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Renewable Energy: Solar Fuels

Gordon Research Conference

Paving the Future of Light-Driven Chemical Production

May 3 - 8, 2026

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GRC Education Requirements: Undergraduates or those who have not obtained a bachelor's degree in science/engineering (or acceptable equivalent) are not eligible to apply to attend Gordon Research Conferences or Seminars.

Chairs

and

Vice Chairs

and

Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco

Via Giovanni Pascoli

Lucca (Barga), Lucca, Italy

Venue and Travel Information

Application Information

Applications for this meeting must be submitted by April 5, 2026. Please apply early, as some meetings become oversubscribed (full) before this deadline. If the meeting is oversubscribed, it will be stated here. Note: Applications for oversubscribed meetings will only be considered by the conference chair if more seats become available due to cancellations.

Conference Description

The Renewable Energy: Solar Fuels GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes an array of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.

This meeting also marks the 10th edition of the Renewable Energy: Solar Fuels GRC, providing a timely opportunity to reflect on the progress made in solar-driven chemical production. After more than five decades of intense research in artificial photosynthesis, it is time for our community to critically assess the current state and future potential of the field. We will explore a broad range of target products, including hydrogen and CO2-derived chemicals, and examine diverse technological approaches, ranging from PV-electrolysis and photoelectrochemical (PEC) approaches to photocatalytic and photothermal systems, as well as hybrid or bio-hybrid configurations, toward the development of practical and scalable devices.

Related Meeting

This GRC will be held in conjunction with the "Renewable Energy: Solar Fuels" Gordon Research Seminar (GRS). Those interested in attending both meetings must submit an application for the GRS in addition to an application for the GRC. Refer to the associated GRS program page for more information.

