ENERGIZE Research

The overarching goal of the ENERGIZE NRT program is to bring together the community of researchers and students working towards sustainable energy across campus.  Researchers at BU are actively working in the areas of photochemical conversion, electrochemical conversion, and electrochemical storage. Additionally, there are emerging areas of research in combined photo- and electro-chemical conversion that BU researchers are actively pursuing. The ENERGIZE NRT will catalyze convergent research in these new and emerging areas by building a community and training Ph.D. students that have not only depth in their immediate research area but also the breadth to understand their research in the broader context of sustainability, and the knowledge of tools and methods available to them in the areas of experimental, computational, and data science research.

ENERGIZE trainees will conduct research under one of the three themes discussed below. Their research will take place in the laboratory of a participating faculty member and will be expected to incorporate experimental, computational, and data science components either through their direct research or through collaborations with other ENERGIZE trainees. Trainees will be expected to have an interdisciplinary research committee that oversees their research and meets with trainees at least every six months to assess research progress, discuss challenges, and ensure the trainee is making progress towards their degree.

Theme 1: Photochemical Conversion

Photochemical conversion involves chemically transforming substrates into desirable products using sunlight as the driving force.

Theme 2: Electrochemical Conversion

Critical to the reduction of carbon pollution is the use of high energy efficiency electrochemical conversion systems that are based on the direct conversion of fuels to electricity, electrochemical conversion of renewable energy to transportable, high energy density liquid fuels, conversion of renewable energy to hydrogen, and the conversion of carbon dioxide and water vapor to synthetic gas (syngas).

Theme 3: Electrochemical Storage

Critical to the increased use of renewable energy and the expansion of electric vehicles and electrification of industry is the development of efficient, high energy density storage.