Meet our team: Caltech

Not all the institutions participating in the SOREC2 consortium are based in Europe.  For example, one of its contributors is the Peters Group from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Led by Dr. Jonas Peters, this research group brings specialized knowledge and long-lasting experience in molecular additives and electrochemistry to help to the project to develop a new cathode for CO₂ reduction. For the four chapter of “Meet our Team” series, we interviewed Madeline Hicks, a researcher from Peters Group, to delve deeper into CALTECH’s role, goals and expectations within the SOREC2 project.

Madeline, could you briefly introduce the Caltech team involved in SOREC2?

Dr. Jonas Peters is the Bren Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology. Jonas and his coworkers are recognized for pioneering research relevant to global carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen cycles, with energy storage applications. As director of the Resnick Sustainability Institute, Jonas is leveraging Caltech’s unique strengths to innovate solutions for a more sustainable planet. I’am a fourth-year PhD student in the Peters group, where my work has focused on understanding the electrode-electrolyte interface in heterogenous electrochemical CO₂ reduction. I am a strong believer in interdisciplinary team science.

Which is your specific role and contribution to the project?

Caltech’s role is to provide molecular additives and electrochemistry expertise in order to help the SOREC2 team fabricate a robust and selective cathode for CO₂ reduction.

What are the most important challenges you are facing in this project?

We have been fortunate in that we have not yet run into many challenges!

What are the main achievements so far?

We have shared electrochemistry knowledge in order to facilitate data collection and sent a batch of molecular additive to the cathode fabrication team.

21^st century problems that affect the entire world require 21^st century solutions, and we believe such solutions will arise from research approaches in which many perspectives are heard and taken into consideration.

What added value and experience can the Caltech team bring to the SOREC2 project?

The Caltech team has been studying and implementing molecular modification of cathodes for CO₂ reduction for the past decade.  

Why do you think it is important for your research team to take part in this project?

The prospect of creating renewable fuels from sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water motivates our team. As the modern world searches for more sustainable solutions to fossil fuel dependence, the Caltech team is excited to be at the forefront of developing practical solutions. Our robust cathode fabrication strategy offers one pathway to this goal.

The most interesting part of SOREC2 is the interdisciplinary nature of the consortium. 21^st century problems that affect the entire world require 21^st century solutions, and we believe such solutions will arise from research approaches in which many perspectives are heard and taken into consideration.