Heterogeneous Catalysis

We combine the preparation of controlled nanomaterials with experimental kinetics studies and in situ and operando characterization of surface species at reaction conditions to gain fundamental knowledge on reaction pathways, mechanism, and catalyst requirements. 


We use the above insights into active sites and intermediate species to guide the preparation of novel and/or improved catalytic materials that are more active and selective for the conversion of renewable biomass derived feedstocks, abundant natural gas components, and for environmental applications. 

Selected Publications


5. Srinivasan, P.D.; Patil, B.S.; Zhu, H.; Bravo-Suárez, J.J.

Application of Modulation Excitation - Phase Sensitive Detection -  DRIFTS for in Situ/Operando Characterization of Heterogeneous Catalysts

Reaction Chemistry & Engineering, 2019, 4, 862-883 


4. Srinivasan, P.D.; Khivantsev, K.; Tengco, J.; Zhu, H.; Bravo-Suárez, J.J.

Enhanced Ethanol Dehydration on gamma-Al2O3 Supported Cobalt Catalyst

Journal of Catalysis, 2019, 373, 276-296


3. Kumar, R.; Enjamuri, N.; Shah, S.; Al-Fatesh, A.S.; Bravo-Suárez, J.J.;* Chowdhury, B.*

Ketonization of Oxygenated Hydrocarbons on Metal Oxide Based Catalysts

Catalysis Today 2018, 302, 16-49


2. Bravo-Suárez, J.J.; Srinivasan, P.D.

Design Characteristics of in Situ and Operando UV-Visible and Vibrational Spectroscopic Reaction Cells for Heterogeneous Catalysis

Catalysis Reviews: Science & Engineering, 2017, 57 (4), 295-445  


1. Bravo-Suárez, J.J.; Chaudhari, R.V.; Subramaniam, B.

Design of Heterogeneous Catalysts for Fuels and Chemicals Processing: An Overview

In: Novel Materials for Catalysis and Fuels Processing, Bravo-Suárez, J.J., Kidder, M.K., Schwartz, V. (Eds.), American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C., 2013, pp. 3-68. [pdf]

1. Multifunctional Catalytic Materials

Controlled synthesis of supports and catalysts, for example, metal hydroxides, oxides, supported nanoparticles.

Selected Publications


2. Bhaduri, K.; Das, B.D.; Kumar, R.; Mondal, S.; Chatterjee, S.; Shah, S.; Bravo-Suárez, J.J.; Chowdhury, B.

Recyclable Au/SiO2-shell/Fe3O4-core Catalyst for the Reduction of Nitro Aromatic Compounds in Aqueous Solution

ACS Omega, 2019, 4, 4071-4081 


1. Bravo-Suárez, J.J.; Páez-Mozo, E.A.; Oyama, S.T.

Intercalation of decamolybdodicobaltate (III) anion in layered double hydroxides

Chem. Mater. 2004, 16, 1214-1225.

2. Methods for Characterization of Catalysts and Reaction Intermediates

We are interested in the development of methods for characterization of catalysts and of in situ transient techniques for discrimination of catalyst surface reaction intermediates

Selected Publications


5. Srinivasan, P.D.; Zhu, H.; Bravo-Suárez, J.J.

In Situ UV-Visible Plasmon Resonance Spectroscopic Assessment of Oxygen and Hydrogen Adsorption Location on Supported Gold Catalysts

Molecular Catalysis, 507, 2021, 111572 (Accepted) 


4. Srinivasan, P.D.; Patil, B.S.; Zhu, H.; Bravo-Suárez, J.J.

Application of Modulation Excitation - Phase Sensitive Detection -  DRIFTS for in Situ/Operando Characterization of Heterogeneous Catalysts

Reaction Chemistry & Engineering, 2019, 4, 862-883 


3. Bravo-Suárez, J.J.; Subramaniam, B.; Chaudhari, R.V.

Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and temperature programmed techniques as tools for structural characterization of Cu in CuMgAlOx mixed metal oxides

J. Phys. Chem. C 2012, 116, 18207-18221.18. 


2. Bravo-Suárez, J.J.; Bando, K.K.; Lu, J.I.; Haruta, M.; Fujitani, T.; Oyama, S.T.

Transient technique for identification of true reaction intermediates: Hydroperoxide species in propylene epoxidation on gold/titanosilicate catalysts by X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy

J. Phys. Chem. C 2008, 112, 1115-1123.


1. Bravo-Suárez, J.J.; Páez-Mozo, E.A.; Oyama, S.T. 

Microtextural properties of layered double hydroxides: a theoretical and structural model

Microporous Mesoporous Mater. 2004, 67, 1-17.

