Reseach Group Leaders
Prof. Hermenegildo García Gómez
Research Group Leader, UPV, Valencia
Professor Hermenegildo García holds a degree in Chemistry from the University of Valencia (1979, Bachelor Award) and a Ph.D. in Organic Photochemistry (1983, Ph.D. Award). He joined the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) in 1983 and has been a Full Professor since 1996.
His research focuses on heterogeneous catalysis using porous materials and nanoparticles, contributing to eight major research fronts, including gold nanoparticles, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), photocatalysis, carbocatalysis, layered double hydroxides, plasmon photocatalysis, and solar fuel production.
He has published more than 970 articles in top journals, with 81,795 citations and an h-index of 143. He ranks among the top 1% 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 national awards include election to the Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences (2025); Member of the AEI Director Board (2023); Severo Ochoa Award (Principal Investigator, 2021); National Research Award Enrique Moles (2021); Rey Jaime I Award (2016); Janssen-Cilag Award (2011); Alpha Gold Award (2009); and the UPV Research Distinction (2010).
International distinctions include the Rylander Award (2025); ERC Advanced Grant (2024); Highly Cited Researcher (2013–2024); Yueqi Award (2021); IAAM Medal Lecture (2021); VDGOOD International Scientist and Lifetime Achievement Awards (2021); ChemPubSoc Europe Elected Member (2018); Lee Hsun Lecturer (2015); Distinguished Professor (2013); VIP Visiting Professor (2012); Doctor Honoris Causa (2011); and JSPS Fellow (2009).
Dra. Ana Primo Arnau
Research Group Leader, tenured Scientist. UPV, Valencia
Dr. Ana Primo earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (Spain) in 2006. Following her doctoral studies, she undertook a postdoctoral stint at the Institute Charles Gerhardt in Montpellier, France, from 2007 to 2009. Currently, she holds a tenured position as a scientist at the “Instituto de Tecnología Química” (UPV-CSIC). Together with Professor Hermenegildo García, she founded the HG Energy Group, which she currently leads alongside Professor García.
Her research focuses on the synthesis of 2D materials such as graphene and boron nitride, exploring their applications in catalytic and photocatalytic processes. Notable among her investigations are CO2 reduction for methanol production and water splitting for hydrogen generation. With over 130 publications, Dr. Primo’s work has garnered more than 7,000 citations, reflecting her significant contributions to the field of chemistry, and she has an h-index of 47.
Dr. Josep Albero
Tenured Scientist UPV, Valencia
Dr. Josep Albero graduated in Chemical Engineering in the Jaume I University in 2005. He obtained his Ph. D. about the study of photo-induced charge transfer reactions in quantum dots based solar cells under the supervision of Prof. Palomares at ICIQ in 2012. He has conducted his postdoctoral research in the Prof. Garcia group at ITQ and in Prof. Antonietti group at MPI-KG. His research interests include the preparation of advanced multifunctional materials and their application in the fields of energy conversion and storage. Dr. Albero is also interested in the study of the charge transfer reactions that limit the materials efficiency in these fields. Very recently he has been appointed as Ramón y Cajal Fellow (2022).
Dr. Abdessamad Grirrane
Post doctoral researcher. UPV, Valencia
Dr. Abdessamad Grirrane received his Ph.D. in chemistry at the Universidad de Sevilla (Spain) in 2005. His research interests includes homogeneous catalysis by Au (I) and Cu(I) complexes, single crystal XRD and cascade reactions.
Dra. Sara Goberna
Post doctoral researcher. UPV, Valencia
Dra. Sara Goberna obtained her PhD in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in 2013 from the Universitat Rovira i Virgili working at the Institut Català d’Investigació Química (ICIQ) under the supervision of Prof. J.R. Galán-Mascarós. Her PhD work focused on the development of molecular inorganic materials as catalysts for water oxidation.
She has conducted several postdoctoral stays; at Oregon State University (2014-2016, USA), at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (2016-2018, France), at the Institut des Sciences de la Terre (2018-2019, France), and at the Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (2020-2021, Barcelona).
She is currently a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the Prof. Garcia group at ITQ. Her research project focuses on the development and optimization of atomically precise metal nanoclusters as catalysts for the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction.
Sara has published more than 20 papers, received more than 980 citations, and has an h-index of 15.
Dra. María Cabrero Antonino
Post doctoral researcher. UPV, Valencia
Dra. María Cabrero Antonino graduated in chemistry in 2015 at Universitat de València. In 2016 she obtained a master´s degree in sustainable chemistry at the same university doing her final master’s thesis work in the group of Professor Avelino Corma in the Institute of Chemical Technology at the Universitat Politècnica de València.
