Molecules & Materials for Artificial Photosynthesis

The replacement of fossil fuels by a clean and renewable energy source is one of the most urgent and challenging issues our society is facing today, which is why intense research is devoted to this topic recently. Nature has been using sunlight as the primary energy input to oxidize water and generate carbohydrates (a solar fuel) for over a billion years. Inspired, but not constrained, by nature, artificial systems can be designed to capture light and oxidize water and reduce protons or other organic compounds to generate useful chemical fuels. Significant progress has been made recently in artificial photosynthesis based on molecular chemistry and material science.  However, developments in these two areas have occurred more independently than what is perhaps desired. In the present meeting, we will bring together researchers in these two scientific communities to explore possible synergistic effects of “fusion” between molecular and materials systems.

The primary topics to be covered in our conference will include:

a)      fundamentals of light capturing and conversion

b)      water oxidation catalysis

c)      proton and CO₂ reduction catalysis

d)      interfacing molecules and materials for photosynthesis

e)      complete cells for the generation of solar fuels

Confirmed Plenary Speakers

Professor Thomas Meyer
University of North Carolina

Professor Victor Salvador Batista
Yale University

Professor Joseph Hupp
Northwestern University, Illinois


Confirmed Keynote Speakers

Professor Leone Spiccia
Monash University

Professor Morris Bullock
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Professor Lionel Vayssieres
Xian Jiaotong University

Professor Guozhong Cao
Washington University


Confirmed Invited Speakers

Professor Xuan Zhao
University of Memphis

Professor Martin Albrecht
University College Dublin

Professor Dunwei Wang
Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College

Dr Elder de la Rosa-Cruz
Centro de Investigaciones en Optica A. C., México

Professor Dongling Ma
University of Quebec

Professor Tim Lian
Emory University

Professor Qingfeng Ge
Southern Illinois University

Professor Yun Hang Hu
Michigan Technological University

Professor Tzarara Lopez-Luke
Centro de Investigaciones en Óptica A.C.

Professor Krishnan Rajeshwar
University of Texas

Professor Jeanne McHale
Washington State University

Professor Yat Li
University of Califoria, Santa Cruz

Professor Samuel Mao
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Professsor Curtis Paul Berlinguette
University of Calgary

Professor Patrick Holland
University of Rochester

Professor Masayuki Yagi
Niigata University

Professor Sascha Ott
Uppsala University

Professor T C Lau
City University of Hong Kong

Professor Timofei Privalov
Stockholm Universit

Professor Siddhartha Das
Utah State University

Professor Alceo Macchioni
Università di Perugia

Professor Marie-Noelle Collomb
Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble

Professor Vincent Ko
City University of Hong Kong

Dr Junko Yano
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Professor Deli Wang
University of California, San Diego

Professor Yiping Zhao
University of Georgia

Dr Etsuko Fujita
Brookhaven National Laboratory