New materials and green chemistry

Renewable materials are absolutely central to a sustainable society. Development of new materials, and knowledge about them, has enabled humanity and our societies to develop throughout history. We have used a broad span of materials – from bronze and iron to the semiconductors of today, such as silicon and germanium, which have paved the way for the modern age of information. But many materials, and the way they are manufactured, have also exacerbated current environmental problems because they have not been sustainable.

These days, research in materials science and chemistry is largely concentrated on finding sustainable green alternatives. Physics, chemistry and engineering have merged in efforts to find new solutions. One example is the production of new chemicals from renewable raw materials such as carbon dioxide and water. It is now possible to create artificial materials by tailoring the atomic properties of a given material or by using living materials such as yeast to produce green chemicals.

But the science on old materials such as cellulose is also important to create the new sustainable materials of the future. Replacing oil with wood in the manufacture of plastics, creating stronger and more fire-resistant materials, as well as new functional materials, are some of the goals at Wallenberg Wood Science Center.

Nor should electronics of the future be dependent on finite, rare metals that impoverish people and the planet alike. Those metals must be replaced by new materials.

Researchers are also making strenuous efforts to replace fossil fuels, and to substitute many chemicals and change their manufacture in order to reduce or eliminate their climate impact. Green chemistry means designing compounds to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation supports preeminent basic research. The list below shows researchers working on new, sustainable materials and green energy who have been funded by the Foundation.

New materials and green chemistry

Professor Magnus Berggren
Linköping University

Creating new research fields using organic electronics

 

Professor Lars Berglund
KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Environmentally friendly materials from nanocellulose

 

Professor Olle Eriksson
Uppsala University

The quest for magnetic materials of the future

 

Aleksandra Foltynowicz-Matyba
Umeå University

Measuring molecular fingerprints

 

Professor Belén Martín-Matute
Stockholm University

New materials for sustainable chemicals manufacturing

 

Professor Jens Nielsen
Chalmers  University of Technology

Insights on cancer leading to green chemistry in the inner sanctum of cells

 

Professor Anders Nilsson
Stockholm University

In-depth study of carbon dioxide conversion

 

Professor Sascha Ott
Uppsala University

Resource efficient chemistry

 

Associate professor Haining Tian
Uppsala University

Converting solar energy into fuels using nanoparticles, water and CO2

 

Professor Jiayin Yuan
Stockholms universitet

Porous carbon electrodes bode well for the environment