SFN 9th Symposium, including Public Event

The 9th Solar Fuels Network Symposium and Early Career Event was held on 9th September 2021 and virtually hosted by Dr Sebastian Sprick from the University of Strathclyde. The meeting was held in the context of COP 26 which will take place from the 31st of October until the 12th of November in Glasgow.

More than 150 attendees saw our speakers covering a wide range of topics, including spectroscopy, computational prediction, device fabrication, supramolecular photocatalytic systems, photoelectrochemical tandem devices, and polymer photocatalysts. Early career researchers also had the opportunity to present their research through flash and poster presentations. The afternoon featured a public session that provided background on the potential role of solar fuels in tackling the climate crisis. Prof. James Durrant provided an overview over the role of solar fuels in Mission Innovation Challenge 5, Dr Pau Farràs Costa gave an overview of the SEAFUEL scale-up project and Prof. Bert Weckhuysen provided background information on the SUNERGY initiative. The presentations were followed by a panel discussion with questions from the public covering a wide range of topics. A recording of the public session can be view via YouTube. The following day the Early Career Researcher Event took place featuring two invited speakers and six PhD students/post-docs. Again, a wide range of subjects was covered relating to solar fuels, including electrolysis, photocatalysis, carbon dioxide reduction, reactor design, photocatalytic materials, predictions, and spectroscopy. Prizes were given by the Royal Society of Chemistry journals Chemical Science, Energy and Environmental Science, Sustainable Energy & Fuels, and Journal Materials Chemistry A for the best flash/poster presentations and ECR talks.