Networking grant awarded enables international collaboration leading to new photocatalysis paper

A C‑DICE networking grant awarded to Dr Rodolfo Teixeira (Chemical Engineering, Loughborough University) enabled a UK–Brazil collaboration on “Sustainable Manufacturing Inspired by Tropical Biodiversity,” culminating in a new peer‑reviewed paper on greener, nature‑inspired chemical manufacturing.

The research demonstrates that pyrene-4,5-dione functions as a metal-free, visible-light photocatalyst across four major photochemical activation modes:

• Photooxidation
• Energy transfer
• Photoredox
• Hydrogen-atom transfer (HAT)

Operating under milder and safer conditions, the work highlights a more sustainable alternative to precious-metal-based photocatalysts. The team also reports a scale-up study, translating one of the key transformations from batch to continuous flow using a compact, 3D-printed reactor, underscoring the practical potential for process intensification.

The findings also showcase the promise of quinone-based systems, which are ubiquitous in nature, reinforcing the broader potential of nature-inspired organic photocatalysts to advance sustainable chemical manufacturing.

“The C-DICE networking grant was essential in supporting and seeding this international collaboration. Beyond demonstrating the versatility of a nature-inspired organic photocatalyst, the work opens new possibilities for the development of naturally derived quinones in sustainable manufacturing and future clean energy applications, including solar fuel generation,” said Rodolfo.