Who we are

Syzygy
is a term meaning the nearly straight-line configuration of three celestial bodies, as well as sublime alignments more generally.

Our company is called Syzygy because we bring together and align three things — energy, technology and sustainability — to accomplish something incredible at a planetary scale.

Inspired engineers on a critical mission

We believe in a future where the goods and products that support world economies can be manufactured with lower carbon intensity and at lower costs.

We go to work each day dedicated to decarbonizing the chemical processes that make modern life possible, and are committed to preventing a gigaton of carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere by 2040.

Our team is successful because we leverage our core values.

Safety iconSafety
Communication iconCommunication
Ambition iconAmbition
Integrity iconIntegrity
Compassion iconCompassion
Learning iconLearning

A team changing the future of chemical manufacturing

How we got here

1970s
Initial research started in Japan from Dr. Fujishima and Dr. Honda with photocatalytic water splitting using semi-conductor type photocatalysts based on titanium dioxide (TiO₂).
1980s
Dr. Naomi Halas and Dr. Peter Nordlander begin research into nanophotonics at IBM T.J. Watson Research Center and AT&T Bell Laboratory, eventually becoming professors at Rice University by the end of the decade.
1990s
Professors Naomi Halas and Peter Nordlander begin research into plasmonics, a subset of nanophotonics, which studies how the interaction of light and certain metallic elements can elicit the excitement of electrons on their surface (a plasmon).
2000s
Professors Naomi Halas and Peter Nordlander establish themselves as world leaders in plasmonics by publishing the concept of the “tunable plasmon.” By altering the size, shape, and composition of plasmonic nanoparticles, they demonstrated that it is possible to change the photon absorbance profile.
2010-2015
Professors Naomi Halas and Peter Nordlander continue to expand the platform and begin experimenting with using their nanostructure to drive catalysis.
2016
The journey to design an efficient plasmonic photocatalyst begins in the Laboratory for Nanophotonics at Rice University, where Syzygy cofounders Professors Naomi Halas and Peter Nordlander discover they can convert traditional catalysts into high-performance photocatalysts that are energized by light instead of heat.
2018
Syzygy cofounders Trevor Best and Suman Khatiwada launch the company, first opening the doors on Feb 5, 2018. The team at Syzygy successfully test and design the first small-scale photoreactor prototype.
2018
Syzygy team designs and tests first small-scale photoreactor that produces 10 mg of hydrogen per day.
2018
Syzygy is awarded a $750k grant from Arpa-E.
2018
Science publishes Syzygy cofounders’ paper Quantifying hot carrier and thermal contributions in plasmonic photocatalysis.
2019
The team grows to 11 employees and successfully tests a 100 g/day photoreactor.
2019
Syzygy raises $5.8M in Series A funding.
2020
Nature publishes Syzygy cofounders’ paper Light-driven methane dry reforming with single atomic site antenna-reactor plasmonic photocatalysts, further illuminating the potential benefits of photocatalysis.
2020
Syzygy completes move into the research and development lab at 9000 Kirby Drive in Houston
2020
Syzygy grows to approx. 30 employees builds and tests a multicell photoreactor that produces 1 kg/day of hydrogen.
2021
Syzygy designs and tests the first annular photoreactor and raises $23 Million Series B to electrify chemical manufacturing.
2022
Syzygy proudly moves its headquarters to Pearland, TX, and signs first commercial agreements to field trial zero-emission hydrogen production and greenhouse gas-to-value processing.
2022
Syzygy enhances reactor design and testing capabilities enabling up to 20 kg / day of hydrogen production.
2022
Syzygy raises $76 Million Series C to accelerate delivery of low-carbon hydrogen technology.
2023
With over 100 employees, Syzygy is on track to build and test a 200 kg/day photoreactor.
2023
Syzygy scheduled to demonstrate a small greenhouse gas to value solution capable of consuming 27 tons of CO₂/yr.
2023
Syzygy scheduled to pilot its zero emission hydrogen solution.
2023
Syzygy scheduled to deliver first commercial-scale Rigel™ photoreactors to customers.
2024
Plans are to pilot Syzygy’s low-emissions hydrogen solution.
2025-2038

Syzygy plans include the development of multiple photocatalytic solutions, including:

  • Ammonia synthesis
  • Reverse water-gas shift
  • H₂S splitting
  • Ethylene, aromatics, and water splitting
2040
Syzygy’s platform on track to prevent 1 gigaton of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

Decarbonizing the chemical industry presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And we’re seizing it.

Syzygy is a deep decarbonization company. We build reactors that use light instead of heat to power a cleaner, safer world.

Rather than rely on thermal energy – heat that comes from burning fossil fuels — we harness the power of light to energize chemical reactions. Our approach drastically reduces feedstock waste while producing fewer — and in many cases — no emissions.

Together our proprietary photocatalysts and Rigel™ photoreactors represent a tunable universal technology platform. We are capable of utilizing different feedstocks and tuning our platform to drive multiple, fundamental chemical reactions.

Our current solutions enable manufacturers to produce zero-emissions hydrogen production from ammonia and low-emissions hydrogen from a combustion-free form of steam methane reforming. We also provide the most efficient means for converting methane and captured CO₂ into sustainable fuels and methanol. We maintain a robust development pipeline with the goal of sustainably replacing traditional heat-powered catalysis with photocatalysis for the majority of the chemical processes used today. 

Syzygy is home to world-class engineers and scientists. Our proprietary photocatalyst was discovered and developed at Rice University by Syzygy co-founders and professors Naomi Halas and Peter Nordlander. Led by founders Trevor Best and Suman Khatiwada, our exceptional team is simultaneously engaged in engineering advanced commercial solutions at the edge of what is possible and making new discoveries that will define the future of a sustainable world.

We are at the syzygy of...
Energy. Technology. Sustainability.

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