05 May 2026

Associate Professor Jianwu Sun from the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology at Linköping University (LiU) has received new funding from the national research council Formas to support the development of next generation materials aimed at reducing harmful air pollution.

Porträtt av Jianwu Sun i labb. Photographer: Olov Planthaber

Jianwu Sun says the grant provides an important boost to his team’s work.

“Receiving funding from the national research council Formas is very encouraging and motivating. It provides an opportunity to advance research on new materials that support sustainable development and help address urgent environmental challenges,” he says.

The project focuses on nitric oxide (NO), a pollutant primarily emitted by traffic, industry, and heating systems. Sun’s team will develop a low cost, sunlight driven photocatalytic material capable of removing NO from ambient air without additional energy input.

The funding will support the design, synthesis, and testing of the new material, as well as studies of how it works and how effectively it breaks down NO.

“Air pollution remains a major global health challenge, and the project aims to contribute to cleaner, healthier urban environments through sustainable material innovation”, says Jianwu Sun.

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