Professor Hermenegildo García holds a degree in Chemistry from the Universidad de Valencia (1979, bachelor award) and a Ph.D. in Organic Photochemistry (Universidad de Valencia, 1983, Ph.D. award). He joined the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) in 1983 and has been a full professor since 1996.

He focuses on heterogeneous catalysis using porous catalysts and nanoparticles. He has contributed to eight research fronts as defined by the Essential Indicators Database: gold nanoparticles as heterogeneous catalysts, metal-organic frameworks in catalysis, photocatalysis, carbocatalysis, layered double hydroxides as photocatalysts, plasmon photocatalysis, and solar fuel production.

He has published 970 articles in high-impact journals such as Science, Nature Materials, Nature Protocols, Nature Communications, Chemical Reviews, Angewandte Chemie, and Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS). His work has 81,795 citations (Google Scholar, January 2025) and an h-index of 143. He is ranked among the top 1% of most-cited researchers worldwide in Chemistry, Materials Science, and Environmental Science and has been a “Highly Cited Researcher” for 12 consecutive years (2013–2024).

His research contributions have earned numerous prestigious awards:

National Awards

• Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences:Elected Member, 2025.
• Spanish Research Agency (AEI):Member of the Director Board, 2023.
• Severo Ochoa Award:Principal Investigator, Ministry of Science, 2021.
• National Research Award Enrique Moles: Ministry of Science and Innovation, 2021, for photocatalysis contributions.
• Rey Jaime I Award for New Technologies: Spanish National level, 2016.
• Janssen-Cilag Award: Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry, 2011.
• Alpha Gold Award: Spanish Society of Glass and Ceramics, 2009.
• Distinction of the Technical University of Valencia:Research dedication, 2010.

International Distinctions

• Highly Cited Researcher(Thomson Reuters/Shanghai Jiao Tong University): 2013–2024.
• Rylander Award:North American Catalysis Society, 2025.
• ERC Advanced Grant:European Commission, 2024.
• Yueqi Award: Chinese University of Mining Technology, Xuzhou, 2021.
• International Association for Advanced Materials MedalLecture, 2021.
• VDGOOD Professional Association, India: International Scientist Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, 2021.
• ChemPubSoc:Elected Member, 2018.

Other Distinctions

• Lee Hsun Lecturer:Chinese Academy of Science, Shenyang, 2015.
• Distinguished Professor:King Abdullah University, Saudi Arabia, 2013.
• VIP Visiting Professor:University of Ottawa, 2012.
• Doctor Honoris Causa:University of Bucharest, Romania, 2011.
• Fellow of the Japan Societyfor Promotion of Science (JSPS), 2009.His contributions to photocatalysis, including novel photocatalysts, have had a major impact on sustainable technologies like atmospheric NOx abatement and renewable energy.

He has supervised 54 Ph.D. theses, with many students obtaining prestigious positions: 11 “Ramón y Cajal” contracts, four “Juan de la Cierva” contracts, eight full professors, six public institution researchers, and nine in private R&D.

He has delivered 100+ invited/plenary lectures at international congresses. Over the past five years, he has secured €8M in funding, leading projects such as Eco2Fuel, FlowPhotoChem, and Methasol. His group is recognized as a Valencian excellence group under Prometeo programs (2013/019, 2016/083, and 2021/038).

Beyond fundamental research, he has collaborated with 50+ private companies and co-founded the spin-off Primalchit Solutions, focused on fire-retardant technologies. He has led over 40 R&D contracts with companies, resulting in 31 patents, four under exploitation.

He has served in leadership roles for scientific publishing and advisory boards, including President of the Editorial Board of ChemCatChem (2018–2024), and as a member of editorial boards for Energy Environmental Science, Chemistry – A European Journal, and Nanomaterials. He chairs the International Advisory Board of the Center for Excellence in Advanced Materials Research at King Abdulaziz University.