Nano-scale materials for the energy transition and CO2 mitigation

The transformation towards a more sustainable economy requires the development of new materials for many purposes. The functionality and performance of these materials often depends on the properties of their interfaces with the environment.
In this lecture, I will present examples from three different domains of nano-scale materials and interfaces, namely (i) semiconducting nano-particles for photo- and electrocatalytic water splitting and H2 generation, (ii) functionalized clay and silicate minerals as advanced sorbent for CO2-CH4 separation and for permanent CO2 storage, and (iii) polymer brushes as responsive coatings for controlled fluid transport with applications e.g. in grease-lubricated bearings.