Nathan S Lewis

Professor Nathan S. Lewis is a globally recognized academic at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he serves as the George L. Argyros Professor of Chemistry. He has spent over four decades pioneering research in solar fuels, photoelectrochemical energy conversion, semiconductors, and sustainable energy systems, authoring over 600 papers and delivering hundreds of invited lectures in these fields. His work focuses on transforming sunlight into chemical fuels and advancing light-directed growth technologies.

• Education
• Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 1981
• B.S./M.S. in Chemistry, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), 1977

Research Interests: Lewis's research spans interdisciplinary domains at the intersection of chemistry, materials science, and energy systems. Key areas include:

• Development of semiconductor-based solar fuel technologies
• Electrochemical and photoelectrochemical energy conversion
• Nanostructured materials for sustainable energy applications
• Global energy systems and climate change mitigation
• Light-directed growth of functional materials

Scientific Awards and Honors:

• Princeton Environmental Award
• American Chemical Society Award in Pure Chemistry
• Founding Editor-in-Chief of Energy and Environmental Science (2008-2018)
• Rolling Stone magazine’s top 100 “Agents of Change in America” #17 overall

As head of the Lewis Research Group, he has trained a generation of leading global researchers in the solar fuels field, cementing his legacy as an educator and mentor.