Abstract

In this talk, I will present a novel, stable, and ultraclean hybrid energy storage and conversion device that continuously supplies energy using naturally abundant resources such as sunlight, water, and CO?. The device is primarily composed of nanoporous semiconductors, including carbon nitrides, phosphides, sulfides, and carbon-based materials. These materials are incorporated into stable, cost-effective photocatalytic semiconductor systems for converting CO? or seawater into clean fuels using solar energy. This breakthrough technology not only reduces CO? levels but also provides a sustainable source of clean energy.

I will discuss the development, capabilities, and current and future applications of multifunctional nanoporous materials, with a special focus on a new family of semiconducting nanostructures composed of carbon and nitrogen (carbon nitrides). These materials feature diverse pore diameters, nitrogen contents, and structures, making them essential components of the proposed clean energy and storage device.1-11 Specifically, I will highlight the preparation of novel mesoporous C?N?, C?N?, C?N?, and C?N? materials, along with their structural characterization using advanced spectroscopic techniques. Additionally, I will demonstrate how the chemical composition, structure, porosity, and functionalization of these unique materials can be precisely tuned. This includes the fabrication of carbon nitrides from single molecular precursors containing C, N, and S elements, as well as the synthesis of mono- and bimetallic sulfides.

In the second part of the talk, I will focus on the energy storage and photocatalytic performance of these nanoporous carbon nitrides and their hybrids, particularly in sunlight-assisted seawater water splitting and CO? capture and conversion. Emphasis will be placed on the bulk production of functionalized carbon nanostructures and their commercialization, including the demonstration of a pilot plant for CO? capture. Finally, I will present the integration of CO? capture and conversion technology with fuel cells, batteries, and supercapacitors to develop an advanced energy storage and conversion system capable of providing continuous energy for mobile and automotive applications. This innovative device is designed to not only produce clean energy but also continuously reduce CO? levels, offering a sustainable solution for global energy and environmental challenges.

References

1. Vinu et al., Chem. Soc. Rev. 2023, 52 (21), 7602-7664

2. Vinu et al., Adv. Mater. 2024, 36, 2306895. 

3. Vinu et al. Prog. in Mater. Sci. 2023, 135, 101104

4. Vinu et al. Prog. in Mater. Sci. 2024, 101242

5. Vinu et al., Adv. Mater., 2020, 32, 1904635. 

6. Vinu et al., Chem. Soc. Rev., 2020, 49, 4360. 

7. Vinu et al., Nano Energy, 2020, 72, 104702. 

8. Vinu et al., Angewandte Chemie, 2018, 130 (52), 17381. 

9. Vinu et al., Chem. Soc. Rev., 2018, 47, 2680. 

10. Vinu at al., Nano Energy, 2021, 82, 105733.

11. Vinu et al., Angewandte Chemie 2021, 60 (39), 21242.

Biography

Prof. Ajayan Vinu is a Laureate Professor and the Director of the Global Innovative Center for Advanced Nanomaterials (GICAN) at the University of Newcastle. Previously, he held the position of Global Innovation Chair Professor and Director of GICAN at the same institution. From 2015 to 2017, he served as a Full Professor of Nanomaterials at the Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia. Between 2011 and 2015, he was a Full Professor and an ARC Future Fellow at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Prior to his tenure in Australia, Prof. Vinu worked as a senior researcher at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Tsukuba, Japan, following a two-year ICYS fellowship and earlier research at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern (TUK) in Germany. During his doctoral studies at Anna University, he conducted most of his research at TUK from 2000 to 2003. Over the past two decades, Prof. Vinu has made significant contributions to the field of nanoporous materials and their applications in sensing, energy storage, fuel cells, adsorption and separation, and catalysis.

International Recognition

Prof. Vinu’s research achievements have been recognized with numerous prestigious international awards, including the Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher recognition in 2024, the Aether Industries Indian Chemical Society Centennial Jubilee Award 2025, the Asian Paints Padma Vibhushan Dr. R.A. Mashelkar Medal (2023), Dr. Ghanshyam Srivastava Memorial Award (2021), the Medal of the Chemical Research Society of India (2018), the KY NIEM CHUONG Award and Medal from the Vietnamese Academy of Sciences (2018), Scopus Young Researcher Award (2014), Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Award from the Humboldt Society (2010), JSPS Senior Invitational Fellowship (2014), Australian Future Fellowship at the Professorial level (2010), the Indian Society for Chemists and Biologists Award for Excellence (2010), the Catalysis Society of India Young Scientist Award (2010), the Chemical Society of Japan Award for the Young Scientist (2008), Laureate of the Khwarizmi International Award (2008), the Asian Excellent Lectureship Award, and the ICYS Fellowship. He is a Fellow of several distinguished societies, including the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC, UK), the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (FRACI), the World Academy of Ceramics (FWAC), the Asia-Pacific Academy of Materials (FAPAM), the World Academy of Art and Science (FWAAS), the Indian Chemical Society, and a Foreign Fellow of the Maharashtra Academy of Sciences (FFMAS).

Prof. Vinu has authored over 565 publications in high-impact journals, which have garnered approximately 39,000 citations, resulting in an h-index of 101. His pioneering work includes advancements in mesoporous carbon nitrides, boron nitrides, boron carbon nitrides, biomolecules, and fullerenes, developed through innovative polymer chemistry and nanotemplating techniques. Over 100 of his publications have received more than 100 citations each, with 45 cited over 200 times, 28 being highly cited, and 32 protected by patents. According to Stanford University’s 2020 database, he has been ranked first in Australia and seventh globally among the Top 2% of scientists in "Materials" over the last two decades.

The commercial and innovative potential of Prof. Vinu’s research is highlighted by his portfolio of 32 national and international patents on novel mesoporous carbon, silica, and carbon nitride materials. He has secured more than AUD 30 million in research funding from industry and government agencies. Additionally, he has contributed chapters for leading publishers, including Wiley, Elsevier, and American Scientific, and serves on the editorial boards of several prominent journals such as ACS Central Science, Carbon (Elsevier), Materials Today Nano (Elsevier), Small Science (Wiley), Emergent Materials (Springer), Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group), Chemical Record (Wiley), J. Nanostructure in Chemistry, and Heliyon.

Prof. Vinu has delivered over 300 lectures, including 52 plenary talks and 37 keynote addresses at international conferences, and more than 210 invited talks at institutions in over 40 countries. He holds honorary professor positions at prestigious universities such as Hokkaido University (Japan), Yonsei University (South Korea), Kyungpook National University (South Korea), Fudan University (China), Jilin University (China), Mangalore University (India), and Anna University (India). He also serves as an Adjunct Principal Researcher at the Korean Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Daejeon (South Korea). His extensive academic engagements have fostered collaborations with researchers in 22 countries.

Prof. Vinu’s work in nanoporous materials has attracted over $30 million in research funding. Beyond research, he has organized numerous international conferences and workshops, including ICEAN in 2012, 2016, 2018, 2022, and 2024. These events have brought together highly cited scientists and Nobel Laureates, creating opportunities for collaboration and providing valuable platforms for early-career researchers and students.