Research and development

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Our approach to R&D

For us, research and development (R&D) starts with fundamental science and engineering. It is the foundation of our work to identify and advance new technologies that, once proven, could be deployed at a commercial scale with supportive policy in place.

We determine which research projects to advance based on a range of factors that includes alignment with our competitive advantages and core capabilities. We also consider the benefits versus alternatives, the ability to scale, key partners, and the probability of commercial success.

As we work to advance carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, and lower-emission fuels opportunities, we are also investing in R&D aimed at next-generation, lower-emission solutions.

Thousands of scientists and engineers work at ExxonMobil, and more than 1,500 hold Ph.D.s. Those in R&D are exploring areas such as new catalytic and separation materials, novel low-energy process development and scale-up, advanced performance materials, and improved means of CO2 capture and storage. Our scientists have written thousands of peer-reviewed publications and received more than 10,000 patents since 2010.

In 2025, we collaborated with more than 80 universities around the world. We also worked with four energy centers and multiple national laboratories.

In Singapore, for example, ExxonMobil was a founding member of the Singapore Energy Consortium, formerly the Singapore Energy Centre (SgEC). The SgEC was jointly established by Nanyang Technological University and the National University of Singapore in 2018 to address energy challenges and find lower-carbon energy pathways for Singapore and the region. In 2024, we launched the ExxonMobil-NTU-A*STAR Corporate Lab in Singapore, with an initial ~US45 million joint project to develop solutions to help lower carbon emissions.

Collaborations like these have increased knowledge in key areas important to a lower-emission future, such as detection and modeling of fugitive methane emissions; hydrogen; CO2 capture, utilization, and storage; process electrification; and energy systems models.

We monitor emerging technologies to gain better insight into potential energy transition pathways. This can help us identify future research and development opportunities. We also look beyond our company (and even our industry) through open innovation, using global crowdsourcing and requests for information to bring in outside perspectives guided by our deep understanding of the solutions we’re developing. So far, dozens of projects have connected us with thousands of external experts, with areas of study ranging from CO2-absorbent materials for direct air capture to novel processes for converting CO2 to methanol.

Core R&D capabilities

  • Engineering
  • Process & scale-up
  • Production technology
  • Geoscience
  • Emerging technology
  • Modeling & data science
  • Energy modeling
  • Biology
  • Catalysis
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Materials science

Energy center collaborations

Image Energy center collaborations

National labs

Image National labs

Innovating across our value chain

Image Innovating across our value chain

Feed

Biomass  We are working to expand the range of feedstocks to make biofuels, ranging from vegetable oils to oil seed crops and more. These have potential applications at our biofuels facilities, including our affiliate Imperial Oil's Strathcona renewable diesel plant and future advanced biofuel deployments.

Plastic waste  Our research to expand advanced (chemical) recycling focuses on plastics that are difficult to recycle mechanically. This technology could allow us to use a wider range of mixed plastic waste to make valuable raw materials safely, reliably, and economically at scale. 

Methane detection  We are testing and deploying new technology to measure and reduce fugitive emissions from the natural gas we produce. Producing lower emission-intensity natural gas also provides additional GHG benefits when it is used to support the production of low-carbon hydrogen.

Conversion and efficiency

New catalysts  We develop catalysts to make products such as performance materials and lower-emission fuels, including renewable fuels. For example, our dewaxing catalyst for renewable diesel enables higher ratios of biofeeds to be co-processed while still improving the flow of diesel at low temperatures. 

GHG abatement and energy efficiency  We evaluate new technologies for our emission-reduction roadmaps. This includes supporting future deployment of carbon capture, exploring opportunities for electrification and heat recovery, and pursuing the full range of efficiency improvements that may lower emissions.

Lithium – We continue to apply our expertise in separating molecules to research new areas related to a lower emission future. We are currently developing technology for direct extraction of lithium from brines. Lithium is a key component of lithium-ion batteries that are used in electric vehicles and energy storage systems for conventional and renewable power. 

Products 

Hydrogen  We are developing advanced, lower-cost technology for production of low-carbon hydrogen at scale. This includes our new collaboration with BASF on methane pyrolysis that can produce both hydrogen and carbon for multiple applications and markets. We are also working with Zeeco, a leading combustion equipment manufacturer, on burners that allow industrial fuel switching to hydrogen while controlling NOx emissions. In addition, we have collaborated with the U.S. Department of Energy and industry organizations to evaluate safe and cost-effective hydrogen transport options. Progress in this area could help us grow the supply of hydrogen for a wide range of end users.

Performance materials – Our R&D helps develop and deploy new thermosets, thermoplastics, and lubricants. Our advancements in these areas improve performance and allow the customer to use less energy and fewer materials. For example, our Proxxima™ thermoset resin systems, based on Nobel Prize-winning technology, provide advantages in automotive applications, infrastructure, coatings, and oil and gas applications.1 We are also studying carbon materials, where we see a significant opportunity in the market for synthetic graphite for multiple applications. Additionally, our recent acquisition of key assets and technology from Superior Graphite enables an advantaged graphitization pathway for battery anode graphite. 

