Welcome to the website of the MACATAMO Group
The Materials and Catalysis Modelling Group is a multiscale modelling group with the capacity for experimental validation.
As part of the University of Limerick, the Bernal Institute and the Faculty of Science and Engineering, the MACATAMO-Group integrates diverse modelling approaches to deliver true multiscale insights. Our research focuses on bridging the gap between theory and experiment by developing computational models that capture realistic conditions at every scale.
At the atomistic level, we employ detailed models that incorporate effects such as solvent interactions, electric fields, and loading. These are complemented by a priori and a posteriori methods that account for variables, including pressure, temperature, and electrochemical potentials.
To connect molecular-scale simulations with experimental observations, we focus on determining how dependencies affect kinetic coefficients, and equilibrium constants. In catalytic studies, variable-dependent reaction-network thermodynamics—obtained on representative molecular model systems—are integrated into kinetic and multiscale models.
This interconnected modelling framework is essential for advancing understanding across catalysis, adsorption, separation, chemical and energy conversion processes, where phenomena span multiple scales and depend critically on the interplay between structure, dynamics, and reactivity.
Our group is extremely grateful for funding from the H2020-FETproactive HERMES (2020-2025), the EIC Pathfinder SUN2CN (2025-2029), the Irish Research Council (for individual fellowships, 2021-2027), the Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future Awards MEM-E-TECH (2025-2029), Enterprise Ireland (coordinator & ERC support grants, 2020-2027) and the Research Ireland centres AMBER (2020-2025) and SSPC (2022-present).