About event
Catalysis is one of the key technologies that may finally enable a truly sustainable society. However, understanding and controlling the catalytic performance of nanoparticles at the molecular level remains a significant challenge. To address this, developing novel nanostructures with atomically controlled structural parameters, such as size, elemental composition, and surface modification, is essential. Metal nanoclusters offer a promising approach to achieve this goal and have already led to significant advances in nanoscience. The talk with present the research performed addressing the application of metal nanoclusters as means to aid fundamental understanding of surface science and catalysis. One main objective is to design and create active catalytic surfaces at atomic scale with specific properties for sustainable processes. Extensive structure characterization and operando spectroscopy, are used to gain insights into reaction mechanisms and develop a correlation between metal cluster structure and catalytic performance.
About speaker
Due to my research background, I am specialized in cluster science, nanomaterials, surface science, spectroscopy and heterogeneous catalysis. Starting with a background in Chemical Engineering, I moved to Physical Chemistry for my PhD, where I was able to develop nanostructured materials, highly active and selective in different environmental catalytic processes. As a postdoctoral researcher, I got an IEF Marie Curie to undertake a challenging project focused on the correlation of catalytic performance with surfaces by in situ spectroscopic techniques, hosted at the TU-Wien. After Vienna, I moved to Geneva to start studying gold nanoclusters. At this time, which coincide with my last months of pregnancy of my first daughter, I was mainly focus on DFT calculation and time-resolved spectroscopy studies. The SNSF Marie Heim Vötglich fellowship help me to come back to science after the maternity break. At this point, I could start developing my main research topic, with the synergy of nanoclusters, surface science and catalysis.
Therefore, since I finished my PhD I was able to fund my research career and work independently. During this time, I could successfully develop my research ideas, while also managing two maternity leaves. Currently I am working on my Habilitation in Physical Chemistry as part of Prof. Günther Rupprechter’s group at the IMC / TU-Wien.
My main research interest is on monolayer protected metal nanoclusters on surfaces, in four main lines:
a) to design, synthesize and study of new monolayer protected monometallic metal cluster beyond gold;
b) to control and understand cluster-support interactions with different surfaces by spectroscopic;
c) to disclose insights in the catalytic activity of the clusters by operando spectroscopy.
d) to create atomically designed chiral catalysts based on gold nanoclusters and active in enantioselective heterogeneous catalysis
Keywords: Nanomaterials, nanoclusters, Surface Science, Heterogeneous Catalysis, Spectroscopy (XAFS, ATR-FTIR, DRIFTS, XPS, in situ/operando)
Description of academic career
- Since 03/2016 University Assistant / Group leader ClusCAT Lab. Institute of Materials Chemistry, Technische Universität Wien, (Austria)
- 03/2017-02/2018 Maternity leave
- 03/2015-02/2016 Cover maternity leave Prof. K.Föttinger. Institute of Materials Chemistry, Technische Universität Wien, (Austria)
- 03/2013-02/2015 Marie Heim-Vögtlin Senior Postdoc (SNSF, Swiss National Science Foundation). Bürgi Group, Dep. Physical Chemistry, University of Geneva, (Switzerland)
- 04/2012-02/2013 Maternity break
- 02/2012-03/2012 Postdoctoral Researcher. Bürgi Group, Dep. Physical Chemistry, University of Geneva, (Switzerland)
- 02/2010-01/2012 IEF Marie Curie Postdoc. Institute of Materials Chemistry, Technische Universität Wien, (Austria)
- 06/2009-01/2010 Postdoctoral Researcher. Equipe MACS, Institut Charles Gerhardt, UMR 5253 CNRS/ENSCM/UM2/UM1 Montpellier, France
- 09/2004-05/2009 Research Assistant (PhD student). Heterogeneous Catalysis Group, Chemical Engineering Faculty, University Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona (Spain)
- 2004-2011 Research Stays: Urakawa Group, ICIQ, Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia, Spain; Centacat, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, CICBiomagune Research Center, San Sebastian, Spain
Education
- Ongoing Habilitation (Venia Docendi) in Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Technische Universität Wien, Vienna, (Austria)
- 2009 PhD in Chemical Engineering, Excellent Cum Laude (13/03/2009), Dep. Chemical Engineering / University Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona (Spain)
- 2006 DEA, Advance Education Degree (Msc.), Excellent (12/01/2006), Dep. Chemical Engineering / University Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona (Spain)
- 2004 B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering Faculty / University Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona (Spain)
Academic and Professional Prizes / Recognition
- 2019 Monatshefte für Chemie-Wissenschaftspreis 2019, Gesellschaft Österreichischer Chemiker
- 2017 PCCP-RSC Best Poster Presentation Europacat, Florence (Italy)
- 2015 Best Poster Presentation ISMPC-15, Yamanashi (Japan)
- 2013 Marie Heim-Vögtlin Grant from Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)
- 2011 PhD Thesis award SECAT 2009 from Spanish Catalysis Society (SECAT)
- 2010 IEF Marie Curie Scholarship
- 2010 PhD Thesis award from Rovira i Virgili University
- 2008 FP6 Mobility Scholarship to Centacat centre, Queens University Belfast, UK
- 2007 Best Oral Communication SECAT’07 (Spanish catalysis society meeting)
- 2006 Environmental Award of Catalonia government, R&D (AMIC)
- 2005 Best Enterprising Idea, Consell Social, Rovira i Virgili University
Top Invited Talks
- 04/2019 Zasshikai seminar 1778th, Department of Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Prof. Tatsuya Tsukuda (Japan)
- 04/2019 Institute Seminar, Prof. Yuichi Negishi, Tokyo University of Science (Japan)
- 2015 Hot Topic Talk, ISMPC15- Int. Symposium on Monolayer Protected Clusters, Japan
- 2015 Hot Topic Talk at Clusters & Nanostructures, Gordon Research Conferences, Spain
- 2015 Institute of Biophysics seminar, BOKU University, Vienna (Austria)
- 2014 Nanoseminars, Nanoscience Centre of the University of Jyväskylä (Finland)
- 2011 Keynote, SECAT 2011 meeting of Spanish catalysis society, Zaragoza (Spain)
International cooperation partners
- Prof. Yuichi Negishi, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo (Japan)
- Prof. Hannu Hakkinen, Nanoscience Center of the University of Jyväskylä (Finland)
- Prof. Thomas Buergi, University of Geneva (Switzerland)
- Prof. Jordi Llorca, Institute of Energy Technologies, UPC, Barcelona (Spain)
- Prof. Fernando Rey y Prof. Eduardo A. Palomares, ITQ-Valencia (Spain)
- Dr. Jacinto Sá , Uppsala University (Sweden)
