New research from Rice and UH has helped boost the lifespan of CO2RR systems, a newer technology used for carbon capture. Photo via htxenergytransition.org

A team of researchers led by professors from two Houston universities has discovered new methods that help stabilize an emerging technique known as carbon dioxide reduction reaction, or CO2RR, that is used for carbon capture and utilization processes.

The team led by Rice University’s Haotian Wang, associate professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering, and Xiaonan Shan, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at University of Houston, published its findings in a recent edition of the journal Nature Energy.

CO2RR is an emerging carbon capture and utilization technique where electricity and chemical catalysts are used to convert carbon dioxide gas into carbon-containing compounds like alcohols, ethylene, formic acids or carbon monoxide, according to a news release from Rice. The result can be used as fuels, chemicals or as starting materials to produce other compounds.

The technology is used in commercial membrane electrode assembly (MEA) electrolyzers to convert carbon dioxide into valuable compounds, but the technology isn’t perfected. A significant challenge in CO2RR technology has been the accumulation of bicarbonate salt crystals on the backside of the cathode gas diffusion electrode and within the gas flow channels. The salt precipitates block the flow of carbon dioxide gas through the cathode chamber, which reduce the performance and can cause a failure of the electrolyzers.

The goal in the study was to understand why and how bicarbonate salts form during this reaction. The Rice and UH teams worked together using operando Raman spectroscopy, which is a technique that allows researchers to study the structure of materials and any precipitates that adhere to them while the device is functioning.

“By utilizing operando Raman spectroscopy and optical microscopy, we successfully tracked the movement of bicarbonate-containing droplets and identified their migration pattern,” Shan said in the release. “This provided us the information to develop an effective strategy to manage these droplets without interrupting system stability.”

Next, the team worked to prevent the salt crystals from forming. First, they tested lowering the concentration of cations, like sodium or potassium, in the electrolyte to slow down the salt formation. This method proved to be effective.

They also coated the cathode with parylene, a synthetic polymer that repels water, like Teflon, which also notably improved the stability of the electrolyzer and prevented salt accumulation.

“Inspired by the waxy surface of the lotus leaf which causes water droplets to bead up and roll off, carrying off any dirt particles with it and leaving the leaf’s surface clean, we wondered if coating the gas flow channel with a nonstick substance will prevent salt-laden droplets from staying on the surface of the electrodes for too long and, therefore, reduce salt buildup.” Wang said in the release.

According to Wang, these relatively simple discoveries can extend the operational lifespan of CO2RR systems from a few hundred hours to over 1,000 hours.

The findings also have major implications for commercial applications, Shan added.

“This advancement paves the way for longer-lasting and more reliable (CO2RR) systems, making the technology more practical for large-scale chemical manufacturing,” Shan said in the release. “The improvements we developed are crucial for transitioning CO2 electrolysis from laboratory setups to commercial applications for producing sustainable fuels and chemicals.”

University of Houston professor Xiaonan Shan and the rest of his research team are celebrating fresh funding from a federal grant. Photo via UH.edu

Houston scientists land $1M NSF funding for AI-powered clean energy project

A team of scientists from the University of Houston, in collaboration with Howard University in Washington D.C., has received a $1 million award from the National Science Foundation for a project that aims to automate the discovery of new clean-energy catalysts.

The project, dubbed "Multidisciplinary High-Performance Computing and Artificial Intelligence Enabled Catalyst Design for Micro-Plasma Technologies in Clean Energy Transition," aims to use machine learning and AI to improve the efficiency of catalysts in hydrogen generation, carbon capture and energy storage, according to UH.

“This research directly contributes to these global challenges,” Jiefu Chen, the principal investigator of the project and associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, said in a statement. “This interdisciplinary effort ensures comprehensive and innovative solutions to complex problems.”

Chen is joined by Lars Grabow, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering; Xiaonan Shan, associate professor of electrical and computing engineering; and Xuquing Wu, associate professor of information science technology. Su Yan, an associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science at Howard University, is collaborating on the project.

The University of Houston team: Xiaonan Shan, associate professor electrical and computing engineering, Jiefu Chen, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, Lars Grabow, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and Xuquing Wu, associate professor of information science technology. Photo via UH.edu

The team will create a robotic synthesis and testing facility that will automate the experimental testing and verification process of the catalyst design process, which traditionally is slow-going. It will implement AI and advanced, unsupervised machine learning techniques, and have a special focus on plasma reactions.

The project has four main focuses, according to UH.

  1. Using machine learning to discover materials for plasma-assisted catalytic reactions
  2. Developing a model to simulate complex interactions to better understand microwave-plasma-assisted heating
  3. Designing catalysts supports for efficient microwave-assisted reactions
  4. Developing a bench scale reactor to demonstrate the efficiency of the catalysts support system

Additionally, the team will put the funding toward the development of a multidisciplinary research and education program that will train students on using machine learning for topics like computational catalysis, applied electromagnetics and material synthesis. The team is also looking to partner with industry on related projects.

“This project will help create a knowledgeable and skilled workforce capable of addressing critical challenges in the clean energy transition,” Grabow added in a statement. “Moreover, this interdisciplinary project is going to be transformative in that it advances insights and knowledge that will lead to tangible economic impact in the not-too-far future.”

This spring, UH launched a new micro-credential course focused on other applications for AI and robotics in the energy industry.

