BASF and Stanford University strengthen their collaboration in catalyst research

Science magazine recently published a new collaboration between BASF and Stanford University, highlighting the remarkable solutions that result when industry and academia join forces.

For the past eight years, BASF’s California Research Alliance (CARA) and Stanford University have worked together on multiple projects to advance catalyst research. Recently, as part of this ongoing collaboration, one of the projects was featured in Science magazine. 

The publication, co-authored by the Cargnello Group from Stanford University, BASF and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), reveals the discovery of a multi-metallic uniform nanocrystal catalyst capable of decomposing ammonia (NH₃).

Nanocrystals, which are materials composed of thousands of atoms arranged in precise and organized structures, can be found in different consumer technologies such as smartphone displays and TV screens, and they are used as catalysts. Catalysts are substances used to accelerate chemical reactions, allowing them to occur more efficiently. They have a wide range of applications including in pharmaceutical synthesis, environmental cleaning, sustainable energy and food production, among others.

Matteo Cargnello, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Stanford University specializes in nanocrystals and nanostructures specifically used in fields that are related to energy and the environment. He has long worked on projects related to nanocrystals and catalysts with BASF. In fact, in 2024, a two-year collaboration laid the foundation for the development of VOCat^TM 380P, a catalyst technology that eliminates volatile organic compounds (VOC) such as propane during production.

Ammonia, a potential driver of sustainable solutions

In the past few years, hydrogen has emerged as a potential source of clean energy and an alternative to fossil fuels. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), hydrogen has the highest energy content by weight of any common fuel (about three times more than gasoline). It is also extremely versatile, as it can be produced from both fossil fuels and renewable energy.

Ammonia, which is one of the most produced chemicals in the world, can act as a hydrogen carrier and has emerged as a route for hydrogen production. As Roel Sanchez-Carrera, CARA Manager and co-author of the paper explains, “ammonia can be easily transported, making hydrogen accessible in regions where natural gas or renewable energy sources for H₂ production are not readily available.”

Professor Cargnello notes that the recently published paper “represents an important step in this direction, and we're continuing to collaborate with BASF to further increase catalyst activity in this application. As we work toward eventual industrial transfer and use, our team is confident that this is an important initial step in demonstrating active and stable catalysts to move the hydrogen economy closer to reality.”

Talent, connection and dialogue

The relationship between BASF and Stanford University has strengthened the connection between industry and academia, providing the perfect platform to gain insight and “a deep understanding of what's really needed to make an impact in realistic applications that matter,” as Professor Cargnello remarks. “On multiple occasions I’ve received guidance and suggestions on what to really focus on in our projects that would be beneficial in practical terms.”

Conversely, according to Sanchez-Carrera, the possibility of collaborating with researchers from Stanford University and the Cargnello Group is a significant benefit for BASF, as it fosters a two-way exchange of ideas, with fresh, cutting‑edge academic perspectives that challenge assumptions, spark out‑of‑the‑box solutions, and accelerate the translation of research into practical innovations. “The inquisitive nature of the students, combined with the expertise of BASF scientists, has already led to commercial products,” he notes.

These exchanges ensure “a collaboration of many great people that can lead us to more impactful results. This also makes the research much more fun and interesting because of the shared collaborative spirit between BASF researchers and Stanford students and postdocs,” reinforces Cargnello.

In terms of what’s next for BASF’s CARA team, Sanchez-Carrera adds “we are currently under planning discussions to diversify the approach to other topics of interest for which precious metal reduction is also relevant”. 

By combining academic curiosity with industrial expertise, BASF and Stanford University are paving the way for the next generation of catalyst innovations and sustainable energy solutions.

Published on July 30, 2026, by Mariana Licio.

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