In this lecture, I will introduce a new generation of clean-energy technologies built on advanced nanoporous semiconducting and conducting materials. Our team at GICAN has developed highly stable and innovative nanostructures capable of producing clean hydrogen directly from seawater using sunlight, capturing CO₂, converting it into valuable fuels, and storing the harvested energy through next-generation supercapacitor and battery systems. This integrated approach marks a significant step toward a circular, carbon-neutral energy future. In this unique approach, clean fuels are generated from abundant natural resources while atmospheric CO₂ is simultaneously reduced. By combining photocatalysis, CO₂ capture and utilisation, and advanced electrochemical storage within a unified materials framework, this technology opens new pathways for sustainable and scalable energy solutions.

The main concept of this technology involves a series of multifunctional nanoporous semiconducting and conducting materials, including carbon nitrides and other carbon-based frameworks. These materials exhibit controlled architectures, tunable pore structures, and adjustable chemical compositions, supporting highly efficient solar-assited processes. I will provide an overview of how these tailored nanostructures are designed and fabricated, and how their properties can be modulated for targeted performance in catalysis and energy storage.^1-10 Specifically, I will highlight the preparation of novel mesoporous C₃N₅, C₃N₆, C₃N₇, and C₃N₈ materials, along with their structural characterization using advanced spectroscopic techniques. I will also demonstrate how the chemical composition, structure, porosity, and functionalization of these unique materials can be precisely tuned. This includes the fabrication of carbon nitrides from single molecular precursors containing C, N, and S elements, as well as the synthesis of mono- and bimetallic sulfides.

The second part of the talk will highlight the role of these materials in key applications such as solar-assisted seawater splitting, CO₂ capture and conversion, and next-generation batteries and supercapacitors.¹¹ I will also present our progress toward large-scale production, including the establishment of pilot-scale facilities for CO₂ capture and material manufacturing. Finally, I will discuss how integrating CO₂ conversion technologies with fuel cells and electrochemical storage platforms leads to a unified, sustainable energy system capable of delivering continuous power for stationary, mobile, and automotive applications. This unique approach not only provides pathways to carbon-neutral fuel generation but also creates practical solutions to some of the world’s most pressing energy and environmental challenges.