The design of multifunctional materials to address energy and sustainability challenges

Access to clean water along with sustainable energy and the protection of the environment are probably the greatest challenges of our society but also a formidable opportunity to reshape our technology landscape. To this end, researchers must propose transformative approaches to energy production and environmental remediation. In that endeavour, multifunctional materials have a key role to play. Indeed, relying on the increasing complexity and sophistication of materials, we are now able to design materials that can perform multiple functions (hence multifunctional materials) as a way to integrate multiple processes (e.g. carbon capture and conversion).
This seminar will provide an overview of our research – past and current – in that direction. I will discuss selected examples of our work from the design of multifunctional materials (e.g. metal-organic frameworks, nitrides) to their applications in areas such as carbon management or air/water treatment. Our approach encompasses not only materials synthesis but also characterisation and testing, thereby enabling us to have a global perspective on materials structure-property relationships and to envision avenues for the design of next-generation materials in key sustainability focus areas. I will also discuss how materials development can be accelerated through a multi-scale approach combining molecular simulation, lab-scale materials testing and process system modelling.