Distinguished Professor Charles Dismukes from Rutgers University with co-inventors, Anders Laursen, Karin Calvinho, and Martha Greenblatt have been honored with the Edison Patent Award in the Environmental category for their invention, “Nickel Phosphide Catalysts for Direct Electrochemical CO₂ Reduction to Hydrocarbons” (U.S. Patent 10,676,833).
These catalysts synthesized by the solid-state method can be used as efficient cathode in electrolyzes powered by green electricity rather than thermal energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into various feedstocks. These CO2-based chemicals can be used for the production of highly-valuable chemicals, fuels, and polymers. The electrocatalytic process offers a sustainable alternative to petrochemical sources, operating as an environmentally carbon-negative technology by consuming more CO₂ than it emits.
The patents have been licensed to RenewCO2, a Rutgers startup. RenewCO2 is dedicated to scaling up this groundbreaking technology for environmental applications. Now an incorporated entity, the startup is advancing its mission in collaboration with investors, under the leadership of Dr. Laursen as CEO and Dr. Calvinho as CTO.
Each winner was celebrated with a special tribute film.