Biography
Professor Erwin Reisner received his education and professional training at the University of Vienna (PhD in 2005), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (postdoc from 2005-2007) and the University of Oxford (postdoc from 2008-2009). He joined the University of Cambridge as a University Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry in 2010, became a Fellow of St. John’s College in 2011, was appointed to Reader in 2015 and to his current position of Professor of Energy and Sustainability in 2017.
Research
The Reisner laboratory develops new concepts and technologies for the conversion of solar energy and renewable electricity into sustainable fuels and chemicals for a circular economy. Thus, we explore chemical aspects of energy and sustainability, in particular photo- and electrocatalysis and the interface of synthetic chemistry, materials and nano-science, chemical biology and engineering. Central themes of our cross-disciplinary and collaborative approach are the development of processes for the upcycling of plastic and biomass waste as well as the use of carbon dioxide and water to produce green fuels and chemicals for a sustainable future.
Keywords: Solar fuels, solar chemicals, artificial photosynthesis, biohybrid materials, water and CO2 splitting, small molecule activation, catalysis, metalloenzymes, microbiology, biomimetic chemistry, bio-inorganic chemistry, synthetic chemistry, electrochemistry, photoelectrochemistry, materials Chemistry, nanotechnology, functional and energy materials.
