Dr. Ariel Friedman

Ariel Friedman earned his PhD in Chemistry from Bar-Ilan University. His dissertation title was “Electropolymerization of Metallo-Corroles: Towards a Synergistic Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction,” and he continues his work on catalysts for his postdoctoral research in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at the Center for Renewable Energy Technology at Northeastern University in Boston.

Dr. Friedman’s project involves developing catalysts for producing urea, an essential source of nitrogen for fertilizers, which are necessary for ensuring food security for a growing world population. Since current methods for producing urea are inefficient and highly polluting, new ones must be found.

Dr. Friedman hopes to convert CO2 and nitrate directly to urea using electricity powered by green energy resources such as solar cells. This pollution-free process not only eliminates the release of CO2 but also results in the decarbonization of the environment by taking CO2 directly from other industrial processes, benefitting industry by saving energy, and benefitting the environment by reducing greenhouse gases and destroying toxic nitrates.

Dr. Friedman spent extended periods of time as a visiting graduate student at the famous Los Alamos National Lab in New Mexico. A commander in the Israeli military, he was recently honored for ten years of volunteering at the Israel Border Police (Magav).