Shinshu University, Japan

Prof Kazunari Domen, world-renowned for his pioneering research on photocatalysis, has contributed significantly to research into clean hydrogen production, particularly through water splitting using sunlight. His work is at the forefront of developing photocatalysts for water splitting — with his team’s research crucial to making green hydrogen a cheap and scalable alternative to fossil fuels. 

In recognition of his significant global impact, Prof Domen was named a 2024 Clarivate Citation Laureate in Chemistry, whose recipients are often considered future Nobel Prize candidates. He continues to inspire new generations of researchers in sustainable chemical processes.   

Institute for Aqua Regeneration, Shinshu University, Japan 

Prof Takashi Hisatomi has made notable contributions to the field of solar-driven water splitting for clean hydrogen production. Optimizing catalyst performance to enhance scalability and applicability in sustainable energy solutions is central to his research.  

He currently serves as the Director of the Institute for Innovative Energy Research at Shinshu University. Takashi was recognized by Shinshu University in 2024 for his impact on sustainable energy solutions. In 2023 he was recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate, and was also awarded the Catalysis Society of Japan Award for Young Researchers in 2022.  

CEO, Green Hydrogen Organisation, Switzerland

Jonas Moberg is a prominent figure in the renewable energy sector, advocating the crucial role of green hydrogen in transitioning to renewable energy, particularly in regions like Africa. His previous roles have included Senior Advisor in the Executive Office of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and as a Director at the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum. 

Jonas drives collaboration across governments, businesses, and civil society to ensure the responsible deployment of green hydrogen. He also highlights the potential of green hydrogen to displace carbon-based fuels in various industries. 

Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Germany 

Dr Christian Mark Pelicano leads the SunThesis Group at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Germany, where he focuses on developing photocatalytic systems for CO₂ conversion to facilitate renewable energy and sustainable fuel production. His research interests encompass nanoscience, energy materials, photochemistry, electrocatalysis, and materials chemistry.  

Christian’s work covers a range of topics, including efficient solid-state perovskite solar cells, bimetallic synergy in cocatalyst alloy nanoparticles, and machine learning applications in materials science. Specifically, he has focused on predicting the band gap of ZnO quantum dots using supervised machine learning models. 

Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Italy

Prof Diana Sannino is an associate professor at the University of Salerno, Italy, specializing in the Department of Industrial Engineering. Her research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials, nanocomposites, and structured materials, with applications in catalysis and photocatalysis for several applications mainly in the field of sustainable chemical processes and for environmental protection. 

Diana’s work has contributed significantly to addressing environmental challenges, such as the treatment of wastewater containing terephthalic acid (TPA). A keen public speaker, she participates in academic conferences, having been a speaker at the International Summit on Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials. Prof. Sannino's expertise extends to adsorption processes and catalyst characterization.