At Cornell, chemistry is at the forefront of solving climate challenges. Professors like Geoffrey Coates and Andrew Musser express strong optimism that scientific breakthroughs will lead to sustainable, long term solutions. The department’s reputation for sustainability research is bolstered by prestigious awards and access to cutting edge facilities such as the Cornell Center for Materials Research, CHESS, and the NanoScale Science and Technology Facility.

With atmospheric CO2 levels rising, Cornell chemists are pioneering energy efficient carbon capture technologies that use sunlight as an energy source. Supported by the Cornell Atkinson Center, NYSERDA, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Energy, the research team also investigates affordable carbon-absorbing materials like sugar and electrified charcoal.

Assistant professors Yao Yang and Erik Thiede apply advanced electron microscopy and machine learning to better understand catalysts that drive carbon dioxide reduction. Additionally, a new carbon capture testing station at Cornell’s natural gas power plant will support the development and testing of innovative capture technologies for both university researchers and industry partners.

Source: https://chemistry.cornell.edu/news/cornell-chemists-tackle-climate-change