Chemistry of Life

Plant photosynthesis can guide us toward the building of synthetic systems to generate sustainable fuels. Changing components of the fundamental life-sustaining process that generates energy from sunlight could yield different types of fuels. Our solar fuel research exploits biological enzymes and synthetic catalysts and is progressing toward the creation of an artificial photosynthetic system.

Cellulose, the main constituent of a plant cell wall, is the most abundant, natural renewable resource available on Earth. By understanding how the plant uses cellulose to create colours, we can discover ways to make artificial colourants in the lab using using the same chemical compound.

The repertoire of materials science now includes a vastly expanded array of dynamic behaviours. Artificial materials can now display life-like properties. For example, it is possible to engineer movement, memory, and stimuli into polymers. Dynamic materials can also help us discover fundamental principles of movement and morphogenesis. These and other advances are paving a path for the nano- and micro-robots of tomorrow.