Dr. Geoffrey Ozin is a preeminent materials chemist widely recognized as the founding figure of Nanochemistry and a global leader in nanomaterials research. He currently holds the distinguished position of Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Materials Chemistry and Distinguished University Professor at the University of Toronto, an honor bestowed upon only 0.1% of the university's 3,000 faculty members. Born in London, he received his B.Sc. from King's College London in 1965 and completed his D.Phil. at Oriel College, Oxford in 1967 under the supervision of Ian R. Beattie. Following an ICI Postdoctoral Fellowship at Southampton University, he established his independent research career that has spanned over five decades of scientific leadership and innovation.
Professor Ozin pioneered the field of Nanochemistry through landmark papers that established synthetic strategies, self-assembly protocols, and experimental methods for creating and understanding nanomaterials. His research has defined new classes of nanomaterials, mesoporous materials, and photonic crystals, culminating in significant technological innovations including the invention of photonic ink and elastic ink technologies. He has demonstrated exceptional translational impact by founding three university spin-off companies: Torrovap in 1985 for metal vapor synthesis instrumentation, Opalux in 2006 for tunable photonic crystals, and Solistra in 2019 for photocatalysts and photoreactors for hydrogen production. His recent work focuses on engineered photocatalyst and photoreactor architectures designed to harvest light for efficient conversion of abundant molecules into sustainable chemicals and fuels.
As a Founding Fellow of the Nanoscience Team at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Professor Ozin has shaped the global research agenda in nanotechnology while maintaining international affiliations as Honorary Professor at The Royal Institution Great Britain and University College London. His scientific leadership extends to establishing the Solar Fuels Group at the University of Toronto, which is advancing gas-phase heterogeneous photocatalysis to reduce energy and environmental costs in chemical production. Recognized with numerous prestigious awards including the Albert Einstein World Award of Science and the Royal Society of Chemistry's Centenary Prize, his work continues to drive innovation in sustainable energy solutions. Professor Ozin remains actively engaged in pioneering research that bridges fundamental materials chemistry with practical applications for addressing contemporary global challenges in energy and sustainability.