In 2021 she obtained her PhD focusing her studies on the use of Metal-organic frameworks as photocatalysts for the production of solar fuels in the group of Dr. Sergio Navalón at the Department of Chemistry at UPV. His thesis was awarded the best doctoral thesis award in 2022 by the Real Sociedad Española de Química (RSEQ-STVAL).
She is currently a Juan de la Cierva Formación Fellowship under the supervision of Dr. Ana Primo in Prof. Hermenegildo García’s group at the Institute of Chemical Technology of the UPV. Her postdoctoral study is focused on the use of MXenes as photocatalysts for the production of solar fuels.
Dra. Aicha Anouar
Post doctoral researcher. UPV, Valencia
Dra. Aicha Anouar received her PhD in Sustainable Chemistry in 2021 from Universidad Politecnica de Valencia. Her PhD work focused on the synthesis and functionalization of graphene-based materials and their application in thermal catalysis.
From 2021 to 2023, she worked as a researcher at Euromed University of Fez in the Hybrid Functional Materials team.
She is currently a postdoctoral researcher in Pr. Garcia’s group. Her research interests include the functionalization of 2D materials and their application in thermal catalysis.
Dr. Alberto García Baldoví
Post doctoral researcher. UPV, Valencia
Alberto Garcia Baldovi is a PhD student in Prof. Hermenegildo Garcia’s group at the ITQ (Instituto de Tecnologia Química) since July 2020. His research is focused on the design of metallic catalysts for hydrogen storage, production and use. Moreover, another attractive application for which Alberto employs these metallic systems is CO2 reduction to valuable products, such as alcohols. After 3 years of studying general chemistry at Universitat de València, he widened his perspective by approaching a degree in Enviromental Science at the Universitat Politècnica de València (2018). Alberto obtained his Master’s degree at the same university in 2019. In the past, his research focused on the wet oxidation of secondary sludges from urban waste water (Bachelor’s) and the formation of alginic acid nanometric films and its conversion to graphene with infrared laser (Master’s).
Dr. Álvaro Raya Barón
Post doctoral researcher. UPV, Valencia
Dr. Álvaro Raya Barón obtained his PhD diploma from Universidad de Almería in 2019, supervised by Prof. Ignacio Fernández, working in organic synthesis, coordination chemistry and homogeneous catalysis, with special emphasis in the use of NMR techniques. Then he moved to INSA-Toulouse for a postdoctoral stay under the supervision of Prof. Bruno Chaudret. His research work consisted in the synthesis and surface functionalisation of magnetic nanoparticles for their use in catalytic hydrogenation of biomass-derived compounds. In 2022 he was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from Generalitat Valenciana and joined the team of Dr. Pascual Oña at ITQ, where he worked on the preparation of carbon-supported nanoparticles to use as catalysts for the transfer hydrogenolysis of lignin model molecules using magnetic induction. He finally joined the team of Prof. Hermenegildo García in 2024 where his research is focused on the use of MXenes as catalysts for the valorisation of lignocellulose derivatives into platform molecules and bio-monomers.
Dr. Rubén Ramírez Grau
Post doctoral researcher. UPV, Valencia
Rubén Ramírez Grau is a PhD student in Prof. Hermenegildo García’s group at the ITQ (Instituto de Tecnología Química) since Octuber 2020. Rubén received his degree and Master degree in Chemical Engineering at UPV in 2018 and 2020, repectively. Now he is studying 2D materials called MXenes and their possible applications for his Ph.D. In the past, his research focused on pesticide removal by photoelectrocatalysis (Bachelor’s) and the application of MOF in order to obtain demanded industrial products (Mater’s).
Dr. Jorge Castellanos Soriano
Post doctoral researcher. UPV, Valencia
Dr Jorge Castellanos Soriano received his PhD in Chemistry from Universitat Politècnica de València (2024). His PhD work is based on photoredox catalysis by Triplet Fusion Up-conversion. He also joined Instituto de Biologia Molecular y Celular de Plantas IBMCP (UPV-CSIC, 2023-2024) for the synthesis of novel fertilizers for sustainable agriculture. He is currently part of the HG Energy group. His research is focused on synthetic organic chemistry, photochemistry and photocatalysis.
Dr. Alejandra Rendón-Patiño
Post doctoral researcher. UPV, Valencia
Dr. Alejandra Rendón-Patiño is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in the HG Energy Group, a position she has held since December 2025. Her research focuses on the synthesis and advanced imaging characterization of catalytic materials, as well as on catalytic reactions of industrial relevance.