3. Upgrading of Bioderived Feedstocks

Conversion of syngas, sugars, alcohols, and lignin model compounds to value added chemicals and fuels

Selected Publications


3. Srinivasan, P.D.; Khivantsev, K.; Tengco, J.; Zhu, H.; Bravo-Suárez, J.J.

Enhanced Ethanol Dehydration on gamma-Al2O3 Supported Cobalt Catalyst

Journal of Catalysis, 2019, 373, 276-296 


2. Kumar, R.; Enjamuri, N.; Shah, S.; Al-Fatesh, A.S.; Bravo-Suárez, J.J.;* Chowdhury, B.*

Ketonization of Oxygenated Hydrocarbons on Metal Oxide Based Catalysts

Catalysis Today 2018, 302, 16-49


1. Bravo-Suárez, J.J.; Subramaniam, B.; Chaudhari, R.V.

Vapor-phase methanol and ethanol coupling reactions on CuMgAl mixed metal oxides

Appl. Catal., A 2013, 455, 234-246.

4. Valorization of Natural Gas Components and Petroleum Derivatives

Selective oxidation of C1-C4 hydrocarbons and hydrocracking of heavy oil

Selected Publications


4. Leon, A.Y.; Guzman, A.; Laverde, D.; Chaudhari, R.V.; Subramaniam, B.; Bravo-Suárez, J.J.*

Thermal Cracking and Catalytic Hydrocracking of a Colombian Vacuum Residue and Its Maltenes and Asphaltenes Fractions in Toluene

Energy Fuels 2017, 31, 3868-3877 


3. Bravo-Suárez, J.J.; Bando, K.K.; Akita, T.; Fujitani, T.; Fuhrer, T.J.; Oyama, S.T.

Propane reacts with O-2 and H-2 on gold supported TS-1 to form oxygenates with high selectivity

Chem. Commun. (Cambridge, U. K.) 2008, 3272-3274.


2. Bravo-Suárez, J.J.; Bando, K.K.; Lu, J.Q.; Fujitani, T.; Oyama, S.T.

Oxidation of propane to propylene oxide on gold catalysts

J. Catal. 2008, 255, 114-126.


1. Lu, J.Q.; Bravo-Suárez, J.J.; Takahashi, A.; Haruta, M.; Oyama, S.T. 

In situ UV-vis studies of the effect of particle size on the epoxidation of ethylene and propylene on supported silver catalysts with molecular oxygen

J. Catal. 2005, 232, 85-95.

5. Environmental Applications

Valorization of carbon dioxide and control of environmental pollutants

Selected Publications


4. Satizabal-Gomez, V.; Collazos-Botero, M.A.; Serna-Galvis, E.A.; Torres-Plama, R.A.; Bravo-Suárez, J.J.; Machuca-Martinez, F.; Castilla-Acevedo, S.F.

Effect of the Presence of Inorganic Ions and Operational Parameters on Free Cyanide Degradation by Ultraviolet C Activation of Persulfate in Synthetic Mining Wastewater

Minerals Engineering, 170, 2021, 107031 (Accepted) 


3. Manrique, R.; Rodriguez-Pereira, J.; Rincon-Ortiz, S.A.; Bravo-Suárez, J. J.; Baldovino Medrano, V.G.; Jimenez, R.; Karelovic, A.

The Nature of the Active Sites in the Hydrogenation of CO2 to Methanol over PdGa Catalysts

Catalysis Science and Technology, 10, 2020, 6644-6658 


2. Bhaduri, K.; Das, B.D.; Kumar, R.; Mondal, S.; Chatterjee, S.; Shah, S.; Bravo-Suárez, J.J.; Chowdhury, B.

Recyclable Au/SiO2-shell/Fe3O4-core Catalyst for the Reduction of Nitro Aromatic Compounds in Aqueous Solution

ACS Omega, 2019, 4, 4071-4081


1. Medina, J.C.; Figueroa, M.; Manrique, R.; Rodriguez-Pereira, J.; Srinivasan, P.D.; Bravo-Suárez, J.J.; Baldovino Medrano, V.G.; Jimenez, R.; Karelovic, A.

Catalytic consequences of Ga promotion on Cu for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol

Catal. Sci. & Technol. 2017, 7, 3375-3387