Visualizing and controlling energy flow in nanomaterials

In this presentation, I will highlight our recent advances in harnessing nanomaterials to understand and control energy harvesting, conversion, storage, and flow across scales—from single atoms to large ensembles of nanoparticles [1,2]. By developing and tailoring reactive plasmonic and photocatalytic materials, we target key challenges in solar-driven hydrogen production and CO₂ reduction [2,3]. I will present a suite of novel experimental approaches that allow us to probe energy conversion pathways and visualize energy transport in complex nanosystems with unprecedented resolution [4,5]. These techniques have revealed how nanoscale features translate into enhanced chemical reactivity, and how these effects can be rationally tuned through material design and architecture [6,7]. Our findings also demonstrate how state-of-the-art imaging and spectroscopic tools can link nanoscale dynamics to macroscopic functionality, providing a roadmap for scaling up nanostructured systems for real-world applications [8,9]. Ultimately, these insights contribute to the development of efficient, sustainable technologies for renewable fuel generation, storage and CO₂ valorization, addressing pressing challenges in energy and climate [10].

[1]Nature Physics 20, 1065–1077, 2024

[2]Nature Catalysis 6, 1205–1214, 2023

[3]Nature Comm. 15 (1), 3923, 2024

[4]Nature Comm. 14 (1), 3813, 2023

[5]Nature Reviews Chemistry 6, 259–274, 2022

[6]Nature 630, 872–877, 2024

[7]Nature Comm. 16 (1), 5715, 2025

[8]Nature 614, 230-232, 2023

[9]Nature Catalysis 8, 229-238, 2025

[10Nature Photonics 18 (9), 879-882, 2024