As the world grapples with the urgent need to transition from fossil-based energy and feedstock to more sustainable alternatives, electrochemistry is a key enabler of this transformation. While electrochemical energy storage (e.g., batteries) is well known, the electrochemical synthesis of high-value molecules via electrolysis is now gaining increasing attention. By leveraging electricity and abundant feedstock such as water and small waste molecules (e.g., carbon dioxide, nitrate ions), electrolysis offers a green and scalable alternative for hard-to-abate sectors of the chemical industry—enabling for example the sustainable production of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and beyond.

In this talk, I will present the cutting-edge research conducted at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), where we bridge fundamental science and real-world applications. Our work spans from the rational design of novel electrocatalysts to the engineering of electrochemical devices. We explore both well-established processes, such as water splitting (i.e., the combination of Hydrogen Evolution Reaction, HER, and the Oxygen Evolution Reaction, OER), and emerging electrochemical pathways, including glycerol electrooxidation, CO₂ electroreduction, nitrate electroreduction, and electrochemical C–N bond formation.

Beyond the lab-scale, we are committed to translating our research into impactful industrial technology. I will showcase how our startup, Antares Electrolysis, is transforming laboratory-scale innovations (TRL 1–4) into 100 kW AEM-based electrolyzer stacks, paving the way for the next generation of sustainable chemical manufacturing.