16 November 2023

17:35 – 18:20

Amphithéâtre Painlevé

Antoine Fécant

Antoine Fécant holds an engineering degree from the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Chimie de Lille and a PhD in chemistry from the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon. For some twenty years, he led fundamental and applied research projects in materials chemistry for energy at IFP Energies Nouvelles. He is currently head of the Molecular Catalysis department. In particular, he was instrumental in initiating research into photocatalysis for the production of “solar fuels” at IFPEN. He is a member of the Industrial Chemistry division of the Société Chimique de France. He is involved in training students and the general public through popularization activities, and is the author of several articles in national and international journals, as well as inventor of numerous patents. His work has received numerous awards, notably from the Société Chimique de France and the Académie des Sciences.

Conference: Can we catalyze the energy transition?

In the vast majority of chemical transformations, whether associated with living organisms, natural processes or industrial processes, lies a phenomenon that has long remained a mystery even to the most erudite: Catalysis. This physico-chemical phenomenon found a formalism at the beginning of the 19th century, and although significant progress in description is to the credit of many scientists, understanding mechanisms on a molecular scale still often remains a challenge. Without the fascinating power of catalysts, the developments our modern societies are currently enjoying would never have seen the light of day. But beyond that, without their actions, life would simply be impossible. Faced with the challenges of a necessary transition in our energy consumption patterns, can Catalysis contribute to the construction of a desirable future that is more respectful of the environment?