Paul Dauenhauer

Paul Dauenhauer headshot
Chemical Engineering & Materials Science
College of Science and Engineering

Award Year
2024
University Award
Distinguished McKnight University Professors
Research Title
Catalysis for Sustainable Energy and Materials
No Monument Location

Producing energy with limited impact on the environment is a leading challenge for engineers in the 21st century. Paul Dauenhauer’s research uses catalysts to control and optimize reactions to convert water, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide to manufacture carbon-neutral fuels, materials including biodegradable plastics, carbon-sequestering solids, and liquid hydrogen carriers such as ammonia. Transformational reactions and catalytic materials are designed using mechanistic insight, fundamental chemical kinetics, and quantitative mathematical modeling of catalytic systems.