The Secret of Sustainable Chemistry: A New Era with Carbon

Markus Antonietti Receives Arkema Award from the French Academy of Sciences

The prestigious award, valued at EUR 25,000, honours Prof. Markus Antonietti's groundbreaking research in carbon catalysis. Antonietti develops materials with special properties for more sustainable chemical syntheses: carbon materials are abundant in nature, consume less energy than metal catalysts, and are reusable. The same Academy once hosted Antoine Lavoisier, known as the father of modern chemistry, who was also fascinated by carbon's versatility.

The French Academy of Sciences has proudly promoted the advancement of science since 1666—when founded by the Sun King, the name reflected the patronage attributed to him. Today this tradition continues to honour extraordinary researchers across various disciplines. Among the 2024 award recipients, chemist Markus Antonietti received the prestigious Arkema Award, valued at EUR 25,000, for his contributions to sustainable transformation reactions through carbon catalysis.

In brief, carbon catalysis develops carbon-based materials to make chemical reactions faster, more cost-effective and more precisely tunable. This can be thought of as primitive versions of enzymes made from biological molecules, but without biology: "I call this the black magic of carbon catalysis" – says Prof. Markus Antonietti, director of the Department of Colloid Chemistry at MPICI since 1993. Black carbon powders can replace rare metals such as platinum and iridium in catalysts. Carbons produced at very low cost from renewable sources, based on sustainable sources, undoubtedly contribute to greener chemistry and the reactions they support consume less energy. For example, Antonietti's research simplifies the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen and the conversion of CO2 into various valuable molecules using only water and electricity.

Behind this black magic with an apparently green horizon lies a lifetime of dedication, continuous intellectual exchange and creativity. This is what the Academy honours in Antonietti today, making him a name following in the footsteps of many renowned scientists.

The building where the award is presented has weathered at least two revolutions: the revolution that began with the storming of the Bastille in 1789 and the scientific revolution initiated by Antoine Lavoisier's *Traité élémentaire de chimie* published that same year. A member of the Academy, Lavoisier redefined chemistry through experimental rigour and keen curiosity. He once dared to burn diamonds to prove their carbon structure.

Two centuries later, Antonietti keeps this spirit alive by shaping tomorrow's chemical reactions using one of nature's most abundant elements.