As many of our readers are no doubt aware, Alfa Aesar is Johnson Matthey's catalogue chemicals business. As well as supplying research chemicals to the fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries, Alfa Aesar also supplies universities and can deliver at any scale from bench to pilot plant and through to commercial scale production (1).

Platinum Metals Review has now teamed up with Alfa Aesar to administer the “Johnson Matthey Alfa Aesar Research Chemicals Scheme”, formerly known as the “Loans Scheme”. Since the early years of the 20th century, Johnson Matthey has used this scheme to support fundamental research centred on the platinum group metals (pgms) (2). Academics and university groups can apply to receive small amounts of pgm salts for use in their research, with a focus on novel applications which may have future commercial potential.

The scheme is currently well-subscribed. In the past year we have supported projects in diverse areas including anticancer drugs, asymmetric catalysis, biomass conversion, nanoparticles, pharmaceuticals, photovoltaics and renewable energy.

We are delighted to formally announce our partnership with Alfa Aesar who from April 2013 will be supplying the chemicals from their stocks. We look forward to working with our colleagues at Alfa Aesar.

“PGMs in the Lab”

From the next issue of Platinum Metals Review, in July 2013, we will feature a new section called “PGMs in the Lab” in which we will profile one of the many researchers whose work has benefited from the support of Johnson Matthey and Alfa Aesar. This work has expanded the boundaries of pgms research and we hope that many new applications for the pgms will arise from this exciting collaborative approach. Look out for the new section and see if it inspires you to try some new collaborations of your own.

Finally don’t forget that we are always interested to hear from you about your research into new areas of application for the pgms. So if you have some new pgm research to report, a book that you would like reviewed, or a conference that you have organised or attended, please contact us at the above address.