Energy and Sustainability

ASU researchers are world leaders in photosynthesis research and in the development of molecular solutions for energy capture, storage and conversion. We build bio-inspired systems that use light to synthesize ATP and split water, and study catalysts that generate clean fuels.  We develop novel materials for battery, fuel cell and energy production technologies, and even study energy flow in geologic and biologic systems that do not rely on photosynthesis. 

Faculty

Laura Ackerman

Organic Chemistry, Sustainable Catalysis, Green Synthesis, Chemistry Online Learning

James Allen

Protein structure and function, X-Ray crystallography, photosynthesis, bacterial cofactors

Christina Birkel

Inorganic solid-state chemistry, non-conventional synthesis methods, (micro)structure of layered solids/2D materials, magnetism, catalysis

Daniel Buttry

Battery and fuel cell materials, Electrochemistry, Corrosion, Interfacial chemistry

Andrew Chizmeshya

Computational Solid State Chemistry, Semiconductor Simulation, Vibrational and Optical Properties of Solids, Physisorption, Carbon Sequestration

Petra Fromme

Structural biochemistry and biophysics, membrane proteins, X-Ray crystallography, photosynthesis, molecular biology

Giovanna Ghirlanda

De-novo protein design and engineering, enzyme mechanisms, protein structure

Ian Gould

Photochemistry, mechanistic organic chemistry, organic geochemistry

Hilairy Hartnett

Aqueous Geochemistry, Biogeochemistry, Oceanography, Carbon Cycle Research, Environmental Chemistry

Anne Jones

Bioinorganic chemistry, electrochemistry, hydrogenases, de novo protein design and engineering, redox enzyme mechanisms, alternative energy generation

Yan Liu

Nanoparticles synthesis and functionalization DNA directed self-assembly Multi-component complex structure

Timothy Long

Synthesis, materials, nanoscale, catalysis/sustainability

Yuval Mazor

Photosynthesis, membrane proteins, genetics, structural biology

Ana Moore

Synthetic organic chemistry, carotenoids, photosynthesis, photochemistry

Gary Moore

Organic chemistry, materials chemistry, solar energy transduction, photocatalysis, molecular electronics, chemical sensing, proton coupled electron transfer

Thomas Moore

Photosynthesis, protonmotive force, proton and electron transfer, photochemistry, photobiology, bioenergy, biocatalysis, sustainable energy, dye sensitized semiconductors

Vladimiro Mujica

Theoretical chemistry, nanoscience, electron transfer, molecular conductance, nanomagnetism, chirality

Tijana Rajh

Nanoparticle synthesis and characterization. Energy and information transduction. Semiconductor assisted electron transfer. Spin effects in nanoarchitectures.

Kevin Redding

Photosynthetic electron transfer, protein-cofactor interactions, membrane protein degradation, re-engineering photosynthesis for energy and bioremediation

Liza Roger

marine biology, biochemistry, biomineralization, geochemistry, symbiosis, reef-building coral, mollusk, cnidarian

Caitlin Sample

Polymer synthesis, materials, sustainability, green chemistry, circular economy

Scott Sayres

Ultrafast Lasers, Electron Dynamics, XUV Spectroscopy, Molecular Clusters

Don Seo

Inorganic solids, sustainable materials chemistry, porous materials, hierarchical nanostructures, hybrid materials, exploration of new synthetic methods, energy production, water purification, environmental remediations

Everett Shock

Biogeochemistry, Thermodynamic Modeling, Microbial Processes, Analytical Methods

Ryan Trovitch

Organometallic and Inorganic Chemistry, Homogeneous Catalysis, Small Molecule Activation, Green Chemistry, Reaction Mechanisms, Organic Synthesis

Jie Xu

Microbe-Nanostructure Interactions, Biogenic Nanomaterials, Amorphous Nanomaterials, Materials Crystal Structure and Catalysis, Anoxygenic Photosynthesis, Sulfur Bacteria, Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria, Biogeochemistry, and Astrobiology

Hao Yan

Design and assembly of biologically inspired nanomaterials, DNA nanostructures, nanoelectronics, biomolecular imaging