Welcome to the
Center for Hybrid Approaches in Solar Energy to Liquid Fuels

Our mission is to develop molecule/material hybrid photoelectrodes for cooperative sunlight-driven generation of liquid fuels from carbon dioxide and water.

Image credit: MolGraphics

We aim to address all four DOE Priority Research Opportunities in Liquid Solar Fuels through three complementary research thrusts

Our Catalyst-Semiconductor Interfaces Thrust’s primary goal is to understand the fundamental science behind the design of robust interfaces comprised of molecular catalyst-light absorbing semiconductor materials (hybrid photoelectrodes)

Our Cascades Catalysis Thrust’s primary goal is to develop design principles in fluid solution that enable the cooperative photosynthesis of liquid fuels through multi-catalyst cascades

Our Catalytic Hybrid Photoelectrode Thrust’s primary goal is to understand the principles of functional hybrid photoelectrodes in order to drive CO₂ reduction to liquid fuels.

“The biggest barrier is to couple the light harvesting component of photosynthesis with the chemical fuel production component. Both of those individually will be challenging research targets, but finding a way to integrate the science of light harvesting and solar energy capture with the fuel production chemistry is really our major challenge.” -
Deputy Director Jillian Dempsey