News & Events
JCAP News and Media Coverage
+ 2019
Caltech Press Release: How Electrons Break the Speed Limit
Caltech Press Release: Creating Useful Chemicals Out of Thin Air
Science: Can the world make the chemicals it needs without oil?
SLAC Press Release: Plastics, fuels and chemical feedstocks from CO2? They’re working on it.
Caltech Press Release: Researchers find new way to make valuable chemicals
Federal Ministry of education and research (Germany): Cooperation with US institutions on artificial photosynthesis is expanded
LBNL News Center: A ‘Silver Bullet’ for the Chemical Conversion of Carbon Dioxide.
LBNL News Center: Erin Creel, a PhD candidate in UC Berkeley's department of chemistry and research affiliate at the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, was selected as the 2019 graduate student recipient of the UC Berkeley Chancellor's Award for Civic Engagement for her exceptional commitment to advancing social change through public service. MORE
NERSC and the Materials Project are helping JCAP narrow the field of photocathode candidates. Searching for the Right Stuff to Turn CO2 into Energy.
R&D Magazine: Using Supercomputers to Identify Synthesizeable Photocatalysts for Greenhouse CO2 Gas Reduction.
Renewable Energy Magazine: Researchers Develop Artificial Photosynthesis System that Generates Both Hydrogen Fuel and Electricity.
Chemical Engineering: CO2-to-chemicals effort boosted by electrocatalytic process.
CNN: This artificial leaf wants to help fight climate change.
+ 2018
LBNL News Center: Greener Days Ahead for Carbon Fuels.
LBNL News Center: A Solar Cell That Does Double Duty for Renewable Energy.
LBNL News Center: Splitting Water: Nanoscale Imaging Yields Key Insights.
ACS Award in Organometallic Chemistry: Clifford P. Kubiak. Citation: “For his groundbreaking and detailed studies of the reduction of carbon dioxide by transition-metal catalysts.” MORE
Forbes: JCAP alumni Karthish Manthiram and Prineha Narang are distinguished scientists under 30 named by Forbes. MORE
IEEE Spectrum: This Photocell Generates Both Power and Hydrogen.
TechExplorist: Carbon fuels go green for renewable energy.
New Atlas: Hybrid cell turns sunlight and water into hydrogen and electricity.
PV Magazine: Electricity and hydrogen, from one cell.
IEEE Spectrum: Gold Nanomaterials Make Photoelectrode Shine Bright.
Advanced Science News: Preventative Care of Our Planet: A Global Renewable Synthetic Fuels Roadmap.
Adam Weber of the Energy Technologies Area was recently named to the Electrochemical Society’s 2018 Class of Fellows.
Frances Houle was named to the MRS Board of Directors.
+ 2017
LBNL News Center: Reimagining Hydrogen: A Small Molecule With Large-Scale Ideas.
LBNL News Center: New Materials Could Turn Water into the Fuel of the Future.
Caltech press release: New Materials Could Turn Water into the Fuel of the Future.
LBNL News Center: Researchers Find a Surprise Just Beneath the Surface in Carbon Dioxide Experiment.
Caltech press release: Researchers Find a Surprise Just Beneath the Surface in Carbon Dioxide Experiment.
LBNL News Center: Scientists Developing Innovative Techniques for High-Resolution Analysis of Hybrid Materials.
Caltech press release: Carbon Conversion. MORE
LBNL News Center: Solar-to-Fuel System Recycles CO2 to Make Ethanol and Ethylene.
Nate Lewis – National Academy of Inventors. Cited as an inventor who has "demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and welfare of society.” MORE
JCAP graduate students and postdocs win team science contest at the recent 2017 EFRC-Hub-CMS PI meeting in Washington, DC. MORE
Korean Television, YTN Science: https://youtu.be/4evyidmtmQM
IEEE Spectrum: "Artificial Photosynthesis Moves on From Water Splitting to CO2 Reduction"
Wen-Hui Cheng and Matthias Richter are 2017 winners of the Dow Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge Award. MORE
Science Magazine: House reverses proposed cut to energy innovation hubs.
Financial Times: Artificial leaves hold the promise of a clean energy future.
Popular Mechanics: Scientists Turn CO2 Into Ethanol With the Power of the Sun.
IEEE Spectrum: Artificial Photosynthesis Process Promises Highly Selective Carbon Dioxide Reduction.
Power Technology: Solar fuels: materials breakthrough could open new chapter.
Scientific American: Scientists May Be a Step Closer to Creating Solar-Fueled Vehicles.
PhysOrg: Converting carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide using water, electricity.
PhysOrg: Researchers find a surprise just beneath the surface in carbon dioxide experiment.