Around the same time, Microsoft's famous renowned co-founder Bill Gates spoke at CERAWeek to a standing-room-only crowd on the future of the industry. Also founder of Breakthrough Energy, Gates addressed the topic of AI.

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New UH white paper details Texas grid's shortfalls

grid warning

Two University of Houston researchers are issuing a warning about the Texas power grid: Its current infrastructure falls short of what’s needed to keep pace with rising demand for electricity.

The warning comes in a new whitepaper authored by Ramanan Krishnamoorti, vice president of energy and innovation at UH, and researcher Aparajita Datta, a Ph.D candidate at UH.

“As data centers pop up around the Lone Star State, electric vehicles become more commonplace, industries adopt decarbonization technologies, demographics change, and temperatures rise statewide, electricity needs in Texas could double by 2035,” a UH news release says. “If electrification continues to grow unconstrained, demand could even quadruple over the next decade.”

Without significant upgrades to power plants and supporting infrastructure, Texas could see electricity shortages, rising power costs and more stress on the state’s grid in coming years, the researchers say. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid serves 90 percent of the state.

“Texas, like much of the nation, has fallen behind on infrastructure updates, and the state’s growing population, diversified economy and frequent severe weather events are increasing the strain on the grid,” Datta says. “Texas must improve its grid to ensure people in the state have access to reliable, affordable, and resilient energy systems so we can preserve and grow the quality of life in the state.”

The whitepaper’s authors caution that Texas faces a potential electricity shortfall of up to 40 gigawatts annually by 2035 if the grid doesn’t expand, with a more probable shortfall of about 27 gigawatts. And they allude to a repeat of the massive power outages in Texas during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021.

One gigawatt of electricity can power an estimated 750,000 homes in Texas, according to the Texas Solar + Storage Association.

The state’s current energy mix includes 40 percent natural gas, 29 percent wind, 12 percent coal, 10 percent nuclear and eight percent solar, the authors say.

Despite surging demand, 360 gigawatts of solar and battery storage projects are stuck in ERCOT’s queue, according to the researchers, and new natural gas plants have been delayed or withdrawn due to supply chain challenges, bureaucratic delays, policy uncertainties and shifting financial incentives.

Senate Bill 6, recently signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, calls for demand-response mandates, clearer rate structures and new load management requirements for big users of power like data centers and AI hubs.

“While these provisions are a step in the right direction,” says Datta, “Texas needs more responsive and prompt policy action to secure grid reliability, address the geographic mismatch between electricity demand and supply centers, and maintain the state’s global leadership in energy.”

Houston-area logistics co. breaks ground on recycling center tied to circularity hub

coming soon

TALKE USA Inc., a Houston-area arm of German logistics company TALKE, broke ground on its new Recycling Support Center in Mont Belvieu Aug. 1.

The facility will process post-consumer plastic materials, which will then be further processed at Cyclyx's new Houston-based Circularity Center, a first-of-its-kind plastic waste sorting and processing facility that was developed through a joint venture between Cyclix, ExxonMobil and LyondellBasell.

The materials will ultimately be converted into recycling feedstock.

“We’re proud to break ground on a facility that reflects our long-term vision for sustainable growth,” Richard Heath, CEO and president of TALKE USA Inc., said in a news release. “This groundbreaking marks an important milestone for our team, our customers, and the Mont Belvieu community.”

The new facility was partially funded by Chambers County, according to the release. The Baytown Sun reports that the county put $1 million towards the construction of the project, which brings advanced recycling and mechanical recycling to the area.

TALKE USA said it plans to share more about the new facility and its impact in the future.

Meanwhile, the Houston-based Cyclyx Circularity Center (CCC1) is slated to open this year and is expected to produce 300 million pounds of custom-formulated feedstock annually. A second circularity center, CCC2, is expected to start up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the second half of 2026. Read more here.

8 Houston energy giants top global corporate startup index for 2025

Global Group

Eight major players in Houston’s energy industry rank among the world’s top 20 energy companies for corporate startup activity.

The inaugural Corporate Startup Activity Index 2025, published by StartupBlink, ranks global corporations by industry. The eight Houston-area employers fall into the index’s energy and environment category.

Researchers from StartupBlink, an innovation research platform, scored more than 370 companies based on three factors: corporate involvement in startup activity, startup success and ecosystem integration.

The eight Houston-area energy employers that landed in the energy and environment category’s top 20 are:

  • No. 3 BP. Score: 13.547. U.S. headquarters in Houston.
  • No. 5 Saudi Aramco. Score: 7.405. Americas headquarters in Houston.
  • No. 7 Eni. Score: 6.255. Headquarters of Eni U.S. Operating Co. in Houston.
  • No. 8 Shell. Score: 6.217. U.S. headquarters in Houston.
  • No. 11 Occidental Petroleum. Score: 5.347. Global headquarters in Houston.
  • No. 15 Engie. Score: 3.352. North American headquarters in Houston.
  • No. 17 Repsol. Score: 2.980. U.S. headquarters for oil and gas operations in The Woodlands.
  • No. 19 Chevron. Score: 2.017. Global headquarters in Houston.

“Building a startup is hard, and navigating corporate innovation can be just as complex. This ranking is a step toward making the connection between startups and corporations more transparent, enabling startups and corporations to collaborate more effectively for mutual success,” said Eli David Rokah, CEO of StartupBlink.

Salesforce topped the global index with a score of 380.090, followed by Intel, Google, Qualcomm, and Comcast.

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This article originally appeared on InnovationMap.com.