The prestigious international award celebrates scientific research and technological innovation that can help address global energy and environmental challenges. Professor Gouverneur has been recognised for her work on “Future-Proofing Fluorine Chemistry”. She was presented with the award by the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, at a ceremony in Rome on 29 October 2026.
Fluorine chemistry plays an essential role in modern life, with applications ranging from pharmaceuticals and medical imaging to refrigerants and lithium-ion batteries. However, conventional methods of producing fluorochemicals often rely on hydrogen fluoride (HF), a highly toxic and corrosive substance that presents significant safety and environmental challenges.
Research led by Professor Gouverneur and her team at Oxford is helping to transform this process, with the aim of changing the way fluorochemicals are produced and manufactured at scale. They focus on novel fluorine chemistry that bypasses the requirement to produce and transport dangerous fluorochemicals such as HF, as well as new strategies to upcycle fluorochemical waste. This includes work to recover the fluorine content from PFAS, commonly known as ‘forever chemicals’, in the spirit of a circular fluorine economy whereby valuable fluorine resources are recovered and reused rather than discarded.
Together, these developments have the potential to reduce the environmental impact of fluorochemical manufacturing, improve industrial safety and support more sustainable supply chains.
Professor Gouverneur said:
I am delighted to have received this honour, a recognition of advances in energy transition enabled by breakthroughs in fundamental physical sciences.
Established in 2008, the Eni Award is an international programme recognising outstanding scientific contributions to energy, sustainability and environmental protection. Its Energy Transition category honours research and technologies that can support the transition towards more sustainable and affordable energy systems.