Lower-emission fuels  Our continuing research in advanced biofuels could lead to improved longer-term solutions by converting bio-based feedstock into renewable fuels. For example, we have developed technology to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from renewable methanol, which can produce jet fuel with high selectivity and reduce GHG emissions. In addition, we are leading the industry through an ASTM technical evaluation of this pathway to certify its use in aircraft. 

Carbon management

Carbon capture  We continue to advance CO2 capture technology as part of our end-to-end carbon capture and storage solution for industrial customers. This leverages our core capabilities in engineering and science for improved performance and lower overall cost of CO2 capture. For example, a project is underway at our Rotterdam refinery to validate fuel cell performance and lower the cost of CO2 avoidance in an industrial deployment. We are developing commercialization options as part of our Low Carbon Solutions portfolio.

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) – We are looking into truly carbon-negative solutions. We believe there is potential for Direct Air Capture (DAC) to play an important role in CDR and in helping to address GHG emissions globally. With our in-house expertise and select partners, we plan to play a leading role in the development of this technology. We brought a DAC prototype demonstration unit online in early 2024. Our goal is to produce a lower-cost commercial platform at scale through rapid learning cycles. We also continue to evaluate potential opportunities for high-quality carbon credits that remove CO2 from the atmosphere, either directly or indirectly, and durably store the carbon. Our research includes developing science-based approaches for measuring, reporting, and verifying carbon credits. Our work in CDR technologies may also help supply high-quality credits to markets.

Carbon storage – We continue to build upon our expertise to improve technologies required for the global scale-up of geologic CO2 storage. One example is our work with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to build fault permeability models to help manage and mitigate CO2 migration potential.2 We also worked with The University of Texas at Austin and others, including Brooklyn College and the Benjamin Levich Institute at City College (both part of City University of New York). In that collaboration, our laboratory simulations indicated that the pore-scale sealing of caprocks is maintained under geological CO2 storage conditions.3,4,5

Life cycle assessment – We develop life cycle assessments and techno-economic analyses of abatement pathways to compare different technology options, often in collaboration with multiple partners, including MIT, National University of Singapore, and others. We collaborated on a 2024 report for the U.S. Department of Energy that explored the costs and benefits of scaling up low-carbon hydrogen for hard-to-abate industries, including the life-cycle carbon intensity of different alternatives.6 We also collaborated with Circular Analytics, Trayak, and Michigan State University School of Packaging to assess the GHG benefits of polyethylene in packaging applications.7,8


Publications

FOOTNOTES:

  1. Targeting global markets in both the coatings and composites industries: In coatings the focus is on corrosion protection of vessels (e.g., tanks, ships, and railcars) and insulation (e.g., subsea pipes and equipment) applications. Within composite materials (i.e., materials containing glass or carbon fiber) the focus in on infrastructure and mobility sectors. Examples include replacing steel rebar in flatwork applications, replacing epoxy in wind turbines, and structural support in hydrogen tanks, EV battery casings, and other transportation components.
  2. L. Saló-Salgado, J. A. Silva, L. Lun, C. M. Rogers, J. S. Davis, R. Juanes; Assessing CO2 Migration Within Faults During Megatonne-Scale Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage in Offshore Texas. Water Resources Research 2025; 61 (5): 1-37. 
  3. M. M. Awad and D. N. Espinoza (2024). "Mudrock wettability at pressure and temperature conditions for CO2 geological storage." International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control 135: 104160.
  4. Tapriyal, D., Haeri, F., Crandall, D., Horn, W., Lun, L., Lee, A., Goodman, A. “CO2 wetting properties on reservoir caprock conducted at conditions targeted for commercial scale CO2 storage.” Geophysical Research Letters, 51, e2024GL109123 (2024) doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL109123
  5. Camargo, A. P., Jusufi, A., Lee, A., Koplik, J., Morris, J. (2024). “Water and Carbon Dioxide Capillary Bridges in Nanoscale Slit Pores: Effects of Temperature, Pressure, and Salt Concentration on the Water Contact Angle.” Langmuir, 40 (35), pp. 18439–18450.
  6. Harnessing Hydrogen: A Key Element of the U.S. Energy Future: https://harnessinghydrogen.npc.org/
  7. Tacker, M., Hafner-Kuhn, T., Gstöhl, A., Nduagu, E., Vozzola, E., Roux, T. W., & Auras, R. (2025). Life cycle assessment of polyethylene packaging and alternatives on the European market. Cleaner Environmental Systems, 17, 100270. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666789425000169
  8. Avery, E., Nduagu, E., Vozzola, E., Roux, T. W., & Auras, R. (2025). Polyethylene packaging and alternative materials in the United States: A life cycle assessment. Science of The Total Environment, 961, 178359. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666789425000169