Partner Profile: Anna Douglas | |
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“SkyNano's product is highly valuable and is economically feasible out of the gate without the need for a carbon tax or reduced electricity pricing, which is a common requirement we see in other CO2 storage and utilization technologies. We see this as an important distinction, because our pathway to scaling is based on a free market response, rather than policy changes."
This issue features Dr. Anna Douglas, Co-Founder & CEO, SkyNano.
Dr. Douglas is the Co-Founder of SkyNano LLC, a clean energy start-up which focuses on the scalable production of high-value functional materials using greenhouse gasses as chemical inputs. She earned her PhD in Interdisciplinary Materials Science from Vanderbilt University, but has also spent time with Innovation Crossroads, the National Science Foundation, and NASA Glenn Research Center. In her spare time, she serves on the board of the American Museum of Science and Energy (a Smithsonian affiliate), and volunteers with her local chapter of the Junior League at a women's shelter.
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The idea for SkyNano came from your dissertation thesis, correct? If so, how did you get the idea for your thesis?
That's correct! I started my graduate work studying advanced battery chemistries and looking at how nanomaterials can improve our existing battery technologies.
One challenge I constantly found was that the way we synthesize and mine the materials that go into batteries is often a very energy intensive or emissions-heavy process, which puts an enormous upfront carbon burden on battery devices. That means that in order to actually realize the clean energy benefits of batteries, the batteries need to last a very long time in order to offset that initial burden.
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To overcome this challenge, we started investigating other ways to make the materials that go into batteries. Carbon is used in our lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries today and is a critical component of nearly every next-generation battery chemistry being investigated today, e.g. lithium-sulfur (Li-S), silicon anode (Si-anode), etc., so we started there.
We found this chemistry that had been studied since the early 1900s to electrochemically convert CO2 into solid carbon and gaseous oxygen, and we realized if we could help drive the formation of specific valuable carbon structures (rather than the mixed carbon morphologies that had previously been observed), then we could really bring this technology to market.
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What are carbon nanotubes?
Carbon nanotubes are non-naturally occurring materials made entirely of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal 2-D structure, which is then rolled into a tubular shape. They have incredible material properties, such as electronic conductivity on par with copper, thermal properties comparable to diamonds, and strength 10 times that of steel, but only one-sixth the weight of steel.
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Why do they matter? What’s their significance?
Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have been the darling of the nanomaterial community since their discovery in the early 1990s, and have been used in the space and defense sectors. Their incredible properties also make them excellent candidates for a variety of consumer products, such as better batteries and more fuel efficient tires, but they're currently too expensive. SkyNano's process can make the materials at one-third the cost of conventional CNTs, making it economically feasible to begin integrating them into consumer applications.
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How is SkyNano's work different from other CO2 utilization efforts?
SkyNano's work is different from other CO2 utilization efforts in three main ways:
1. We're focused on a solid carbon product which will never re-emit the carbon back into the atmosphere in its life cycle (which is distinct from technologies looking at circular solutions such as CO2 to fuels). We believe this is an important component to solving the climate crisis, as we need to not only stop our net CO2 emissions, but scientific consensus has told us we need to be actively removing carbon from the atmosphere as well.
2. Because our process relies on a chemical absorption of CO2 to form a carbonate, then an electrochemical decomposition of that molecule, we're actually able to work with a variety of CO2 purity levels, ranging from direct air capture to dilute ~4.5% CO2 flue gas, to 100% pure CO2 streams. This is an important distinction, as many CO2 utilization pathways require a high purity input that isn't widely available.
3. SkyNano's product is highly valuable and is economically feasible out of the gate without the need for a carbon tax or reduced electricity pricing, which is a common requirement we see in other CO2 storage and utilization technologies. We see this as an important distinction, because our pathway to scaling is based on a free market response, rather than policy changes.
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You recently proved that your technology works in a lab. What are your next steps?
The next steps for us are scaling the technology to a larger production footprint to make more carbon nanotubes for our early customers, and also to work towards demonstration of the materials in some key applications such as battery and tire additives.
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How would your work potentially impact climate change?
SkyNano's serviceable available market (existing carbon additive market) supports up to 20 megatonnes CO2/year removal, and those markets are projected to grow rapidly at >6% compounded annual growth rate to support growth of batteries for electric vehicles. Beyond this scale, our technology could address more CO2 removal to produce a solid carbon product that can be used as a soil additive, which would help support CO2 removal at a scale of a gigaton per year, while also making a profit.
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What do you see as the future for CCU?
I think a key need for CCU is the demonstration of economically viable products that are competitive with existing products on a cost and performance standpoint, rather than relying on customers to pay a "green tax" in order to make the economics work. Once we start to see these products infiltrate markets more and more, the market will demand better, more sustainable products, especially ones made from CCU, which will help create more incentives for CCU technology providers.
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You have been working on this idea for a while. What keeps you going?
I started working on the idea in 2015, just a year into my graduate work. Of course, running a company has plenty of highs and lows, but the conviction that this could, at scale, have a meaningful measurable impact on the climate crisis is what keeps me going. My mom comes from a long line of farmers, so I know the data on how climate change impacts our agricultural markets. I've gotten to see first-hand how fragile the balance is between agricultural markets, farmers, and keeping our population well-fed with quality food.
Of course, this is only one example of how we can already see the impacts of climate change that gives me a strong motivation to develop solutions to help avoid the worst effects of climate change, but this example is tangible for me and helps keep me inspired.
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This field is predominantly male, correct? If so, do you have any advice for women who are interested in this area, but are perhaps a little bit intimidated?
You're right! In fact, the energy and hardware startup field as a whole is predominantly male. I've been fortunate to have incredible mentors, both male and female, who have understood how to uniquely prepare me for a career that swims against the stream for my gender. Specifically, my PhD advisor Prof. Cary Pint, who is now my co-founder at SkyNano, was particularly great at preparing me for what a career as a female in a male-dominated field might look like.
My advice to women is to find your community and try to surround yourself with mentors who can advocate for you. Beyond this, having a strong internal conviction for why you're doing what you're doing and remembering the potential impact it can have on the world. That's enough for me to keep going, even if it's a lonely path.
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What question should I have asked you & what is the answer to that question?
“What's my favorite thing about my job?”
My team! I am so fortunate to be able to work alongside the brightest and most creative group of scientists I've ever met. I'm also really grateful that the people on my team are all really good humans. Working at a startup like SkyNano is somewhat self-selecting, as many people will choose a more stable career path unless they feel a strong personal conviction about the work, which makes the associated risks worth it. I'm really grateful to be working with the people on my team, and absolutely couldn't be where we are today without them.
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IPCC report: The role of Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) to mitigate climate change
April 26, 2022
To highlight the key messages related to CCU in the recently released IPCC report and to connect high level scientists and policy makers on the subject of CCU, CO2 Value Europe is organizing a conference in Brussels. Most speakers will be present in person, but the event will also be live streamed and later on available on the platforms brussels.climate. This free event is open to all!
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19th International Conference on Carbon Dioxide Utilization
June 26-30, 2022
ICCDU has provided a global meeting place for chemists, engineers, and environmental policy planners to come together and discuss the latest developments in the field of CO2 capture and utilization.
The deadline for Early Bird Registration is May 1, 2022.
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