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Photoenergy and Environmental Chemistry Lab
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A lab that develops materials and batteries that convert sunlight into chemical energy.
AboutAbout the lab
Tackling energy and environmental problems with solar energy.
The Photoenergy and Environmental Chemistry Lab researches how to make effective use of solar energy and fundamentally solve energy and environmental problems.
Centered on electrochemistry and drawing on inorganic materials chemistry, photochemistry, and molecular biochemistry, it develops new materials and systems that convert light, electrical, and chemical energy.
It also works on next-generation secondary batteries as a technology to support the full-scale adoption of solar energy.
The lab is located in the Research Center for Solar Energy Chemistry, which is affiliated with the Graduate School of Engineering Science.
Key terms
- Artificial photosynthesis
- A technology that uses the energy of sunlight to reduce and fix carbon dioxide into valuable substances.
- Electron-transfer catalyst
- A material that efficiently drives reactions that proceed through the transfer of electrons, such as the reduction of carbon dioxide and hydrogen ions.
- Secondary battery
- A rechargeable battery that can be used repeatedly. It is expected to absorb the weather-dependent fluctuations in the power output of solar cells.
NewsLab news
Published results of first-principles calculations on the CO dimerization reaction in Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research
Published results of molecular dynamics calculations on the electric double layer in CO2 electrolysis in ChemSusChem
Published results on phase separation of discharge products and deterioration of Li+ transport in Li-O2 batteries in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Published a paper on the decomposition behavior of electrolytes in lithium-air batteries in Electrochemistry
ResearchResearch themes
The lab studies materials and systems that convert solar energy into chemical energy and other forms, centered on electrochemistry. Its research rests on three pillars: artificial photosynthesis, the mechanisms of natural photosynthesis, and next-generation secondary batteries.
Artificial Photosynthesis That Turns Carbon Dioxide into a Resource
Using chemistry, the lab works on artificial photosynthesis that uses sunlight to reduce and fix carbon dioxide into valuable substances. It develops visible-light-absorbing materials and electron-transfer catalysts from elements abundant on Earth, without relying on precious metals or rare elements.
*Illustrative imageElucidating the Mechanisms of Natural Photosynthesis
The lab investigates how light is converted into chemical energy in photosynthesis, using methods from electrochemistry, materials chemistry, and molecular biology. It believes this understanding will lead to new artificial photosynthesis systems that work even in changing natural environments.
*Illustrative imageNext-Generation Secondary Batteries to Support Solar Cells
The power output of solar cells varies with the weather, so high-performance secondary batteries are needed to absorb these fluctuations. The lab develops metal-anode secondary batteries, including lithium-oxygen secondary batteries, in collaboration with industry.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Photoenergy and Environmental Chemistry Lab are faculty, technical specialists, project faculty, postdoctoral researchers, project researchers, visiting professors, visiting associate professors, and visiting researchers, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorShuji Nakanishi
- Associate ProfessorKazuhide Kamiya
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Solar energy” Apteva / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Elucidating the Mechanisms of Natural Photosynthesis: “Plagiomnium affine laminazellen” Kristian Peters -- Fabelfroh / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Next-Generation Secondary Batteries to Support Solar Cells: “Bloated rechargeable batteries” Tobias ToMar Maier / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Nano Reaction Engineering Lab): “Liquid Crystal Art-1” Ingo Dierking / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Surface and Interface Functional Chemistry Lab): “Electrode 2 (PSF)” Pearson Scott Foresman / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Energy Photochemical Engineering Lab): “U.S. Department of Energy - Science - )” U.S. Department of Energy from United States / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Synthetic Organic Chemistry Lab): “La fulminaterie” Patrimoinesurvillois / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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