The RCO (Reactivity and Organometallic Catalysis) research team is located in the Chemistry Department of the University of Namur. Researchers are housed in two recently equipped synthesis laboratories and a physical measurement and spectroscopy laboratory. Offices and a meeting room are located next to the laboratories, in an area dedicated to team members and students.

Research topics

Our team aims to develop bifunctional catalysts consisting of Lewis acid and base functions to activate small molecules (H₂, CO₂, SO₂, C₂H₂, CH₄...). The reactivity of these catalysts as well as the mechanism and kinetics of activation reactions are studied by advanced spectroscopic methods.

These research themes are located at the frontier between organic, organometallic, heterochemistry (Group 13 and 14 elements), and coordination chemistry and advance the development of new concepts in homogeneous catalysis. Our research projects are funded by the FNRS, the ERC, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and the University of Namur.

RCO members

Promoter (PI)

Guillaume BERIONNI is also affiliated with the Institute NISM (Pôle FSM)

Other members

Assistant: Oumayma BEN ROMDHANE

Post-doc researchers: Kajetan BIJOUAR, Sophie RODRIGUES and Julia VOLK

Doctors: Maxence BONNEVAL, Sayandip CHAKRABORTY, Nicolas NIESSEN and Antoine WILLEMS

Memorants: Merlin LIEUWOUO CHIMI and Tom NAZE

Administrative assistant: Marion MATHOT