This theme focuses on developing the molecules, materials, technologies and processes needed for a sustainable future. Research within the theme spans clean energy generation, storage and conversion, sustainable synthesis and manufacturing, recycling and degradation, environmental chemistry, and innovations in the agri-sciences and agrochemistry. By combining expertise across these areas, the theme delivers chemical solutions that support the transition to a low-carbon, circular economy while addressing pressing environmental and societal challenges.
The theme is led by Professor Anthony Kucernak. For general enquiries, please contact him at a.kucernak@imperial.ac.uk.
Institutes, centres and initiatives
This research theme is associated with the following institutes, centres and initiatives:
Academic staff
Dr Andrew Ashley
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/Dr-Andy-Ashley.jpg)
Dr Andrew Ashley
Honorary lecturer
Dr Artem Bakulin
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/Dr-Artem-Bakulin--tojpeg_1462367570357_x4.jpg)
Dr Artem Bakulin
Nanomaterials / Plastic electronics / Spectroscopy
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/df--tojpeg_1448890841836_x4.jpg)
Prof. Michael Bearpark
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/55407--tojpeg_1452010336166_x4.jpg)
Prof. Michael Bearpark
Spectroscopy / Photochemistry / Computational Chemistry
Prof. Chris Braddock
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/sad--tojpeg_1448901598897_x4.jpg)
Prof. Chris Braddock
Catalysis / Synthesis / Organic Chemistry
Dr Agnieszka Brandt-Talbot
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/Agi-Brandt-Talbot--tojpeg_1516707256161_x4.jpg)
Dr Agnieszka Brandt-Talbot
Carbon Fibres / Renewable Materials / Wood Chemistry / Biomass Valorisation
Prof. Fernando Bresme
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/df--tojpeg_1448891763015_x4.jpg)
Prof. Fernando Bresme
Biophysics / Materials Chemistry / Computational Chemistry
Prof. George Britovsek
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/df--tojpeg_1448891888672_x4.jpg)
Prof. George Britovsek
Catalysis / Organometallics / Coordination Chemistry
Prof. Nick Brooks
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/df--tojpeg_1448890891968_x4.jpg)
Prof. Nick Brooks
Biophysics / Chemical Biology / High Pressure
Prof. James Bull
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/df--tojpeg_1448891429302_x4.jpg)
Prof. James Bull
Catalysis / Organic Chemistry / Heterocycles
Prof. Tony Cass
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/df--tojpeg_1448891016960_x4.jpg)
Prof. Tony Cass
Senior Research Investigator
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/city--tojpeg_1439384985654_0--tojpeg_1442334238297_x4.jpg)
Prof. Don Craig
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/95AAFBB488--tojpeg_1448894054483_x4.jpg)
Prof. Don Craig
Catalysis / Synthesis / Organic Chemistry
Prof. Mark Crimmin
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/Prof_Mark_Crimmin_2026.png)
Prof. Mark Crimmin
Catalysis / Organometallics / Energy
Dr Clotilde Cucinotta
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/CUCINOTTA_-Clotilde--t_1525858055065_x1--tojpeg_1541157897778_x4.jpg)
Dr Clotilde Cucinotta
Honorary research fellow
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/sad--tojpeg_1448900992456_x4.jpg)
Dr Silvia Díez-González
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/dsgsd--tojpeg_1448895562665_x4.jpg)
Dr Silvia Díez-González
Catalysis / Sustainable Synthesis / Organometallics
Prof. James Durrant
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/Prof-James-Durrant.jpg)
Prof. James Durrant
Visiting professor
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/Yuval-Elani--tojpeg_1496139581039_x4.jpg)
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/Alex-Ganose.jpg)
Dr Nicola Gasparini
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/Nicola-Gasparini-photo--tojpeg_1570790892204_x4.jpg)
Dr Nicola Gasparini
Photovoltaics / Photodetectors / Bioelectronics
Dr Rebecca Greenaway
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/Becky_Greenaway-711--tojpeg_1588862697817_x4.jpg)
Dr Rebecca Greenaway
Synthesis / High-throughput automation / Porous materials / Supramolecular chemistry