From 2021 to 2025, she worked at the KAUST Catalysis Center at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), where she was appointed Research Specialist. Her work contributed to the development of MOF-based materials, core–shell structures, and carbon materials for sustainable energy applications.
She obtained her PhD (2017–2021) at the Instituto de Tecnología Química (ITQ, UPV-CSIC), with a thesis focused on the synthesis and characterization of advanced materials, with particular emphasis on graphene and two-dimensional materials for photo-(electro)chemical applications. She also holds a Master’s degree in Sustainable Chemistry (2016) and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the Universitat de València (2011-2015).
Dr. Irene Contento
Post doctoral researcher. UPV, Valencia
Dr. Irene Contento is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher in the group of Prof. Hermenegildo García. Her research focuses on the application of MXenes for the production of liquid fuels and for organic chemistry transformations.
She obtained her PhD in 2026 at the University of Salerno under the supervision of Prof. Alfonso Grassi. Her doctoral research focused on the design and mechanistic investigation of heterogeneous gold- and nickel-based catalysts for green and sustainable transformations.
She received her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry (2019) and her Master’s degree in Sustainable Chemistry (2022) from the University of Salerno, with training in homogeneous catalysis and computational chemistry.
Dr. Diego Mateo
Post doctoral researcher. UPV, Valencia
Dr. Diego Mateo obtained his PhD in 2019 under the supervision of Prof. Hermenegildo García and Dr. Josep Albero. His PhD focused on the preparation of graphene-based photocatalysts for the production of solar fuels and was awarded with the Extraordinary Doctoral Award from UPV (2020) and the BASF-ICIQ Award for the best doctoral thesis (2022).
In September 2019 he joined the group of Prof. Jorge Gascon in King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST, Saudi Arabia) as a postdoctoral fellow. Later in 2022 he was appointed as a Research Scientist to lead his own research team. In KAUST, Dr. Diego Mateo´s research interests included the development of novel catalysts and photo-reactors for the photo-thermal production of solar fuels and chemicals. Since October 2025 he is a Ramon y Cajal fellow in the HG Energy group.
Dr. Gustavo Correia
Post doctoral researcher. UPV, Valencia
Dr. Andrés Uscategui
Post doctoral researcher. UPV, Valencia
Esther Domínguez Torres
Technician. UPV, Valencia
Esther Domínguez Torres is a technician, her work delved into synthesis of materials for industry and their use for photocatalysis since 2008. She obtained her Master’s degree in Green Chemistry from Universitat de València, Universitat Politécnica de València, Universitat Jaume I and Universidad de Extremadura in 2011. During her study, he was working on removal of atmospheric pollutants (NOx). Futhermore, she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Biology from University of Valencia (2001).
Amparo Forneli Rubio
Technician. UPV, Valencia
Amparo Forneli Rubio is a member of the research staff of Prof. Hermenegildo García since 2010 as a laboratory engineer at the Institute of Chemical Technology (ITQ-UPV). She has more than 20 years of professional experience, previously developed in research centers of international relevance such as the Instituto de Ciencia Molecular (ICMol) and the Institut Català d’Investigació Química (ICIQ). Amparo is specialized in synthesis and characterization of new materials, specially graphene-based ones.
Elena Romero Salicio
Technician. UPV, Valencia
Elena Romero Salicio is a PhD student in HG-energy group at the ITQ since October 2023. She is studying 2D materials called MXenes and their possible applications in thermal catalysis.
Graduated in Chemistry from Universitat de València in 2022. In 2023 she obtained his master’s degree in Sustainable Chemistry in the ITQ. In his previous research, She has been focused mainly on the subject of circular economy with the problem of recycling polymers.
Dawid Daniël Kruger
Technician. UPV, Valencia
Dawid Daniël Kruger obtained a bachelor’s degree (2016) and his master’s degree (2019) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town. His bachelor’s research thesis investigated the conversion of citronellal over sulphonated polystyrene resin catalysts. Under the supervision of Prof. Jack C.Q. Fletcher, his master’s project focused on the prevalence of mass and heat transport effects during reaction kinetics testing of heterogeneous catalysts for syngas processing. From 2019 to 2021 he worked as a researcher in Prof. Fletcher’s group, working on steam-reforming systems, catalytic combustion, and hydrogenation reactions. Currently, under the supervision of Prof. Hermenegildo García, he is studying MXenes modified with different terminal groups and metals, and their applications as energy materials, and photo- and electrocatalysts.
