Harry B. Gray from the California Institute of Technology discusses the potential of using chemistry to harness solar energy for global energy needs. The challenge lies in converting abundant, energy-poor molecules into energy-rich ones using sunlight, such as producing hydrogen from water or methanol from water and carbon dioxide. These solar fuels can be used continuously, providing mechanical or electrical power day and night. To achieve this, advanced chemical catalysts are required that are cheap, abundant, and long-lasting. Nature has already demonstrated the use of abundant metallic elements combined with proteins to activate small molecules, but these biological systems have limited lifetimes. Researchers are working on creating bioinspired materials that can efficiently catalyze water oxidation and reduction. Pure inorganic materials, such as rust and fool's gold, are not ideal due to lattice defects that cause electron-hole recombination. However, robust metal photosystems are being developed to address this issue. Despite the challenges, significant progress has been made, and the goal is to have working solar-fuel plants by 2050. These plants could use seawater to produce hydrogen and oxygen, meeting local energy and clean water needs. A broader vision includes using atmospheric components like carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and oxygen, along with seawater, to produce not only fuels and electricity but also polymers, food, and other essential materials. The Solar Fuel Center for Chemical Innovation (CCISolar) is an interdisciplinary effort to develop nanorod catalysts for water splitting, with significant advancements in nanorod array photoelectrodes, catalysts for water oxidation and reduction, and bioinspired materials.Harry B. Gray from the California Institute of Technology discusses the potential of using chemistry to harness solar energy for global energy needs. The challenge lies in converting abundant, energy-poor molecules into energy-rich ones using sunlight, such as producing hydrogen from water or methanol from water and carbon dioxide. These solar fuels can be used continuously, providing mechanical or electrical power day and night. To achieve this, advanced chemical catalysts are required that are cheap, abundant, and long-lasting. Nature has already demonstrated the use of abundant metallic elements combined with proteins to activate small molecules, but these biological systems have limited lifetimes. Researchers are working on creating bioinspired materials that can efficiently catalyze water oxidation and reduction. Pure inorganic materials, such as rust and fool's gold, are not ideal due to lattice defects that cause electron-hole recombination. However, robust metal photosystems are being developed to address this issue. Despite the challenges, significant progress has been made, and the goal is to have working solar-fuel plants by 2050. These plants could use seawater to produce hydrogen and oxygen, meeting local energy and clean water needs. A broader vision includes using atmospheric components like carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and oxygen, along with seawater, to produce not only fuels and electricity but also polymers, food, and other essential materials. The Solar Fuel Center for Chemical Innovation (CCISolar) is an interdisciplinary effort to develop nanorod catalysts for water splitting, with significant advancements in nanorod array photoelectrodes, catalysts for water oxidation and reduction, and bioinspired materials.