The groundbreaking 2007 Gordon Research Conference that brought together scientists to tackle the challenge of storing solar energy as chemical fuels
Imagine a world where the fuel in your car, the energy that powers your home, and the chemical feedstocks for industry are all created from nothing but sunlight, water, and air.
Fossil fuels supplied approximately 90% of energy for industrialized nations, with global energy consumption projected to more than double by 2050 1 .
More solar energy strikes the Earth's surface in a single hour than all the energy obtained from fossil fuels consumed globally in an entire year 1 6 .
The critical limitation of solar energy has always been storage - how to capture sunlight for use when the sun isn't shining.
The conference intentionally brought together experts from diverse fields to tackle the complex challenge of solar fuel production.
Attendees included Nobel laureates and future Nobel winners, including Steven Chu who would later become U.S. Secretary of Energy.
The conference occurred as the U.S. Department of Energy was ramping up attention on solar energy research 6 .
The conference presentations explored multiple scientific approaches to creating viable solar fuel technologies.
One of the most compelling research directions presented at the conference came from the intersection of biological inspiration and synthetic chemistry.
Designing systems that efficiently capture sunlight
Creating architectures that separate positive and negative charges
Directing charges to catalysts for fuel production
Safely separating and collecting the resulting fuels
| System Component | Biological Counterpart | Synthetic Approaches | Key Challenges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Absorber | Chlorophyll | Molecular dyes, semiconductors | Broad spectral coverage, durability |
| Charge Separation | Reaction centers | Molecular triads, semiconductor junctions | Preventing charge recombination |
| Water Oxidation Catalyst | Manganese cluster | Metal oxide surfaces, molecular complexes | Managing multi-electron transfer |
| Proton Reduction Catalyst | Hydrogenase enzymes | Platinum, cobalt complexes, molybdenum sulfides | Cost, efficiency, oxygen sensitivity |
| Fuel Separation | Cellular compartments | Membranes, product removal systems | Preventing back-reaction, safety |
The research presented at the 2007 conference relied on a diverse array of specialized materials, methods, and characterization techniques.
| Research Reagent/Material | Function in Solar Fuels Research | Examples from 2007 Conference |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular Catalysts | Facilitate specific chemical reactions (water oxidation, proton reduction) | Cobalt-based water oxidation catalysts, iron-iron hydrogenase mimics |
| Semiconductor Materials | Absorb light and separate charges | Metal oxide electrodes for photoelectrochemistry |
| Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) | Store hydrogen or capture CO₂ | Yaghi's MOFs for hydrogen storage 1 |
| Spectroscopic Techniques | Probe reaction mechanisms and intermediates | Time-resolved spectroscopy to study electron transfer |
| Biological Enzymes | Provide inspiration and components for hybrid systems | Hydrogenases for H₂ production, cytochrome c oxidase for O₂ reduction |
| Transition Metal Complexes | Act as catalysts or light absorbers | Ruthenium polypyridyl complexes as photosensitizers |
The research tools highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of solar fuels research, spanning from synthetic chemistry to materials science to biology. The conference enabled researchers working on different components to share techniques and insights across traditional disciplinary boundaries.
The 2007 Solar Fuels GRC established a foundation for ongoing scientific collaboration that has continued to drive the field forward.
| Research Aspect | Status in 2007 | Key Advances by 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Water Oxidation Catalysts | Early molecular catalysts being developed | Efficient catalysts using abundant metals |
| CO₂ Reduction | Primarily theoretical or very basic | Systems producing C2+ products (ethylene, ethanol) |
| System Integration | Component-focused research | Integrated photoelectrochemical devices |
| Hydrogen Production Efficiency | Limited by charge recombination | Tandem systems with improved quantum yields |
| Hydrogen Storage | Basic materials research | Advanced sorbents, chemical hydrogen storage |
The conference created a roadmap for addressing the "grand challenge" of solar fuels - research that must simultaneously address efficiency, cost, and durability 1 .
Today, the legacy of that first 2007 conference continues to inspire new generations of scientists. As we face increasingly urgent climate challenges, the vision laid out by those pioneering researchers remains as relevant as ever. Their work demonstrates that while the path to sustainable solar fuels is challenging, it is illuminated by brilliant science and collaborative spirit.
The scientific foundation built at conferences like the 2007 Solar Fuels GRC continues to light the way toward a future where we can literally bottle sunlight to power our world.