Principal investigator

Research Overview

The research program of the group is focused on the development of advanced hybrid materials for energy conversion and storage based on catalytic transformations as well as fine chemical synthesis.

The hybrid materials are developed from well-defined organometallic and metal complexes. The approach for such applications is divided on three different research lines: i) Organometallic and coordination chemistry: design, characterisation and properties of new catalysts ii) Catalytic applications in processes related to hydrogenation and dehydrogenation. iii) New materials: development and study of the properties and applications of 2D materials (graphene derivatives, C3N4, MoS2, etc) for energy conversion and storage.

Group's research interests

  • Rationale design of advanced materials: From molecular complexes to nanoparticles.

  • Ligand design for the heterogenization of metal complexes and nanoparticles.

  • Development of materials as electrodes for electrocatalytic transformations.

  • Fundamental and applied study of catalytic hydrogenation and dehydrogenation processes.

  • Valorisation of CO2 through chemical transformations and usage as hydrogen storage.

  • Development of materials for the storage of hydrogen in the liquid form using “Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs).

Members

Lidón Arroyas's picture
Lidón Arroyas

Doctoral Candidate

Laura Ibáñez Ibáñez's picture
Laura Ibáñez Ibáñez

Doctoral Candidate

Markel Letona's picture
Markel Letona

Doctoral Candidate

Judith Medina's picture
Judith Medina

Doctoral Candidate

David Ruiz's picture
David Ruiz

Doctoral Candidate

Carolina García Porras's picture
Carolina García Porras

Graduate Student

Rebeca Molina Bueno

Graduate Student

Natalia Montó Bastidas's picture
Natalia Montó Bastidas

Graduate Student

David Martí Arnau's picture
David Martí Arnau

Undergraduate Student

Alexandru Moraru's picture
Alexandru Moraru

Undergraduate Student

Patricia Ortiz Sevilla's picture
Patricia Ortiz Sevilla

Undergraduate Student

Carola Recatalá LIllo's picture
Carola Recatalá LIllo

Undergraduate Student

Jaume Tórtola Pérez's picture
Jaume Tórtola Pérez

Undergraduate Student

Publications

2024

  1. Chemistry - A European Journal, 2024,

    Ruiz-Almoguera, D.; Ventura-Espinosa, D.; Pérez-Bitrián, A.; Martín, A.; Mata, J.A.; Baya, M.

    Gold trifluoromethyl complexes as efficient regioselective catalysts in alkyne hydration.

    Article page: https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/chem.202401753

  2. Green Chemistry, 2024, 26, 8768.

    Guenani, N.I.; Solera-Rojas, J.; Carvajal, D.; Mejuto, C.; Mollar-Cuni, A.; Guerrero, A.; Fabregat-Santiago, F.; Mata, J.A.; Mas-Marzá, E.

    Room temperature hydrogen production via electrodehydrogenation of amines into nitriles: advancements in Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers.

    Article page: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2024/GC/D4GC01275E

  3. Dalton Transactions, 2024, 53, 656-665 .

    Ibáñez-Ibáñez, L.; Mollar-Cuni, A.; Apaloo-Messan, E.; Sharma, A.K.; Mata, J.A.; Maseras, F.; Vicent, C.

    Ion mobility mass spectrometry uncovers regioselectivity in the carboxylate-assisted C–H activation of palladium N-heterocyclic carbene complexes.

    Article page: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2024/DT/D3DT02793G

2023

  1. ChemCatChem, 2023, 15,

    Gutiérrez-Blanco, M.; Stein, C.A.M.; Alfonso, C.; Guillamón, E.; Safont, V.S.; Sorribes, I.; Junge, H.; Beller, M.; Llusar, R.

    Selective Dehydrogenation of Formic Acid Catalyzed by Air-Stable Cuboidal PN Molybdenum Sulfide Clusters.

    Article page: https://doi.org/10.1002/cctc.202300740

  2. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2023, 11, 12265-12279.

    Rodenes, M.; Dhaeyere, F.; Martín, S.; Concepción, P.; Corma, A.; Sorribes, I.

    Multifunctional Catalysis of Nanosheet Defective Molybdenum Sulfide Basal Planes for Tandem Reactions Involving Alcohols and Molecular Hydrogen.

    Article page: https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c01489

  3. Chemistry of Materials, 2023, 35, 8483-8493.

    Gonell, F.; Rodenes, M.; Martín, S.; Boronat, M.; Sorribes, I.; Corma, A.

    From Well-Defined Clusters to Functional Materials: Molecular Engineering of Amorphous Molybdenum Sulfides for Hydrogen Evolution Electrocatalysis.

