Title: Plasmas, magneto-electrochemistry, and polymers: solutions to energy challenges, inspired by nature

Abstract: The chemical industry is the world’s largest energy consumer and the third-largest source of emissions. Industrial production of nitrogen fertilizers via the Haber-Bosch process consumes over 1% of the world’s total energy. Polymers industry alone will consume 12% of the global carbon budget by 2050. Sustainable electrochemical and low-carbon solutions are necessary for solving energy and climate challenges.

Nature inspires us with how it utilizes energy: lightning strikes (plasmas) causes nitrogen and water to combine to form ammonia and nitrates as fertilizers. Earth’s magnetic field protects its surface from harmful solar winds via the Lorentz effect. In biology, cells use high-energy bonds between phosphate groups (e.g., in ATP) as their energy currency. Here we present plasma (air gap)-electrochemistry, magneto-electrochemistry, and zero-carbon polymers as three innovations for a lower carbon future.

Bio: Haihui Joy Jiang is a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University, working with Prof. George M. Whitesides and his team. Joy leads projects across several areas, including plasma-electrochemistry (e.g., for nitrogen fixation, CO₂ reduction, ozone production, and water disinfection), magneto-electrochemistry (e.g., for hydrogen production, chlor-alkali reaction, chiral fluidic flow, and separation processes), functional materials (e.g., for tribocharging, fomite testing, fire resistance, and thermal insulation), and device engineering (e.g., soft robotics).

Prior to joining Harvard, Joy completed her Ph.D. in Chemistry in Prof. Gregory G. Warr’s group at The University of Sydney, Australia. She led projects in nanomaterials and ionic solvents at international facilities, including the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization and the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in the UK.