AMBER Researcher awarded prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry prize for contribution to scientific progress 

25 June 2025

AMBER Researcher Professor Valeria Nicolosi of Trinity College Dublin has been named winner of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Peter Day Prize in recognition of brilliance in research and innovation.

Prof Nicolosi won the prize for groundbreaking work in the development of two-dimensional materials and nanomaterials, advancing energy storage, electronic devices, and sustainable technologies. and receives £3,000 and a medal.

Speaking of her research: My work focuses on developing and studying novel thin materials, some just a single atom thick, such as graphene and other advanced materials known as two-dimensional nanomaterials. Because of their unique structure, these materials can do things conventional ones can’t: they’re stronger, lighter, and conduct electricity and heat in remarkable ways. I use some of the world’s most advanced microscopes to look at these materials in extreme detail. This allows us to understand how they behave and how we can use them to create better, more efficient technologies. One of the key areas I focus on is energy storage – designing new materials to improve batteries and supercapacitors, so they can charge faster, last longer, and have less environmental impact. This kind of research is essential for the future of electric cars, renewable energy systems, and portable devices like smartphones and laptops. In short, I my work is to take cutting-edge materials and turn them into solutions that make technology smarter, greener, and more efficient, which is helping to build a more sustainable future.

After receiving the prize, Prof Nicolosi said: “I’m deeply honoured to receive the 2025 Materials Chemistry Mid-Career Prize: Peter Day Prize. This recognition means a great deal to me, especially as it highlights the work my team and I have done in the development of two-dimensional materials and nanomaterials. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how fundamental research can lead to advances in energy storage, electronics, and sustainable technologies – areas that are vital to our collective future. I’m grateful to the Royal Society of Chemistry and to the brilliant colleagues and collaborators who have been part of this journey.”

Dr Helen Pain, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said: 

“The chemical sciences cover a rich and diverse collection of disciplines, from fundamental understanding of materials and the living world, to applications in medicine, sustainability, technology and more. By working together across borders and disciplines, chemists are finding solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

“Our prize winners come from a vast array of backgrounds, all contributing in different ways to our knowledge base, and bringing fresh ideas and innovations. We recognise chemical scientists from every career stage and every role type, including those who contribute to the RSC’s work as volunteers. We celebrate winners from both industry and academia, as well as individuals, teams, and the science itself.

“Their passion, dedication and brilliance are an inspiration. I extend my warmest congratulations to them all.”

The Royal Society of Chemistry’s prizes have recognised excellence in the chemical sciences for more than 150 years. This year’s winners join a prestigious list of past winners in the RSC’s prize portfolio, 60 of whom have gone on to win Nobel Prizes for their work, including 2022 Nobel laureate Carolyn Bertozzi and 2019 Nobel laureate John B Goodenough.

The Research and Innovation Prizes celebrate brilliant individuals across industry and academia. They include prizes for those at different career stages in general chemistry and for those working in specific fields, as well as interdisciplinary prizes and prizes for those in specific roles. Other prize categories include those for volunteers, those for in education (announced in November), the Inclusion & Diversity Prize, and the Horizon Prizes – which celebrate discoveries and innovations that push the boundaries of science.

Rewarding Excellence and Gaining Recognition

The Royal Society of Chemistry’s Prizes portfolio is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the world, recognising achievements by individuals, teams and organisations in advancing the chemical sciences. We reward those undertaking excellent work in the chemical sciences from across the world.