each of the past 11 years and look forward to further visits in the future!

Warwick University hosted the annual Diamond Conference sponsored by De Beers, celebrating the landmark of 65 years. The conference ran from thre 7th to the 10th of July with delegates attending from all over the globe. Lectures covered a wide variety of different diamond research areas including electrochemical applications, nanodiamond, gemmology, quantum technologies, CVD growth, as well as diamond devices and applications.

Several members of the research group presented posters about their diamond research including Jennifer Webb on her investigation into the use of diamond nanopores, Tania Read on her diamond pH generation ring-disk electrode, Lingcong Meng on laser-heated diamond electrochemistry, as well as Glen O'Neil and Zoë Ayres on their work on Electrochemical x-ray fluoresence. Jonathan Newland also gave a well-received talk on "Diamond Microfluidic Devices for Electrochemical Analysis".

The conference provided an opportunity for members of the group to meet researchers and industrialists in the diamond community.

On the 7th of July the Chemistry Department hosted the annual Students vs Staff departmental cricket match in memory of Arthur Hartwell. Several members of WEIG took part in the match, with other members of WEIG on the sidelines giving support to their colleagues.

Despite starting the match in the rain and coming off after two overs, a full 12-a-side, 22 over game was possible. The staff (heavy on technicians, light on academics) put the students (mostly PhD's and a few undergrads) into bat in moist conditions.

The Arthur Hartwell Memorial Trophy was won by the Students (136 for 7 vs 86 for 6) and triumphantly accepted by the student captain Rob Channon. The day was a contrast of strong performances by newcomers and several dropped catches. In the end, faster hitting and better fielding granted the students a 50 run victory.

The Harry Wiles Sporting Performance Cup was awarded by Alison Rodger to Sophie Kinnear for "a fantastic spell of death bowling (2-0-4)".

Speakers Doug MacFarlane, Alan Bond and Jie Zhang provided insight into the great advances in electrochemistry occuring at Monash University at the "ACES: ElectroMaterials Down Under" talks hosted by the University of Warwick. Excellent talks were also given by WEIG's very own postdocs Aleix Guell and Maxim Joseph on carbon nanotubes and diamond respectively.

Monash University and the University of Warwick form the electromaterials alliance, providing a link between the two universities in order to improve on electrochemical research. Doug MacFarlane presented a plaque as a symbol of the partnership.