Low-Dimension Nanomaterials for Renewable Resourcification

Abstract

Rapid transition towards “net-zero” is an imperative undertaking by science and society to stave off catastrophic climate change, while sustaining resource securities in energy, food, water and materials. The current unprecedented heatwave in Europe is another sure call for urgent climate action. A potential scientific solution may rest with a “water-carbon (H2-CO2) economy”, where resources can be effectively inter-converted and/or resourcified, i.e. by manipulation of a few chemical bonds among H-C-O(-N) atoms, particularly by effective harvesting of renewable solar/wind energy. Specific technical challenges include efficiency, selectivity, durability and scalability of conversion devices, such as electrolysers and photo-reactors. At a more fundamental level, such issues are underpinned by electron-transfer pathways and dynamics of active charge carriers and mass flow, which are still very much un-/under- explored and require urgent cross-disciplinary and cross-border collaborations. The above issues are discussed here with specific examples for water splitting and CO2 conversion to generate renewable hydrogen or high-value added chemicals. Some challenging scientific topics for collaborative interactions will also be proposed for further discussion.

References

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Biography

Professor Zhengxiao Guo is currently a professor at Department of Chemistry, HKU. He was a professor of Chemistry at University College London (2007-2018), a professor (2000-2007), reader (2019-2000) and lecturer (1995-1999) at Queen Mary, University of London, a postdoctorial fellow at University of Oxford (1990-1995) and University of Strathclyde (1988-1990), respectively. He obtained PhD (1988) and BEng (1983) from the University of Manchester and Northeastern University (China), respectively. He is an elected Member of Academea Europaea (MEA) and received the Beilby Medal and Prize from the Society for Chemical Industry, the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institute of Minerals, Metals and Materials, amongst various other recognitions.