Sabine Éliane Midré
Technician. UPV, Valencia
Sabine obtained her bachelor’s degree in Mechanical and Process Engineering (2020) and her master’s degree in Energy Science and Engineering (2023) from the Technical University of Darmstadt. She did her master’s thesis project in Hermegildo’s group and examined gold particles on doped graphene for their ability to reduce CO2. In her PhD she is investigating MXene Nitrides for their ability as electrocatalysts and energy materials.
Pau Vidal Puyuelo
PhD. UPV, Valencia
Pau is a PhD student in Prof. Hermenegildo García’s group at the ITQ (Instituto de Tecnología Química) since Octuber 2024. Pau received his Chemistry degree at UV and his Green Chemistry master degree at UPV in 2022 and 2024, repectively. Now he is studying photo and phototermal reactions catalyzed with different advanced multifunctional materials for his Ph.D. In the past, his research focused on biofuels (Bachelor’s) and synthetic methodologies for the selective hydrodeoxygenation of N-heterocyclic imides to the corresponding lactams using bimetalic catalysts (Mater’s)
Patricia Maestro
PhD. UPV, Valencia
Patricia Maestro has been a PhD student in the HG-energy group at the ITQ (Instituto de Tecnología Química) since January 2026. She graduated with a degree in Chemistry from the University of Valencia in 2024 and obtained her master’s degree in 2025. She is currently studying 2D materials called MXenes as photocatalysts for the activation of methane and hydrocarbons.
Liang Tian
PhD. UPV, Valencia
SPAIN
Dra. Sara Iborra Full Professor UPV, Valencia
Dra. María José Climent Full Professor UPV, Valencia
Dra. Mercedes Álvaro Full Professor UPV, Valencia
Dra. Vicenta Baldoví Full Professor Secondary School, Valencia
Dr. Sergio Navalón Associate Professor UPV, Valencia
Dr. Emilio José Palomares Director of ICIC, Tarragona
Dr. José Raul Herance Researcher, Hospital Vall d´Hebron, Barcelona
Dra. Belén Ferrer Associate Professor UPV, Valencia
Dr. Antonio Leyva Tenured scientist(CSIC) ITQ, Valencia
Dr. Francesc X. Llabrés y Xamena Tenured scientist (CSIC) ITQ, Valencia
Dr. Pedro Atienzar Tenured scientist (CSIC) ITQ, Valencia
Dr. Iván Esteve Associate researcher ITE, Valencia
Dr. Marcos Latorre R&D project manager at IMECAL, Valencia
Dra. Mireia Buaki Group leader in ITE, Valencia
Dra. Raquel Juarez R&D staff SPB, Valencia
Dr. Roberto Martin Associate Researcher, University of Salamanca
Dra. Laura Teruel Research Technician UPV, Valencia
Dr. Pedro Manuel Montes Secondary School teacher, Valencia
Dr. José Francisco Cabeza Research staff, Servyeco, Valencia
Dra. María Isabel Soriano R&D responsible, AITEX, Valencia
Dr. Alberto Abad R&D staff, Valencia
Dra. Miriam Benitez Researcher, Castellón
Dra. María de Sales Galletero Responsible of Mass Spectrometry, UV, Valencia
Dra. Pilar Formentín Staff technician, Universidad Tarragona
Dr. Juan Francisco Blández Associated researcher UPV, Valencia
Dra. Ana Sanjuan Secondary school teacher, Valencia
Dra. Elvira Armengol Secondary school teacher, Valencia
Dra. María Luz Cano Secondary school teacher, Valencia
Dra. Sara García Secondary school teacher, Valencia
Dr. Vicente Martí Company Manager, Valencia
Dra. Encarna Peris Secondary school teacher, Valencia
Dra. Sonia Remiro Associated Researcher ITQ, Valencia
Dr. Maykel de Miguel Researcher Salamanca
Dra. María Gonzalez Bejar Researcher ICMOL, Valencia
Dra. Ana García Mulero Associate researcher ITE, Valencia
PORTUGAL
Dr. Carlos Baleizao Professor Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Lisboa, Portugal
Dra. Claudia Gómez Associate Professor_University Oporto, Portugal
Dra. Barbara Gigante University of Lisboa, Portugal
CZECH REPUBLIC
Dr. Marco Serra Researcher Sofer group, University of Chemistry and Technology of Praga, Czech Republic
FINLAND
Dr. Sana Frindy Researcher at Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
