Professor Cafer Yavuz joined the Chemistry Program in the Physical Science andEngineering Division at KAUST in 2020. Recognized for his pioneering contributionsin the field of synthetic chemistry, he currently leads the Yavuz Lab, which focuseson nanomaterials design and development to solve energy-related researchproblems in areas such as gas capture and storage, heterogeneous catalysis, watertreatment and seawater mining, among others. Prior to KAUST, Dr. Yavuz served asfaculty member with the Korea Institute for Advanced Study (KAIST) from 2010 to2020. He maintains cross-disciplinary research collaborations with colleagues inKorea as well as the USA. He is active as a member of numerous professionalorganizations, including the American Chemical Society, Royal Society of Chemistry,Materials Research Society, and American Institute for Chemical Engineers.​

Dr. Yavuz and team develop sustainable and adsorbent nano and porous polymermaterials to address global challenges in the environment, particularly those relatedto CO2, water and methane. Current projects include dry reforming of methane, CO2capture with tethered amines, CO2 conversion to cyclic carbonates, water capturefrom air, methane & H2 storage in porous polymers, electrocatalytic water splitting,electronic waste recycling, seawater mining, and the removal of micro contaminantsfrom water — advances with wide-ranging industrial applications in support ofsustainable, circular carbon objectives. ​