Iceland · R&D

Converting CO₂
into fuels and
chemicals

NEXSURF develops catalysts to turn CO₂ and CO into useful chemicals using renewable electricity. Our initial focus is carbon monoxide and formate.

What We Do Get In Touch
What We Do

Catalysts for
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

Focus first on carbon monoxide and formate, with further products guided by validation and partner needs.

03
Validation packages

Test how selectively and reliably catalysts produce the target chemicals under relevant conditions.

04
Licensing & joint development

License validated catalyst technology and support its integration with industrial partners.

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

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

Why it matters

Useful products from captured carbon

Our role starts after capture. We develop catalysts to convert a supplied CO₂ or CO stream into chemical feedstocks, with the aim of reducing reliance on fossil carbon. Climate benefits depend on the carbon source, electricity supply, and the process being replaced.

Our approach

Electricity. Catalysts. Useful chemicals.

Electricity drives the conversion; the catalyst helps direct the reaction toward the desired product. We combine atom-scale simulations and machine learning to select promising materials for laboratory testing.

Target the right product

Start with carbon monoxide and formate, then explore further products as validation progresses.

Develop better materials

Investigate non-precious catalyst families for improved selectivity, energy efficiency, and lifetime.

Build with partners

Develop evidence and know-how for joint development and future licensing.

Our Workflow

Discover. Test. Transfer.

We use computational screening to guide experiments, then develop validated results into technology for industrial partners.

01
Screen
Achieved

Atom-scale simulations and machine learning identify promising catalyst surfaces for testing.

02
Lab-scale testing
Ongoing

Synthesize shortlisted materials and test their products, efficiency, and stability as experimental capacity becomes available.

03
Transfer
Upcoming

Package validated results, catalyst know-how, and intellectual property for licensing or joint development.

From Prediction to Experiment

Inside a lab-scale flow cell

A cross-section of electrochemical CO₂ conversion: CO₂ feeds the cathode, water feeds the anode, and a central membrane separates the two sides. Catalyst-coated porous electrodes support the reactions, with products leaving the cathode side and oxygen leaving the anode side.

Renewable electricity
Animated CO₂ electrolysis flow cell Cross-section based on the supplied diagram. CO₂ enters from the upper left and products leave at the lower left. Water enters from the upper right and oxygen leaves at the lower right. Flow plates, porous electrodes and catalyst layers surround a central membrane. Moving dashes show stream direction only. − / + CATHODE ANODE CO₂ H₂O CH₃OH O₂ GDE GDE Membrane Flow plate Flow plate Gold layers: catalyst coatings GDE: gas-diffusion electrode
Illustrative product examples
CH₃OH Methanol

CO · HCOO⁻ · CH₄ · CH₃OH · C₂H₅OH

Selectivity Which product forms? Activity At what rate and energy input? Stability How long does performance last?

Conceptual flow-cell animation based on the reference schematic. Moving streams show flow direction, not measured rates. Products depend on the catalyst and operating conditions; this is not a display of experimental results.

Our progress

From promising materials to tested catalysts

Research completed

More than 500 candidate surfaces screened computationally, with published studies on CO₂ and CO conversion.

Explore the research →
Next: experimental validation

Test shortlisted catalysts for product selectivity, energy requirements, and operating stability.

Partners welcome

We are seeking testing facilities, research collaborators, and funding to advance validation.

Work with us →

Screening counts are internal project metrics. Computational predictions require experimental confirmation.

About NEXSURF

Icelandic deep-tech,
university-rooted.

NEXSURF ehf. is an Icelandic 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 R&D Research-led platform DFT · ML · Experiment CO₂ → Fuels & Chemicals
Portrait of Dr. Younes Abghoui
Dr. Younes Abghoui
Founder, CEO & CSO

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

Portrait of Dr. Naveed Ashraf
Dr. Naveed Ashraf
Research Specialist · Computational Catalysis

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

University of Iceland logo
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.

Portrait of Muhammad Awais
Muhammad Awais
PhD Researcher · Computational Catalysis

Develops atomistic models for CO₂ activation and CO reduction, maps C₁ and C₂ product pathways, and incorporates electrolyte and surface-coverage effects.

View all publications
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 ↗

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.

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.

View scientific references
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]