Iceland · Pre-revenue R&D

Converting CO₂
into fuels and
chemicals

NEXSURF develops advanced catalyst systems for the electrochemical conversion of CO₂ and CO, targeting CO and formate as initial products — expanding toward methane, ethanol, and other fuels and chemicals as the platform matures — using renewable electricity.

What We Do Get In Touch
3
Catalyst Families
Discovery
DFTDensity Functional Theory — quantum-mechanical simulation that predicts how CO₂ behaves on a material's surface before anything is made in the lab.Get a simple explanation → · MLMachine learning — models trained on our simulation data to predict promising catalysts we haven't computed yet.Get a simple explanation → · Experiment
2026–2028
Validation & Licensing Focus
Why Conversion Matters

Our role starts
after capture

NEXSURF does not develop carbon-capture technology. We develop catalyst technologies for the next stage: converting a supplied CO₂ or CO stream into useful fuels and chemicals.

European direction
−55%

Minimum net greenhouse-gas reduction by 2030 compared with 1990.

2050

The European Union's legally binding climate-neutrality target.

1.2%

Required share of synthetic aviation fuels at EU airports from 2030.

These policies create demand for technologies that can use renewable energy and supplied CO₂ as inputs for lower-carbon fuels and chemicals.

NEXSURF target

Build a licensing-ready catalyst platform for CO₂ conversion.

NEXSURF develops, validates, and protects catalyst IP that can help industrial partners convert supplied CO₂ and CO into fuels and chemicals using renewable electricity.

  • Reduce reliance on fossil carbon feedstocks where lifecycle performance supports it.
  • Improve the selectivity, stability, and practical performance of electrochemical conversion.
  • Scale through licensing, joint development, and technology transfer—not a near-term factory build-out.
Official sources: European Climate Law ↗ ReFuelEU Aviation ↗
The Problem

CO₂ capture is scaling.
Carbon utilization still needs better catalysts.

CO₂ is the main driver of climate change and emissions are still setting records. Carbon capture is expanding, but capture alone does not create useful products. Converting CO₂ into useful fuels and chemicals at scale remains a critical bottleneck — held back by energy demand, product selectivity, and catalyst stability.

38.1 GtCO₂
Projected fossil CO₂ emissions in 2025 — a record high
Source: UC Davis / Global Carbon Budget ↗
425.7 ppm
Atmospheric CO₂ concentration projected for 2025
Source: UC Davis / Global Carbon Budget ↗
+1.44 °C
2025 warming above the pre-industrial average
Source: Berkeley Earth ↗

Data: UC Davis / Global Carbon Budget 2025 · Berkeley Earth

High Energy Demand

CO₂ is thermodynamically stable and fully oxidized, so converting it into reduced products requires energy. Catalysts can reduce kinetic losses and improve selectivity, while overall economics also depend on electricity, reactor performance, separation, and scale.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy →
Selectivity Challenge

Catalysts must steer CO₂ toward a target product, such as ethanol or formic acid, rather than wasting energy on a mixture of side products.

Stability Barrier

Many catalysts restructure, deactivate, or lose selectivity during operation. Long-duration testing is therefore essential before an industrial process can rely on them.

Converting

Turn captured carbon into useful products

Three major development routes are thermochemical, electrochemical, and biological conversion. Each provides a different energy source and reaction environment.

Thermochemical conversion

Heat, pressure, and usually hydrogen convert CO₂ into products such as methanol or synthetic fuels.

Climate performance and cost depend heavily on low-carbon hydrogen, process heat, pressure, and capital equipment.
U.S. DOE pathway →
Electrochemical conversion

Electricity drives CO₂ reduction at a catalyst-coated electrode, potentially linking conversion directly to renewable power.

Efficiency, product selectivity, catalyst lifetime, and full-cell performance must improve together.
U.S. DOE pathway →
Biological conversion

Algae or non-photosynthetic microorganisms use CO₂ as a carbon source to produce biomass, fuels, or chemicals.

Productivity, reactor scale, organism stability, separation, and feed-gas compatibility remain important constraints.
U.S. DOE pathway →
Electrocatalysis focus

The catalyst determines which products are practical

Gold & silver benchmarks

Gold and silver are established reference catalysts for selectively converting CO₂ to carbon monoxide.

Gold is expensive, and both routes still depend on full-cell efficiency, durability, and separation costs.
ACS perspective →
Copper for multi-carbon products

Copper is the best-established elemental catalyst for products with two or more carbon atoms, including ethylene and ethanol.

