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.
RESEARCH AND SOCIETAL IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS
A novel CO2 conversion strategy
Converting CO2 into less harmful chemicals requires the input of energy into a system to drive a reaction forward. These electrocatalytic systems have several tunable components, including the electrolyte, which acts as a solvent and conducts electric current. CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar, Chibueze Amanchukwu, focuses on understanding the influence of the electrolyte on CO2 conversion and uses organic solvents, instead of water, as the electrolyte. The group was the first to show that benign carbon products can be formed from CO2 when alkali cations are used in organic solvents. This experimental setup allows for the efficient conversion of CO2, and the successful avoidance of byproduct formation, which can traditionally hamper the CO2 conversion process.
Merging molecular chemistry and materials science to capture and convert CO2
Through a collaborative Catalyst Fund project, program co-director Curtis Berlinguette and CIFAR Fellow Christopher Chang’s groups are working towards a new concept in combining carbon capture and conversion, drawing inspiration from biology. By merging expertise in molecular chemistry, as well as materials science and engineering, the researchers can mimic the combined CO2 capture and conversion capabilities of bacterial organelles in the natural world. Synthetic bacterial proteins developed by Chang are used to convert CO2 into bicarbonate-rich solutions. These solutions can then be directly used by electrolyzer devices designed by the Berlinguette group to reduce CO2 into less harmful chemicals. Capturing CO2 in this novel way rivals established CO2 capture technologies, without harsh conditions and represents a new concept in combined carbon capture and conversion.
Autonomous Experiments: Using AI to impact climate change
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics is transforming the field of material science, leading to breakthroughs in climate-related technologies. By leveraging AI algorithms and robotic platforms, researchers in the ADC program including Curtis Berlinguette, program co-director Alán Aspuru-Guzik, and Tonio Buonassisi are developing innovative clean energy materials that exhibit improved efficiency, durability and cost-effectiveness. The use of AI algorithms and robotic platforms allow researchers to discover new catalysts for efficient energy conversion, improved battery materials for energy storage and advanced materials for electronics and photonics applications.
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
Lebovic Fellow
Pan-Canadian AI Strategy
Vector Institute
Curtis P. Berlinguette
Program Co-Director
Fellows
Alán Aspuru-Guzik
Program Co-Director
Canada CIFAR AI Chair
Lebovic Fellow
Pan-Canadian AI Strategy
Vector Institute
Christopher J. Chang
Fellow
Michelle Chang
Fellow
Matthew Kanan
Fellow
Laura Lammers
Associate Fellow
Thomas Mallouk
Fellow
Alissa Park
Fellow
Aleksandra Vojvodic
Trottier Family Foundation Fellow
Advisors
Fraser Armstrong
Advisor
Richard Cogdell
Advisory Committee Chair
Shaffiq Jaffer
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
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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CIFAR is a registered charitable organization supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta and Quebec, as well as foundations, individuals, corporations and Canadian and international partner organizations.