PhysOrg: New additive helps researchers more selectively convert CO2 to multicarbon fuels.
+ 2016
LBNL News Center: Solar Cells Get Boost with Integration of Water-Splitting Catalyst onto Semiconductor.
LBNL News Center: New Discovery Could Better Predict How Semiconductors Weather Abuse.
LBNL News Center: Researchers Peel Back Another Layer of Chemistry with ‘Tender’ X-rays.
JCAP Director, Harry Atwater, was named an APS fellow for pioneering contributions to plasmonics and nanophotonics. MORE
JCAP scientists at LBNL have discovered ways to better predict a semiconductor's stability and degradation qualities. MORE
JCAP PI Francesca Toma receives the Alfredo di Braccio Award. MORE
JCAP PI and Thrust 3 Coordinator Ian Sharp is the recipient of the Dept. of Energy's Early Career Scientist award. MORE
Caltech Interview with Prof. Marco Bernardi: Microscopic Materials. MORE
Chemical & Engineering News: "Will the artificial leaf sprout to combat climate change?" Cover Story
SSRL Newsletter: "Scientists Gather for Annual SLAC Users’ Conference"
New York Times: "Researchers Aim to Put Carbon Dioxide Back to Work"
CNN, Fareed Zakaria GPS: JCAP is featured in Episode 207.
SIERRA MAGAZINE, vol. 101., No.2, p. 31: "A New Leaf, Photosynthesis in the Factory."
USA TODAY: " 'Flying wind mills' and nuclear waste: The future of energy?"
MIT Technology Review: A Big Leap for an Artificial Leaf.
Wall Street Daily: Artificial Photosynthesis to Power the Future.
+ 2015
PhysOrg: Objective comparison of catalyst performance for development of artificial photosynthesis systems.
The Guardian: Can high-tech photosynthesis turn CO2 into fuel for your car?
Caltech press release: Artificial Leaf Harnesses Sunlight for Efficient Fuel Production.
JCAP Director Harry Atwater is named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors for demonstrating “a prolific spirit of innovation....” MORE
JCAP Director Harry Atwater participates in a live Twitter debate on Thursday, November 19, at 7 AM PST as part of Thomson Reuters’ coverage on the upcoming COP21 Sustainable Innovation Forum in Paris. Topic: “Who are the people who will pull our planet from the brink and put it on the path to sustainability?” MORE | #SUSTY7
Work on development of new materials for sustainable energy generation by Prof. Mendoza-Cortes — a recent JCAP alum — was highlighted by the US Department of Energy. MORE | @DOESCIENCE
Chu Hall, which is home to JCAP at LBNL, has received Engineering News Record’s Best Project Award in the Higher Education/Research category. MORE
JCAP work is featured on the cover of the journal Energy & Environmental Science. MORE
JCAP Director Harry Atwater discusses artificial photosynthesis and solar-fuels generation in an interview with Thomson Reuters; also featured for their research are Resnick Postdoctoral Scholar James Blakemore, and Resnick Fellows Samantha Johnson and Prineha Narang. MORE
CAP’s paper published recently in PNAS on solar CO2 reduction was highlighted in IEEE and Tech Xplore. IEEE SPECTRUM | TECH XPLORE
The American Physical Society honors JCAP Director Harry Atwater with the David Adler Lectureship Award in the Field of Materials Physics. Prof. Atwater is recognized as an outstanding contributor to the field of materials physics and acknowledged for the quality of his research, review articles, and lecturing. MORE
CAP Research was presented as part of the Electrochemical Energy Summit at the 228th Electrochemical Society Meeting. MORE
JCAP researchers have demonstrated an efficient and stable unassisted water-spliting device. The work is published in EES. MORE | VIDEO
Dr. Meenesh Singh is a recipient of the George Klinzing PhD award given in recognition of an outstanding doctoral dissertation.
The building dedication for the new Chu Hall, named after former U.S. Secretary of Energy, took place this morning on LBNL's campus. Chu Hall is home to JCAP's research effort at LBNL. MORE | PHOTOS | VIDEO
JCAP PI Prof. Martin Head-Gordon is elected to the National Academy of Sciences. MORE
JCAP's work on oxygen evolution reaction catalysis was highlighted in SSRL Headline News. MORE
Caltech issues a press release on JCAP's 5-year renewal. MORE
JCAP Director Harry Atwater spoke to KNX 1070 News Radio about JCAP's renewal.