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/icimages--tojpeg_1451925920313_x4.jpg)
Prof. Nicholas Harrison
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/df--tojpeg_1448890530987_x4.jpg)
Prof. Nicholas Harrison
Nanomaterials / Materials Chemistry / Theoretical Chemistry
Prof. Martin Heeney
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/df--tojpeg_1448890707023_x4.jpg)
Prof. Martin Heeney
Visiting professor
Prof. Mimi Hii
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/city--tojpeg_1439384985654_0--tojpeg_1442334178136_x4.jpg)
Prof. Mimi Hii
Catalysis / Synthesis / Flow Chemistry
Prof. Patricia Hunt
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/sad--tojpeg_1448901303138_x4.jpg)
Prof. Patricia Hunt
Visiting Professor
Prof. Kim Jelfs
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/Kim-Jelfs--tojpeg_1553252159863_x4.jpg)
Prof. Kim Jelfs
Computational Chemistry / Porous Materials / Supramolecular Chemistry
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/Andreas-Kafizas--tojpeg_1480518738423_x4.jpg)
Prof. David Klug
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/dsgsd--tojpeg_1448893619903_x4.jpg)
Prof. David Klug
Chemical Biology / Chemical Physics / Spectroscopy
Prof. Alexei Kornyshev
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/jnk--tojpeg_1446199593046_x4.jpg)
Prof. Alexei Kornyshev
Chemical Physics / Electrochemistry / Energy Conversion / Biophysics
Prof. Anthony Kucernak
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/df--tojpeg_1448890131659_x4.jpg)
Prof. Anthony Kucernak
Electrocatalysis / Energy Conversion / Energy Storage
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/df--tojpeg_1448891669706_x4.jpg)
Prof. Paul Lickiss
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/dsgsd--tojpeg_1448893679166_x4.jpg)
Prof. Paul Lickiss
Senior Research Investigator
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/Prof-Nick-Long.jpg)
Prof. Iain McCulloch
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/dsgsd--tojpeg_1448895651097_x4.jpg)
Prof. Iain McCulloch
Visiting Professor
Dr Jarvist Moore Frost
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/JMF.png)
Dr Jarvist Moore Frost
Theoretical chemistry / Machine learning / Photovoltaics / Semiconductors
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/Oriol-Planas-picture.jpg)
Prof. Nick Quirke
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/sad--tojpeg_1448900458334_x4.jpg)
Prof. Nick Quirke
Emeritus Professor
Dr Charles Romain
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/Charles-Romain--tojpeg_1480519044257_x4.jpg)
Dr Charles Romain
Organometallic / Coordination Chemistry / Polymerization Catalysis
Prof. Milo Shaffer
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/dsgsd--tojpeg_1448894150946_x4.jpg)
Prof. Milo Shaffer
Composites / Nanomaterials / Materials Chemistry
Prof. Alan Spivey
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/jnk--tojpeg_1446199443373_x4.jpg)
Prof. Alan Spivey
Synthesis / Chemical Biology / Organic Chemistry
Dr Nuria Tapia-Ruiz
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/Dr-Nuria-Tapia-Ruiz.png)
Dr Nuria Tapia-Ruiz
Materials Chemistry / Energy storage / Battery devices
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/Prof-Ed-Tate.jpg)
Prof. Richard Templer
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/icimages--tojpeg_1451927113084_x4.jpg)
Prof. Richard Templer
Senior Research Investigator
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/Felice-Torrisi3--tojpeg_1557758721940_x4.jpg)
Prof. Tom Welton
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/Prof-Tom-Welton.jpg)
Prof. Tom Welton
Senior research investigator
Prof. James Wilton-Ely
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/Prof-James-Wilton-Ely.jpg)
Prof. James Wilton-Ely
Sensors & Medical Imaging / Nanomaterials / Sustainable Catalysis
Dr Rudiger Woscholski
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/dsgsd--tojpeg_1448891971379_x4.jpg)
Dr Rudiger Woscholski
Chemical Biology / Molecular Imaging / Biological Chemistry
Prof. Sophia Yaliraki
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/faculty-of-natural-sciences/Sophia-Yaliraki--tojpeg_1568815223628_x4.jpg)
Prof. Sophia Yaliraki
Theoretical Chemistry / Self-assembling Systems