We are developing new materials for water splitting, with a particular focus on employing electrochemical techniques to conduct mechanistic studies. The intimate coupling between proton transfer and electron transfer has been a central theme of our research over the past decade. We aim to leverage this knowledge to advance the field of water electrolysis, specifically in the development of catalysts for H₂ and O₂ evolution.

The production of synthetic fuels from affordable and renewable sources is a major economic and environmental challenge in addressing the current global energy crisis. Our project focuses on utilizing the CO₂ dissolved in seawater as a building block for synthetic fuel production. Seawater offers a particular advantage, as the concentration of CO₂ is 125 times higher than in the atmosphere. By combining seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production with CO₂ extraction, we aim to generate non-fossil fuels using a system of floating islands powered by photovoltaic panels.

Lignin is the most abundant source of renewable aromatic functionalities on Earth. Investigating environmentally benign processes for selective lignin depolymerization is essential for modern bio-refineries. Electrochemical synthesis is an ideal technology to achieve this objective, as it can be conducted at room temperature and atmospheric pressure using renewable electricity as the driving force. Moreover, utilizing H₂O as both a hydrogen and oxygen donor has the potential to make lignin depolymerization economical and sustainable, encouraging the commercial conversion of biomass into value-added aromatic products. This project aims to develop new electrochemical depolymerization pathways and study their mechanisms using cyclic voltammetry.