The Energy Materials and Sustainability Unit focuses on the development of advanced materials from single atoms to nanoparticles through precise tuning of their local surface environments, and on the integration of these materials into innovative technologies for solar and electrochemically driven energy conversion processes. These technologies aim to transform waste, water, and air into sustainable fuels and high-value chemicals. Combining expertise in inorganic chemistry, nanomaterials, and hybrid photo/electrochemical devices, the unit addresses key challenges in catalysis, energy conversion, CO2/N2 fixation, and organic transformations. Current areas of interest include heterogeneous catalysis for the upcycling of plastic and biomass waste, as well as the valorization of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. Our unit's research aspires to advance green fuel and chemical production for a net-zero future and to contribute to the realization of a circular, green chemical industry.