Broad product mixtures and operating-condition-dependent surfaces complicate selectivity and stability.
ACS review →
Emerging non-precious families

Non-precious metals broaden the search beyond precious-metal catalysts.

Computational promise must be confirmed by independent product analysis, full-cell testing, and long-duration stability data.
DOE National Laboratories →
The NEXSURF difference
  • Non-precious material families are being developed for renewable-electricity-driven conversion.
  • DFT and machine learning narrow the search before experimental validation, enabling a computational–experimental feedback loop.
  • Selectivity, stability, and energy efficiency are screened together.
  • A licensing-first model lets partners validate and integrate the catalyst know-how.
What We Do

Develop catalyst IP for
industrial CO₂ conversion

01
Catalyst families

Develop three proprietary catalyst families—transition-metal carbides, carbonitrides, and phosphides—for electrochemical conversion using renewable electricity.

02
Target products

Prioritize CO and formate as initial targets; expand toward methane, ethanol, and other higher-value fuels and chemicals as validation and partner needs progress.

03
Validation packages

Build partner-ready evidence demonstrating selectivity, stability, product formation, and application-relevant performance.

04
Licensing & joint development

Transfer validated catalyst IP and know-how to industrial partners rather than building production infrastructure in-house.

Platform at a Glance
3
Transition-metal carbides, carbonitrides, and phosphides
500+
Candidate surfaces screened in internal computational studies
30+
Candidates shortlisted in internal in-silico studies
Development Priorities
Lower
Energy input, to be benchmarked quantitatively
Higher
Product selectivity, to be benchmarked quantitatively
Longer
Operating stability, to be benchmarked quantitatively

Screening counts are internal project metrics. Predicted performance remains to be confirmed through application-relevant experiments.

Our Workflow

Computational discovery →
lab-scale testing → industrial transfer

Our three-stage pipeline moves from computational screening to lab-scale synthesis and electrochemical testing and, when performance is verified, toward technology transfer and industrial collaboration.

01
Screen
Achieved

DFT calculations, machine learning, and materials expertise identify promising surfaces and narrow the candidate space before experimental validation.

02
Lab-scale testing
Ongoing

Priority candidates move into lab-scale synthesis and electrochemical testing, including performance benchmarking, stability screening, product identification, and selectivity analysis where experimental capacity is available.

03
Transfer
Upcoming

Validated catalyst know-how, IP strategy, and performance data can be packaged for industrial collaboration, licensing, or joint development with partners.

From Prediction to Experiment

Inside a lab-scale H-cell

An illustrative view of electrochemical testing: CO₂ enters the cathode chamber, reacts at a catalyst-coated electrode, and forms products that are measured for selectivity, activity, and stability.

Conceptual animation only. It illustrates the planned laboratory workflow and does not display live experimental measurements or proprietary performance data.

Evidence & Development Rationale

Evidence first.
Asset-light by design.

NEXSURF reduces development risk through computational screening, published evidence, filed intellectual property, and a licensing-first business model.

Compute-first discovery

DFT, machine learning, and Artificial Intelligence screen hundreds of candidate surfaces before lab validation, so experiments can focus on shortlisted materials. Predicted performance is treated as a hypothesis until it is tested experimentally.

Filed IP & asset-light

Three priority applications were filed in 2024, and the corresponding international (PCT) applications were published in 2026. National-phase decisions are expected from 2027 onward.

View the official technology-transfer record →
Technical snapshot
Development track Target CO₂ products Evidence Status
Computational screening track CO, formate Multi-facet DFT datasets; machine-learning screening Internal count: 500+ surfaces screened; candidates shortlisted for electrochemical testing
Mechanism mapping track Methane, CO CO₂-to-CO and methane pathways; CO₂-to-methane pathways DFT pathways published; screening ongoing; experimental validation pending

Published studies and DOIs are public. Unpublished compositions, non-public datasets, and partner-specific validation details are shared under NDA.

Roadmap

From discovery to
commercial deployment

2026 – 2028
Early Validation

Core experimental validation and benchmarking. Proof-of-concept system design. IP protection through strategic patent filings. Outreach to research and industrial partners.

2028 – 2031
Application Validation

Demonstrate performance under application-relevant conditions — proof of concept. Expand external testing and strengthen strategic partnerships. Outreach to deep tech investors.

2032 – 2035
Pilot Readiness

Transition from laboratory validation toward pilot-scale readiness. Secure funding and industrial support for pilot-scale activities.

2035+
Commercial Deployment

Scale deployment through strategic pilot partnerships and licensing models. Support industrial integration and joint development initiatives across target markets.