The U.S. Department of Energy announced $75 million in funding to renew the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP). MORE
U.S. Department of Energy Undersecretary for Science and Energy Dr. Franklin (Lynn) Orr visited LBNL and addressed JCAP scientists in a videoconference all-hands meeting. MORE
The first JCAP Benchmarking manuscript was featured in the recent ACS Select Virtual Issue on Inorganic Chemistry Driving the Energy Sciences. MORE
JCAP Director Harry Atwater spoke on the future of solar power for Southern California Public Radio. MORE
JCAP Scientific Director Nate Lewis and researcher Ke Sun are “One Step Closer to Artificial Photosynthesis and ‘Solar Fuels’,” with their paper published in PNAS. MORE
JCAP Director Harry Atwater elected to the National Academy of Engineering. MORE
President Barack Obama mentions JCAP in his sixth State of the Union address. VIDEO—CUED
chemistryworld: “Salting out artificial photosynthesis”
gatesnotes / The blog of Bill Gates: “A Big Win for Cheap, Clean Energy” and
“Energy Innovation: Why We Need It and How to Get It”Green Car Congress: “JCAP researchers propose artificial photosynthetic system for high-yield production of ethanol”
IEEE Spectrum: “This Is How Good Solar-to-Fuel Conversion Can Be”
Tech Xplore: “Study suggests a ten-fold efficiency increase possible when converting carbon dioxide to fuel using solar energy”
Poughkeepsie Journal: “Artificial leaf progress”
Controlled Environments: “Artificial Leaf Captures Sunlight for Fuel”
Nature World News: “Renewable Energy and Tech: Artificial Leaf Creates Hydrogen Fuels”
Deccan Herald: “Artificial leaf mimics photosynthesis to make fuel from water”
Futurity: “Solar Device Shatters Records for Splitting Water”
Tech Times: “Researchers Create Efficient And Stable Artificial Photosynthesis”
Pasadena Star-News: “How Caltech’s ‘artificial leaf’ could revolutionize the clean energy economy”
San Jose Mercury News: “Berkeley lab unveils new solar energy center aimed at producing fuel from sunlight” | PHOTOS
ABC-TV Bay Area (KGO): “Berkeley lab unveils new solar energy facility”
CBS-AM Bay Area (KCBS): “New Berkeley Lab Works To Harness Sunlight 10 Times More Efficiently Than Plants With Goal Of ‘Saving The World’”
Daily Californian: “Berkeley Lab opens solar research facility renamed after former director”
Berkeley Patch: “Berkeley Lab Unveils New Solar Energy Lab”
EagleFordTexas.com: “Feds pledge $75M for joint study of harnessing solar energy”
ExecutiveGov: “DOE To Renew Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis with $75M; Lynn Orr Comments”
Merced Sun Star: “Feds pledge $75M for joint study of harnessing solar energy”
Modesto Bee: “Feds pledge $75M for joint study of harnessing solar energy”
PennEnergy: “DOE grants $75M to project for harnessing solar power to create fuel”
Power Engineering: “Feds pledge $75M for joint study of harnessing solar energy”
Sacramento Bee: “Feds pledge $75M for joint study of harnessing solar energy”
San Francisco Business Times: “Berkeley lab shines with $75 million Energy Dept. award”
San Jose Mercury News: “Energy Department pledges $75 million renewal of Berkeley lab's Artificial Photosynthesis center”
San Jose Mercury News: “Funds solar energy for fuel production research announced”
KPCC public radio: “How feasible is Gov. Brown’s new carbon cutting goal?”
Climate Central: “Artificial Photosynthesis Closer to Boosting Renewables”
Discovery News: “Artificial Photosynthesis Closer to Creating Fuel”
Electronics Weekly: “Semiconductors Aid Artificial Photosynthesis”
Futurity.org: “New Film Is a Step Toward ‘Artificial Leaf’ for Energy”
Tech Times: “Man-Made Leaf To Produce Fuel From Artificial Photosynthesis”
ZME Science: “Artificial Leaf Breakthrough Makes Solar Fuels One Step Closer”
KPCC public radio: Recorded panel discussion: “NEXT: Solar power - energy of the future?”
