Cluster Lead:
鶹ӳý’s Renewable Energy and Chemical Transformation Cluster, or REACT, is developing new, alternative materials for catalysis to power technology and chemical processes that are safe for people and the environment.
The production of electricity from renewable sources, like solar, is a cost-competitive alternative to fossil-fuel-generated electricity, and alternatively powered forms of transportation are rapidly gaining acceptance.
Essential to harnessing these forms of alternative energy is research into the materials needed to produce and store them.
Valuable Partnerships
鶹ӳý and Florida already have large investments in energy and propulsion technologies (Siemens, Mitsubishi, Lockheed Martin, GE/Alstom, Pratt & Whitney, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Space-X and ATK), and more recently with the Florida Advanced Manufacturing Research Center. These local investments benefit from closer connections to ongoing research at 鶹ӳý, enabled by existing links to 鶹ӳý’s Florida Solar Energy Center and Center for Advanced Turbines and Energy Research.
History of High Impact
鶹ӳý has a history of implementing high-impact, entrepreneurially focused curricula. Most recently, the university worked closely with the DoE on implementing two cleantech-focused efforts – an annual cleantech accelerator, which was designed to identify and support promising cleantech technologies throughout the Southeast, and the Florida Cleantech Acceleration Network, which created a statewide support network and “proof of concept” center for cleantech entrepreneurs. These programs served more than 200 ventures that went on to raise more than $5 million in follow-on funding on their paths to commercialization.
Overcoming Obstacles
National investments are starting to yield important advances, and clean energy is becoming economically competitive. In fact, utility solar and rooftop solar power are actually cheaper than electricity-generated fossil fuels. However, there are still critical obstacles that require investment, especially in areas related to energy conversion and storage – all of which this cluster helps to address.
Highlighted Publication
“Selective and sustainable quinoline hydrogenation with a robust hierarchical catalyst framework”, Akihiro Kushima, Ph.D., Parag Banerjee, Ph.D., Titel Jurca, Ph.D., Catalysis Science and Technology: Jul, 2025
鶹ӳý Colleges Involved with Renewable Energy and Chemical Transformation (REACT) Research:
In The News
Renewable Energy and Chemical Transformation (REACT) Research
Projects
Publications
- , , Rahmani, A., Currie, T. M., Shultz, L. R., Bryant, J. T., Beazley, M. J., Uribe-Romo, F. J., Tetard, L., Rudawski, N. G., Xie, S., Liu, F., Wang, T.-H., Ong, T.-G., Zhai, L., Jurca, T.*, , Royal Society of Chemistry Publishing 12: Nov, 2022
- , , Jacob T. Bryant Jacob T. Bryant Department of Chemistry and Renewable Energy and Chemical Transformations Cluster, 鶹ӳý, Orlando, Florida 32816, United States More by Jacob T. Bryant Orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7737-4604 , Matthew W. Logan, Zhihengyu Chen, Marcus Djokic, Daniel R. Cairnie, Demetrius A. Vazquez-Molina, A. Nijamudheen, Kyle R. Langlois, Michael J. Markley, Gisselle Pombar, Ashley A. Holland, Jonathan D. Caranto, James K. Harper, Amanda J. Morris*, Jose L. Mendoza-Cortes*, Karena W. Chapman*, and Fernando J. Uribe-Romo*, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces: Feb, 2023
- , , Lorianne R. Shultz , Zackary S. Parsons, Melanie Beazley, Xiaofeng Feng., ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces: Feb, 2023
- , , Royal Society of Chemistry: Emerging Investigator Series – Titel Jurca: Mar, 2023
- , , , Shaw, T. E., Ali, Z., Currie, T. M., Berriel, S. N., Butkus, B., Wagner, J. T., Preradovic, K., Yap, G. P. A., Green, J. C., Sattelberger, A. P.,*, McElwee-White, L.,*, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 15 (29): Jul, 2023
- , , , S. Novia Berriel, Ph.D.,, Terrick McNealy-James, Ph.D.,, Taylor M. Currie, Ph.D.,, Eric Bissell, Ph.D.,, Brian Butkus, Ph.D.,, Chien-Hsuan Chen, Ph.D.,, Luis Tomar, Ph.D.,, Jacob Baillie, Ph.D.,, Daniel R. Gamelin, Ph.D., Chemistry of Materials: Aug, 2024
- , , The Journal of Physical Chemistry: Mar, 2025
- , , Journal of the American Chemical Society: Jun, 2025
- , , , , Catalysis Science and Technology: Jul, 2025
- , , ACS Applied Nano Materials: Jul, 2025
- , , AIP Review of Scientific Instruments, Aug, 2024
Renewable Energy and Chemical Transformation (REACT) Degree Programs
鶹ӳý offers a degree program track for students interested in renewable energy and power. For more programs, search 鶹ӳý programs below.
Programs
Renewable Energy and Chemical Transformation (REACT) Faculty
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Professor of Materials Science and Engineering -
Associate Professor of Physics -
Director, Florida Solar Energy Center -
Professor and Department Chair of Chemistry -
Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering -
Associate Professor of Chemistry -
Associate Professor of Physics -
Professor of Physics -
Associate Professor -
Pegasus Research Scientist of Physics -
Research Professor of the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) -
Associate Professor of Mechanical, Material and Aerospace Engineeing -
Pegasus Professor of Physics -
Associate Professor of Physics -
Associate Professor of Physics -
Associate Professor of Chemistry -
Research Assistant Professor of Physics -
Associate Professor of Physics -
Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering -
Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