About NEXSURF

Icelandic deep-tech,
university-rooted.

NEXSURF ehf. is an Icelandic pre-revenue R&D company developing proprietary catalyst technologies for electrochemical carbon conversion. The company combines computational screening, targeted validation, and IP development in one partner-focused platform.

Our initial commercial path is through catalyst IP generation, validation, and technology transfer to industrial partners who are building infrastructure for potentially lower-carbon fuel and chemical production.

Iceland Pre-revenue R&D Research-led platform DFT · ML · Experiment CO₂ → Fuels & Chemicals
Portrait of Dr. Younes Abghoui
Dr. Younes Abghoui
Founder, CEO & Scientific Lead

Leads NEXSURF's scientific strategy across catalyst design, CO₂ and CO conversion, experimental-validation priorities, intellectual property, and industry-facing development.

Portrait of Naveed Ashraf
Naveed Ashraf
Research Specialist · Computational Catalysis

Develops DFT screening of transition-metal catalyst surfaces, maps CO₂ and CO reduction pathways, and prioritizes candidates for lab-scale validation.

UI
University of Iceland
Mohammadreza Khaniha
PhD Researcher · Machine Learning & Data

Develops causal and graph machine-learning workflows for dopant selection, candidate ranking, and data-guided catalyst discovery.

Muhammad Awais
PhD Researcher · Computational Catalysis

Models CO₂ activation and CO reduction at the atomic scale, evaluates product pathways across catalyst surfaces, and expands the platform toward C₁ and C₂ products.

Research Record

CO₂ and CO reduction publications

Peer-reviewed articles and conference work by NEXSURF team members directly related to electrochemical CO₂ or CO conversion, grouped by publication year.

20267 publications
CO reduction · Phosphides

Atomistic Blueprinting of Electrochemical CO Reduction Reaction Pathways over Transition Metal Phosphides

M. Awais and Y. Abghoui · Molecules 31(8), 1334

DOI: 10.3390/molecules31081334 ↗
CO₂ reduction · Methane

Can catalyst structure enhance electrochemical CO₂ conversion to CH₄?

M. Awais, M. Ahmad ul Haq and Y. Abghoui · Electrochimica Acta 556, 148266

DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2026.148266 ↗
CO reduction · C₁/C₂ products

CO reduction to C₁ and C₂ hydrocarbons for energy storage/carrier applications

M. Awais, M. S. S. Eggertsson and Y. Abghoui · Journal of CO₂ Utilization 111, 103517

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2026.103517 ↗
CO₂ activation · Carbonitrides

Decoding CO₂ activation and catalytic reactivity for carbon-neutral fuel generation

M. Awais and Y. Abghoui · Electrochimica Acta 550, 148054

DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2025.148054 ↗
CO reduction · C–C coupling

Surface Coverage-Controlled C–C Coupling for Sustainable Formation of C1 and C2 Products

M. Awais and Y. Abghoui · ACS Applied Energy Materials 9(6), 3545–3555

DOI: 10.1021/acsaem.6c00309 ↗
CO reduction · Carbides

Tuning CO hydrogenation pathways on transition metal carbide (110) facets

N. Ashraf and Y. Abghoui · Fuel 407, 137382

DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2025.137382 ↗
CO₂ reduction · Causal ML

Causal Machine Learning for Dopant Selection on Catalyst Surfaces in CO₂ Electroreduction

M. Khaniha, A. Saki, U. Faghihi, R. Unnthorsson and Y. Abghoui · ACDSA 2026

DOI: 10.1109/ACDSA67686.2026.11467594 ↗
20259 publications
CO₂ reduction · Phosphides

How can phosphides catalyze CO₂ reduction reaction?

N. Ashraf, D. B. Betolaza, H. I. Gunnarsson, M. I. Khatibi, A. Iqbal and Y. Abghoui · Electrochimica Acta 517, 145755

DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2025.145755 ↗
CO reduction · Review

Innovative catalysis for CO reduction: Paving the way towards Greener future

N. Ashraf and Y. Abghoui · International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 136, 383–391

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.05.044 ↗
CO₂ reduction · C₁/C₂ products

Dynamics of C₁ and C₂ products formation on (110) facets of carbides

N. Ashraf and Y. Abghoui · Surfaces and Interfaces 70, 106793

DOI: 10.1016/j.surfin.2025.106793 ↗
CO₂ reduction · Methane

Electrochemical synthesis of methane on (110) facets of carbides via MvK mechanism

N. Ashraf and Y. Abghoui · Electrochimica Acta 525, 146069

DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2025.146069 ↗
CO reduction · Carbides

