Speaker:

Prof. Paolo Fornasiero, University of Trieste.

Tittle: Beyond the Surface: A Personal Journey into Sustainable Catalysis

Time: 14:00 July 20th, 2026 (Monday)

Venue: Conference Room 5, Building No.6

Host: Prof. Zhiyong Tang

Abstract:

A Heterogeneous photocatalysis based on readily available, well-defined single-atom or metal-free catalysts is attracting growing interest, driven by the increasing pressure on industry to adopt more sustainable chemical production schemes. In the energy sector, nanostructured catalytic materials have demonstrated remarkable potential for the efficient conversion of pollutant, biomass as well as for the production of hydrogen and liquid hydrogen carriers, organic synthesis, propane dehydrogenation and as well as in challenging CO2 to ethylene photocatalytic conversion. These emerging catalytic systems are expected to move beyond fundamental research and stimulate industrial interest in the development of green organic synthesis, renewable energy conversion, and pollution prevention and control - key challenges of the 21st century and the central focus of this presentation, with emphasis on international collaboration especially with China. 

Info.:

Paolo Fornasiero holds the Chair of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Trieste and is Vice-rector for Research. He is Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences (2021), of the Academia Europaea (2022), and of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (2025).  His research interests focus on inorganic chemistry, with attention to the design and development of multi-functional nano-systems and their advanced applications in energy related processes and environmental heterogeneous catalysis. He has published over 350 articles in prestigious international journals (including 5 Science, Nature, Nature Energy. Nature Catalysis, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., Adv. Mater., Angew. Chem., J. Am. Chem. Soc., Adv. Func. Mater., ACS Nano, Energy Environmental Science, etc.), which have been cited over 44,000 times (H index = 98 Scopus, H index = 110 Google Schoolar). He serves the community as Executive Editor of the journal ACS Catalysis. He received the 2005 Nasini Medal, the 2013 Chiusoli Medal, the 2022 Malatesta award and the 2025 Chini memorial Lecture, the 2016 Heinz Heinemann Award from the International Association of Catalysis Societies. He was 2018 Visiting Scientist Fellowship of the Chinese Academy of Science.