BELGIUM
Dra. Carmela Aprile Full profesor University of Namur, Belgium
Dra. Esther Carbonell Associate researcher, University of Namur, Belgium
Dr. David Fabuel R&D staff Artificial vision, Belgium
Dra. Karen Lews Shent University, Belgium
Dr. Francisco Cirujano Researcher Leuven, Belgium
ITALY
Dra. Cristina Lavorato Associate profesor, University of Catania, Italy
Dra. Tiziana Marino Researcher staff, CNRI, Rende, Italy
Dr. Manfredi Caruso Researcher Politecnico de Milan, Italy
Dr. Luca Maretti Researcher Milan, Italy
NETHERLANDS
Dr. Francesc Sastre Research staff, NTO, Eindhoven, Netherlands
INDIA
Dr. Amarajothi Dhakshinamoorthy UGC Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Products Chemistry, Madurai Kamaraj University, India
CHINA
Dr. Ji-Nan Niu Associated Professor in School of Materials Science and Physics, University of Mining and Technology, China
Dr. Jinbao He Lecturer in Jiangxi Agriculture University_Nanchang, China
Dr. Chuanzhi Sun Associate Professor in Shandong Normal University, China
Dr. Zhaohui Li Full professor University of Fuzhou, China
Xiangze Du PhD student Sichuan University Dr. Ji-Nan Niu Associated Professor in School of Materials Science and Physics, University of Mining and Technology, China
Dr. Jinbao He Lecturer in Jiangxi Agriculture University_Nanchang, China
Dr. Chuanzhi Sun Associate Professor in Shandong Normal University, China
Dr. Zhaohui Li Full professor University of Fuzhou, China
Xiangze Du PhD student Sichuan University
SAUDI ARABIA
Dr. Diego Mateo Post doc Kaust, Saudi Arabia
Dra. Alejandra Rendón-Patiño Post doc Kaust, Saudi Arabia
BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
Dr. Stephan Neatu Associate Professor, Technical University of Bucharest, Romania
Dr. Bogdan Cojocaru Associate Professor, University of Bucharest, Romania
CANADA
Dr. Fran Lozens Full Professor Halifax, Canada
Dra. Lourdes Hurtado Associate researcher, University of Toronto, Canada
Dr. Emilio I. Alarcón Researcher University of Ottawa, Canada
Dra. Marie Laferriere Researcher University of Ottawa, Canada
Dra. Michele N. Chretien Researcher Conestogac Inc., Ontorio, Canada.
Dr. Gonzalo Cosa Full Professor McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Dra. Sonia Corrent Researcher University of Ottawa, Canada
Dr. Jeffrey Banks Researcher Acadia University, Saint John, Canada
UNITED KINGDOM
Dra. Isabel Inés Casades Central Hospital London, United Kingdom
SANTIAGO DE CHILE
Dr. Patricio Cancino Researcher, Universidad de Santiago de Chile
USA
Dr. Heinz Roth Full Professor Rutgers University, USA
Dr. Roberto Galiaso Full Professor Minnesota University, USA
Dr. Ignacio Luz Researcher, Virginia, USA
MÉXICO
Dra. Natividad Reyna Researcher Toluca, Mexico
Dr. Edilso Reguera Researcher Instituto Politécnico Nacional Mexico
Dra. Alma García Ortiz Researcher Instituto Politécnico Nacional México
ARGENTINA
Dra. Liliana Beatriz Gimenez Researcher Buenos Aires, Argentina
BRASIL
Dra. Nancy de Lucas Full Professor Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Dr. Jose Carlos Netto Ferrera Researcher Universidad Federal de Sao Paulo, Brasil
IRAN
Dra. Saba Daliran Associate Professor Bu-Ali Sina University, Tehran, Iran
Dr. Ali Morsali Professor Tarbiat Modares University, Iran MOROCCO
Dr. Ahmed Moussaif Staff researcher, Rabat, Morocco
Dr. Mostafa El Gohul Professor Fes University, Morocco
Dra. Aicha Anouar Euro Mediterranean University of Fes_Marroco
TURKEY
Gr. Tugce Gunay PhD Student Kirklareli University, Turkey
GERMANY
Dra. Lu Peng Post doc Institute Max Planck of Colloids and interphases_Germany
Dr. Yong Peng Post doc Leibniz Institute for Catalysis, Rostock, Germany; y Dr. Horatiu Szalad_ Post doc Institute Max Planck of Colloids and interphases, Germany.
Dr. Jiajun Hu Max Planck, Germany
Dr. Jonas Gosch Hamburg