MIT Technology Review: “Artificial Photosynthesis Takes a Step Forward
+ 2014
JCAP Principal Investigator Heinz Frei named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). MORE
JCAP researchers develop method to stabilize semiconductors for use in artificial photosynthesis. MORE
JCAP’s Adam Weber receives Charles W. Tobias Young Investigator Award. MORE
Distinguished energy writer Daniel Yergin visits JCAP. MORE
JCAP featured in Nature journal. MORE
JCAP researchers stabilize common semiconductors for solar-fuels generation. MORE
JCAP researchers examine efficiency of a cobaloxime-modified semiconductor. MORE
JCAP’s Alexandra Krawicz receives award at the Western Photosynthesis Conference 2014. MORE
JCAP’s Adam Weber named a winner of the Presidential Early Career Award by President Obama. MORE
Quartz.com: “We May Be Close to a World of Limitless Power from Artificial Leaves”
Laser Focus World: “Business Forum: The Study of Energy and Sustainability Reveals Many Opportunities in Photonics”
ABC Australia: “Artificial Photosynthesis: Mimicking Nature to Produce the Energy of the Future”
Pasadena Star-News: “Caltech Breakthrough Keeps Solar Energy Generators from Corroding Quickly”
Phys.org: “New Method Stabilizes Common Semiconductors for Solar Fuels Generation”
Bloomberg: "California Lab Sees Solar Fuel Progress as Rust Hurdle Tamed"
KCET: "Solar Fuel: An Interesting Idea Takes a Realistic Step"
RedOrbit: "Promising News for Solar Fuels"
+ 2013
JCAP researchers interface molecular catalysts with light absorbers. MORE
JCAP’s Meenesh Singh receives 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Process Development Division Student Paper Award.
JCAP’s Alexandra Krawicz receives Young Investigator Award. MORE
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague visits JCAP.
Paper by JCAP researchers on life cycle assessment of solar fuel generation designated a "Hot" article by journal. MORE
JCAP researchers develop the first fully integrated microfluidic test-bed for evaluating and optimizing solar-driven electrochemical energy conversion systems. MORE
JCAP featured in Science Magazine. MORE
JCAP researchers develop a microfluidic test-bed for solar fuel generation. MORE
JCAP researchers make advances in micro-plumbing. MORE
Jorgensen Laboratory, JCAP's headquarters at the California Institute of Technology, awarded LEED Platinum certification. MORE
JCAP researchers model innovations to improve hydrogen production. MORE
USA Today: "How Technology Can Halt Climate Change"
Financial Post: "'The Only Silver Bullet': Successfully Mimicking the Leaf has the Potential to Profoundly Change the Global Energy Industry"
Bloomberg: "Water + Sunshine = Fuel as Lab in California Chases Dream: Cars"
GreenBiz.com: “Three Ways to Bring Nature-Inspired Ideas to Market”
+ 2012
JCAP researchers design WSe2-based, catalyst-coated electrode that exhibits solar-energy conversion efficiencies of more than 7% for hydrogen evolution. MORE
Arun Mujumdar, Founding Director of ARPA-E and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Energy, visits JCAP.
Dedication held for Jorgensen Laboratory building, JCAP’s headquarters at the California Institute of Technology. MORE
Berkeley Lab breaks ground for Solar Energy Research Center, future home of JCAP’s LBNL research facility. MORE
DOE Secretary Steven Chu visits JCAP. MORE
JCAP's PI Head Peidong Yang elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. MORE
MIT Technology Review: "ArtificialPhotosynthesis Effort Takes Root"
The Daily Californian: "Construction of New Solar Energy Research Center Begins"
Pasadena Star News: "Caltech Sustainable Energy Laboratory Debuts"
Contra Costa Times: "Lawrence Berkeley Lab Begins Construction on Solar Energy Research Complex"
The Economic Times: "Artificial Photosynthesis: Make Your Own Fuel and Change the World"
Der Spiegel: "Solare Tankstelle"
+ 2010-2011
JCAPsite at LBNL opens. MORE
DOE Secretary Chu highlights JCAP in speech to National Press Club. MORE
The Atlantic: "Caltech's Killer Idea: Artificial Leaves That Turn Sunlight into Fuel"
Ecomagination: "Artificial Photosynthesis: Like Water for Gasoline"
PaloAlto Patch: "Stanford Prof Proposes 'Artificial Leaves' to Satisfy Global Energy Needs"
CBS News, San Francisco: "Ceremony Held for New Berkeley Solar Fuels Facility"
The New York Times: "The Answer Is (Artificially) Blowing in the Wind"
The Christian Science Monitor: "Where Solar Power Can't Fly, Artificial Photosynthesis Might"
The Economist: "The Difference Engine: The Sunbeam Solution"
The Los Angeles Times: "Conversations in Science: Turning Sunlight into Fuel"
Scientific American: "Obama's State of the Union: The Facts About Clean Energy and Broadband Access"
Scientific American: "Reverse Combustion: Can CO2 Be Turned Back into Fuel?"
Scientific American: "Reinventing the Leaf: Artificial Photosynthesis to Create Clean Fuel"
Nature: "US Seeks Flair for Fuels"
Fast Company: "DOE's Energy Innovation Hub Will Develop Fuel From Sunlight"
The New York Times: "Energy Dept. Pours $122M into Turning Sunlight into Fuel"