    Article page: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.3c01260

  4. Journal of Catalysis, 2023, 428, 115155.

    Ibáñez-Ibáñez, L.; Lázaro, A.; Mejuto, C.; Crespo, M.; Vicent, C.; Rodríguez, L.; Mata, J.A.

    Visible light harvesting alkyne hydrosilylation mediated by pincer platinum complexes.

    Article page: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcat.2023.115155

2022

  1. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry , 2022, 33, 2291 – 2300.

    Mollar-Cuni, A.; Ibáñez-Ibáñez, L.; Guisado-Barrios, G.; Mata, J.A.; Vicent, C.

    Introducing Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry to Identify Site-Selective C–H Bond Activation in N-Heterocyclic Carbene Metal Complexes..

    Article page: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jasms.2c00257

  2. ACS Catalysis, 2022, 12, 6238 – 6245 .

    Mejuto, C.; Ibáñez-Ibáñez, L.; Guisado-Barrios, G.; Mata, J.A.

    Visible-Light Promoted Iridium(III) Catalyzed Acceptorless Dehydrogenation of N-heterocycles at Room Temperature..

    Article page: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscatal.2c01224

  3. Dalton Transactions, 2022, 21, 5250-5256 .

    Martínez-Laguna, J.; Mollar-Cuni, A.; Ventura-Espinosa, D.; Martín, S.; Caballero, A.; Mata, J.A.; Pérez, P.J.

    Gold nanoparticles-catalysed functionalization of carbon-hydrogen bonds by carbene transfer reactions..

    Article page: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/dt/d1dt04351j

  4. Green Chemistry, 2022, 24, 2036 – 2043 .

    Porcar, R.; Mollar-Cuni, A.; Ventura-Espinosa, D.; Luis, S.V.; García-Verdugo, E.; Mata, J.A.

    A simple, safe and robust system for hydrogenation “without gases” under batch and flow conditions using a liquid organic hydrogen carrier.

    Article page: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/gc/d1gc03850h

  5. Catalysis Science & Technology, 2022, 4, 1257 – 1270.

    García-Zaragoza, A.; Cerezo-Navarrete, C.; Mollar-Cuni, A.; Oña-Burgos, P.; Mata, J.A.; Corma, A.; Martínez-Prieto, L.M.

    Tailoring graphene-supported Ru nanoparticles by functionalization with pyrene-tagged N-heterocyclic carbenes.

    Article page: https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CY02063C

2021

  1. ACS Catalysis, 2021, 11, 14688 – 14693 .

    Mollar-Cuni, A.; Ventura-Espinosa, D.; Martín, S.; García, H.; Mata, J.A.

    Reduced Graphene Oxides as Carbocatalysts in Acceptorless Dehydrogenation of N-Heterocycles.

    Article page: https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.1c04649

  2. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2021, 9, 2912–2928.

    Sorribes, I.; Ventura-Espinosa, D.; Assis, M.; Martín, S.; Concepción, P.; Bettini, J.; Longo, E.; Mata, J.A.; Andrés, J.

    Unraveling a Biomass-Derived Multiphase Catalyst for the Dehydrogenative Coupling of Silanes with Alcohols under Aerobic Conditions.

    Article page: https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.0c08953

  3. Journal of Catalysis, 2021, 394, 113 - 120.

    Ventura-Espinosa, D.; Martín, S.; García, H.; Mata, J.A.

    Ligand effects in the stabilization of Gold nanoparticles anchored on the surface of graphene: Implications in catalysis..

    Article page: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcat.2020.12.027

2020

  1. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2020, 45, 4254 – 4262 .

    Mollar-Cuni, A.; Borja, P.; Martín, S.; Guisado-Barrios, G.; Mata, J.A.

    A Platinum molecular complex immobilised on the surface of graphene as active catalyst in alkyne hydrosilylation.

    Article page: https://doi.org/10.1002/ejic.202000356

  2. ChemCatChem, 2020, 12, 3746 – 3752.

    Mollar-Cuni, A.; Byrne, J.P.; Borja, P.; Vicent, C.; Albrecht, M.; Mata, J.A.

    Selective conversion of various monosaccharaides into sugar acids by additive-free dehydrogenation in water..

    Article page: https://doi.org/10.1002/cctc.202000544

2019

  1. Chemistry - A European Journal, 2019, 25, 9534 – 9539.

    Ballestin, P.; Ventura-Espinosa, D.; Martín, S.; Caballero, A.; Mata, J.A.; Pérez, P.J.

    Improving Catalyst Activity in Hydrocarbon Functionalization by Remote Pyrene-Graphene Stacking.

    Article page: https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201900964