Researchers at Caltech and UCLA have introduced a groundbreaking method for producing epoxides, including propylene oxide, using a more sustainable and cost-effective approach. Traditional methods of epoxide production have significant environmental drawbacks and high costs, often involving toxic byproducts. The new technique employs lanthanum cobaltite, a transition metal-based catalyst, to facilitate the transfer of oxygen from water in an electrified process. This innovation not only aims to minimize the carbon footprint of epoxide production—equivalent to that of all cars in Southern California—but also seeks to ensure economic viability. The research, led by Karthish Manthiram, Bren Professor of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at Caltech, emphasizes the importance of sustainability and techno-economics. The findings are detailed in the journal Nature Catalysis. The team is working toward commercializing this method, supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the US Department of Energy's Office of Basic Energy Sciences.