Prof. Erwin Reisner

Erwin Reisner is the Professor of Energy and Sustainability in the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, where he also holds a Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Emerging Technologies. He is also a Fellow of St. John’s College, Cambridge. He is an expert in renewable energy technologies and sustainable chemistry, in particular the sunlight-powered production of sustainable fuels and platform chemicals. His cross-disciplinary research into solar chemistry and circular chemical technologies focuses on the capture and utilisation of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide as well as the valorisation of plastics and biomass waste to produce green fuels and chemicals for a net zero future.

Erwin’s laboratory on solar chemical technologies has been supported by several fellowships and grants such as an EPSRC Career Acceleration Fellowship on bio-inspired solar hydrogen production (2009-2015), the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Sustainable SynGas Chemistry (2012-2019), a European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant on semi-artificial photosynthesis (2016-2023), an ERC/UKRI Advanced Grant on semi-biological domino catalysis (2023-2028) and a Royal Academy of Engineering Chair for tech-transfer of solar reforming (2024-2034). He has received several awards and recognitions for his team’s scientific achievements, such as the Hughes Medal by the Royal Society (2023), the Tilden Prize by the Royal Society of Chemistry (2024) and being named as ClarivateTM Highly Cited Researcher (2024).

https://www-reisner.ch.cam.ac.uk/

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Abstract

The mimicry of photosynthesis to produce sustainable fuels and chemicals has long inspired scientists, but fully functional and scalable systems that fully replicate natural photosynthesis remain rare, and viable routes to commercialisation are uncertain.

Recent advances in the assembly of photosynthesis-inspired architectures have enabled the construction of prototype solar devices for direct CO₂ fixation. Artificial leaves combine semiconductor light absorbers with immobilised (bio)molecular catalysts to drive solar-powered CO2 reduction, producing fuels, alongside oxygen evolution from water oxidation. These products can be further upgraded via integrated catalytic processes, for example converting formate into enantioenriched organics through enzymatic cascades or into sugars using engineered microorganisms. The replacement of water oxidation by the valorisation of waste substrates provides a possible path towards commercialisation. This “solar reforming” approach offers favourable thermodynamics and kinetics while improving economic viability by coupling fuel production with waste upcycling. This presentation will outline the emerging paradigm of integrated solar chemistry, spanning artificial photosynthesis and solar reforming. It will also highlight frontiers such as atmospheric CO₂ utilisation, advanced light management in integrated devices, and solar-driven cascade catalysis for high-value chemical synthesis.

More information: https://www-reisner.ch.cam.ac.uk/
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