Conference Program

Sunday
2:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Arrival and Check-in
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm	Introductory Comments by GRC Staff / Welcome and Introduction from the Chairs
7:40 pm - 9:30 pm	Keynote Session: Solar Fuels: Reflecting on the Past, Shaping the Future Discussion Leader:
7:40 pm - 7:50 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:50 pm - 8:25 pm	"Photocatalytic Water Splitting for Solar Hydrogen and Fuels Production"
8:25 pm - 8:30 pm	Discussion
8:30 pm - 9:05 pm	"Optimisation of Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution From Organic Semiconducting Nanoparticles in Water"
9:05 pm - 9:10 pm	Discussion
9:10 pm - 9:30 pm	General Discussion
Monday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Photosynthetic, Photocatalytic, and Photoelectrochemical Systems Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:10 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:10 am - 9:35 am	"Energy Capture and Conversion in Photosynthetic Bacteria"
9:35 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:10 am	"Artificial Photosynthesis for Chemical Transformation"
10:10 am - 10:20 am	Discussion
10:20 am - 10:45 am	Coffee Break
10:45 am - 11:10 am	"Fundamental Challenges in the Design of Performant Dye-Sensitized Photocathodes for Solar Fuels Production"
11:10 am - 11:20 am	Discussion
11:20 am - 11:45 am	"Interfacial Coupled III-Nitride Photocatalysts for Solar Fuel Production"
11:45 am - 11:55 am	Discussion
11:55 am - 12:00 pm	General Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:10 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Photon Capture and Charge Separation in Semi-Conductors Discussion Leader:
6:00 pm - 6:10 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:10 pm - 6:35 pm	"Optimized Surface Protection Layers for Robust and Efficient III-V Photocathodes"
6:35 pm - 6:45 pm	Discussion
6:45 pm - 7:10 pm	"Focus on Charge Carriers: The Key to the Activity of Semiconductor Nanocrystals in Photocatalysis"
7:10 pm - 7:20 pm	Discussion
7:20 pm - 7:45 pm	"From Solid-State Insights to Liquid-Phase Dynamics: Spatiotemporal Imaging of Photogenerated Charges in Solar Fuels Production"
7:45 pm - 7:55 pm	Discussion
7:55 pm - 8:00 pm	General Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Tuesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Group Photo
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Catalytic Systems and Catalyst Integration Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:10 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:10 am - 9:35 am	"Properties of Silicon-Catalyst Interfaces Influencing Hybrid Photoelectrode Performance"
9:35 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:10 am	"Electrochemical Small Molecule Activation and On-Surface Cross Coupling"
10:10 am - 10:20 am	Discussion
10:20 am - 10:45 am	Coffee Break
10:45 am - 11:10 am	"Supramolecular Self-Assembly for Anchoring Molecular Electrocatalysts on Surfaces"
11:10 am - 11:20 am	Discussion
11:20 am - 11:45 am	"Interfacing Molecular Electrocatalysts with (Photo)Electrodes via Host–Guest Chemistry"
11:45 am - 11:55 am	Discussion
11:55 am - 12:00 pm	General Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:10 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Reactive Carbon Capture and Tandem Catalysis Discussion Leader:
6:00 pm - 6:10 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:10 pm - 6:35 pm	"Integrated CO2 Capture and Electrochemical Conversion"
6:35 pm - 6:45 pm	Discussion
6:45 pm - 7:10 pm	"MOF-Enabled Molecular-Level Approaches for Tandem Catalytic CO₂ Conversion"
7:10 pm - 7:20 pm	Discussion
7:20 pm - 7:45 pm	"3-Terminal Tandem Photoelectrodes: Designing Light-Driven Cascade Reduction Reactions"
7:45 pm - 7:55 pm	Discussion
7:55 pm - 8:00 pm	General Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Wednesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Characterization and Simulation Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:10 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:10 am - 9:35 am	"Visualizing Charge Transfer and Localization in Photocatalysis via Time-Resolved X-Ray Spectroscopy"
9:35 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:10 am	"Modeling Stimuli-Induced Catalytic Processes"
10:10 am - 10:20 am	Discussion
10:20 am - 10:45 am	Coffee Break
10:45 am - 11:10 am	"High Throughput Experimentation for Solar Fuels Materials and Methods"
11:10 am - 11:20 am	Discussion
11:20 am - 11:45 am	"Statistical Analysis of Supported Molecular Catalyst Coverage and Clustering via Deep Learning-Enhanced STEM Imaging"
11:45 am - 11:55 am	Discussion
11:55 am - 12:00 pm	General Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:10 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Biohybrid Systems Discussion Leader:
6:00 pm - 6:10 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:10 pm - 6:35 pm	"Harnessing Engineered Living Materials for Renewable Energy and Beyond"
6:35 pm - 6:45 pm	Discussion
6:45 pm - 7:10 pm	"Semi-Artificial Photosynthesis: Building Electrochemical Bridges Between Living Cells and Electrodes"
7:10 pm - 7:20 pm	Discussion
7:20 pm - 7:45 pm	"Understanding and Controlling the Materials-Biology Interface for Solar Fuels and Beyond"
7:45 pm - 7:55 pm	Discussion
7:55 pm - 8:00 pm	General Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Thursday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Business Meeting Nominations for the Next Vice Chair(s); Complete the GRC Evaluation Forms; Election of the Next Vice Chair(s)
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Climbing the TRL Ladder Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:10 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:10 am - 9:35 am	"Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting for Hydrogen Production: What is Required to Graduate from Laboratory Demonstrations to Industrial Deployment?"
9:35 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:10 am	"Scalable Photochemical Reactors through the use of Porous Electrodes"
10:10 am - 10:20 am	Discussion
10:20 am - 10:45 am	Coffee Break
10:45 am - 11:10 am	"Scaling Integrated Photoabsorber–Electrolyzer Platforms for Solar-Driven Green Hydrogen and Beyond"
11:10 am - 11:20 am	Discussion
11:20 am - 11:45 am	"Photocatalyst Sheet Performance Under Intense UV Irradiation and Increased Temperatures"
11:45 am - 11:55 am	Discussion
11:55 am - 12:00 pm	General Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:10 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Enlarging the Reaction Portfolio Discussion Leader:
6:00 pm - 6:10 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:10 pm - 6:35 pm	"Catalytic Hydrogenation Strategies for Upgrading Platform Molecules"
6:35 pm - 6:45 pm	Discussion
6:45 pm - 7:10 pm	"Lanthanide Photocatalysts for Small Molecule Activation"
7:10 pm - 7:20 pm	Discussion
7:20 pm - 7:45 pm	"Beyond Hydrogen: Opportunities and Impact in Solar-Driven Electrolysis Coupled with Valuable Chemical Synthesis"
7:45 pm - 7:55 pm	Discussion
7:55 pm - 8:00 pm	Closing Remarks
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Friday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am	Departure

Contributors

Conference Links

Conference History Renewable Energy: Solar Fuels (GRS) Contribute Financially to This Conference

Conference Fees

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Poster Information

Poster sessions are an integral part of the our conferences, and offer all conferees an opportunity to discuss their research.

Preparing your GRC poster

Funding Opportunities

Financial assistance is available beginning in 2026 for qualified applicants through the Carl Storm Opportunity Fellowships program. Learn more.

Registration Fees

Conferee Single Room:

$1,680.00

Conferee Shared Room:

$1,380.00

Conferee Off-Site:

$950.00

Guest Single Room:

$1,460.00

Guest Shared Room:

$1,160.00

Guest Off-Site:

$730.00

Child 4-12 yrs Shared Room:

$580.00

Child 4-12 yrs Off-Site:

$365.00

Child Under 4 yrs Shared Room:

Free

Child Under 4 yrs Off-Site:

Free

Bus Arriving:

$65.00

Bus Departing:

$65.00

Additional Fee Info

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