Accelerated Decarbonization
Can we restore the carbon balance through bold ideas?
The Accelerated Decarbonization program seeks to explore new ideas for global decarbonization through advances in fundamental science. United through a common goal of restoring the carbon balance, the program’s interdisciplinary research drives the discovery of new science that can solve pressing climate-related problems. Embracing an unbiased stance towards technology, program members are empowered to boldly pursue innovative research ideas that lead towards a carbon-balanced future.
IMPACT CLUSTERS
The Accelerated Decarbonization program is part of the following CIFAR Impact Clusters: Exploring Emerging Technologies and Nurturing a Resilient Earth. CIFAR’s research programs are organized into 5 distinct Impact Clusters that address significant global issues and are committed to fostering an environment in which breakthroughs emerge.
RESEARCH AND SOCIETAL IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS
Combining carbon capture and conversion
Through a Catalyst Fund project, program Co-Director Curtis Berlinguette (University of British Columbia) and Fellow Christopher Chang’s (University of California, Berkeley) research groups have mimicked the combined CO2 capture and conversion capabilities of bacterial organelles in the natural world by combining expertise in molecular chemistry, materials science and engineering. Synthetic bacterial proteins are used to convert CO2 into bicarbonate-rich solutions. Next, more useful chemicals are produced by applying electrolyzer devices to these solutions to reduce CO2.
Converting CO2 into less harmful, more useful chemicals
Work in CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar Chibueze Amanchukwu’s (University of Chicago) lab focuses on understanding the influence of electrolytes on CO2 conversion and uses organic solvents (not water) as the electrolyte. The group was the first to create valuable carbon products from CO2 while using alkali cations in organic solvents, a breakthrough that has major implications for the future of carbon conversion.
Selected papers:
B.C. Kash, R.J. Gomes, and C.V. Amanchukwu. Mitigating Electrode Inactivation during CO2 Electrocatalysis in Aprotic Solvents with Alkali Cations. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2023, 14, 4, 920–926. January 20, 2023
A. Aspuru-Guzik. The decade of artificial intelligence in chemistry and materials. Digital Discovery, 2023, 2, 10-11 January 19, 2023.
A. Karbelkar, R. Ahlmark, X Zhou, K Austin, G Fan, V. Y. Yang, and A. Furst. Carbon Electrode-Based Biosensing Enabled by Biocompatible Surface Modification with DNA and Proteins. Bioconjugate Chem. 2023, 34, 2, 358–365. January 12, 2023
A.H. Proppe, Y.C. Li, A. Aspuru-Guzik, C.P. Berlinguette, C.J. Chang, R. Cogdell, A.G. Doyle, J. Flick, N. Gabor, R van Grondelle, S. Hammes-Schiffer, S.A. Jaffer, S.O. Kelly, M. Leclerc, K. Leo, T.E. Mallouk, P. Narang, G.S. Schlau-Cohen, G.S. Scholes. A. Vojvodic, V. W-W. Yam, J.Y. Yang, E.H. Sargent. Bioinspiration in Light Harvesting and Catalysis. Nat. Rev. Mater. 2020, 5, 828-846. DOI: 10.1038/s41578-020-0222-0
Founded
2014
Renewal Dates
2020
Supporters
Chisholm Thomson Family Foundation, The George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation, Gerald Heffernan, McLean Group, RBC Foundation, Trottier Family Foundation
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Chemistry
Materials Science
Biophysics
Physics
Engineering
Biology
Data Science
Biochemistry
Machine Learning
Robotics
CIFAR Contact
Fellows & Advisors
Program Directors
Alán Aspuru-Guzik
Program Co-Director
Canada CIFAR AI Chair
Pan-Canadian AI Strategy
University of Toronto
Vector Institute
Curtis P. Berlinguette
Program Co-Director
Fellows
Tonio Buonassisi
Fellow
Christopher J. Chang
Fellow
Michelle Chang
Fellow
Matthew Kanan
Fellow
Laura Lammers
Associate Fellow
Alissa Park
Fellow
Yogesh Surendranath
Fellow
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2018-2020
Aleksandra Vojvodic
Trottier Family Foundation Fellow
Advisors
Fraser Armstrong
Advisor
Richard Cogdell
Advisory Committee Chair
Shaffiq Jaffer
Advisor
Daniel Nocera
Advisor
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars
Chibueze Amanchukwu
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars 2022-2024
Ariel Furst
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars 2022-2024
Nathaniel Gabor
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2017-2019
Ximin He
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2019-2021
Prineha Narang
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2018-2020
Eva Nichols
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars 2022-2024
Gabriela Schlau-Cohen
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2016-2018
Yogesh Surendranath
Fellow
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2018-2020
Haotian Wang
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2019-2021
Jeffrey J. Warren
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2016-2018
Jenny Yang
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar 2018-2020
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