Investigating the Mars–van Krevelen Mechanism for CO Capture on the Surface of Carbides

N. Ashraf and Y. Abghoui · Molecules 30(17), 3637

DOI: 10.3390/molecules30173637 ↗
CO₂ reduction · Carbonitrides

Engineering innovative catalysts for efficient CO₂ reduction toward carbon neutrality

M. Awais, N. Ashraf and Y. Abghoui · Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 13(3), 116621

DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2025.116621 ↗
CO reduction · Carbonitrides

Theoretical investigation of electrochemical CO reduction on carbonitrides

M. Awais and Y. Abghoui · Materials Today Energy 53, 101970

DOI: 10.1016/j.mtener.2025.101970 ↗
CO₂ reduction · Methane

Mechanistic roadmap for CO₂ to methane conversion on tailored carbonitride surfaces

M. Awais, N. Ashraf and Y. Abghoui · Applied Surface Science 710, 163815

DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2025.163815 ↗
20241 publication
CO₂ reduction · Carbides

Exploring reaction mechanisms for CO₂ reduction on carbides

N. Ashraf, A. Iqbal and Y. Abghoui · Journal of Materials Chemistry A 12(44), 30340–30350

DOI: 10.1039/D4TA05592F ↗
20181 publication
CO₂ reduction · Oxides

Trends of Electrochemical CO₂ Reduction Reaction on Transition Metal Oxide Catalysts

E. Tayyebi, J. Hussain, Y. Abghoui and E. Skúlason · Journal of Physical Chemistry C 122(18), 10078–10087

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.8b02224 ↗

Publication details were checked against University of Iceland research records and linked to the publisher DOI. The list is limited to work directly related to CO₂ or CO reduction.

Evidence Base

Trusted scientific references

General claims on this page use U.S. government science and U.S.-based scientific institutions. NEXSURF-specific claims retain their original primary records.

University of California, Davis Global Carbon Budget 2025 Results Atmospheric CO₂ concentration and fossil-fuel emission records for 2025. Berkeley Earth · United States Global Temperature Report for 2025 Observed global temperature and the pre-industrial comparison. U.S. Department of Energy Catalytic Conversion Pathway Energy, selectivity, catalyst, and scale-up challenges in CO₂ conversion. DOE National Laboratories CO₂ Reduction and Upgrading for e-Fuels Renewable-electricity-driven fuels, techno-economics, and lifecycle assessment. American Chemical Society Electrochemical CO₂ Reduction on Copper Peer-reviewed reaction pathways, products, electron counts, and selectivity. American Chemical Society Gold and Silver in Electrochemical CO₂ Reduction Benchmark selectivity and design considerations for CO production. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patent Cooperation Treaty U.S. government explanation of the PCT route and national-phase process.

NEXSURF-specific publications and public patent records are linked where their claims appear. Confidentiality applies only to unpublished material and non-public development data.

Working With Us

What we're looking for

NEXSURF is entering its validation phase. We are looking for capital, infrastructure, and industrial partners to move shortlisted candidates from laboratory validation toward licensing.

Investment

Deep-tech pre-seed / seed funding to finance experimental validation, proof-of-concept system design, national-phase entries from 2027, and non-dilutive innovation grants.

Talk to us about investing →
Industry collaboration

CO₂ suppliers, capture operators, e-fuel companies, and chemical producers for joint development: testing our catalysts under application conditions and shaping early licensing agreements around real industrial needs.

Become a development partner →
Research resources

Electrochemical testing capacity, characterization infrastructure, and academic collaborations to accelerate benchmarking of shortlisted catalyst candidates.

Collaborate on validation →
Go-To-Market
License the catalyst, not the factory
  • Validate shortlisted catalysts and package the know-how, IP, and performance data for technology transfer.
  • License to industrial partners who supply CO₂ streams and build conversion infrastructure — they integrate, we enable.
  • Revenue through licensing fees, development milestones, and royalties — asset-light, with no in-house chemical production.
Growth Strategy
More products, more markets, deeper IP
  • Extend from initial target products (CO, formate) toward more complex multi-carbon fuels and chemicals across three catalyst families.
  • Broaden the patent portfolio: national-phase entries from 2027 and new filings as each family matures.
  • Deepen partnerships from joint development (2028–2031) to pilot deployment and multi-market licensing (2035+).
Contact

Partner with us

We welcome conversations with industrial partners, investors, research collaborators, and institutions interested in carbon utilization technology.

Location
Iceland
Email
[email protected]