LOYOLA
Research

Research and
Knowledge Transfer


JUAN CARLOS SERRANO RUIZ

Publications

I initiated my research career in 2000 when I was awarded publicly funded Collaboration and Intercampus fellowships from the Spanish Government. I graduated in Chemistry (University of Granada, Spain) in 2001 and earned my PhD in Catalysis and Materials Science (University of Alicante, Spain) in 2006. In 2007, I moved to Madrid for a post-doc position at the Spanish National Council of Research (CSIC, Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano). In 2008, I was awarded a two-year Fulbright-MEC fellowship to conduct studies on catalytic biomass conversion to fuels and chemicals in Professor James Dumesic’s research group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA). In 2011, I obtained a postdoctoral position at the University of Córdoba to lead the biomass conversion unit within the “Nanoscale Chemistry and Biomass Waste Valorization Group”. In October 2012, I was offered a Senior Researcher position at Abengoa Research, the R&D division of the multinational company Abengoa. During this period, I developed technologies for the production of advanced biofuels via catalytic conversion of biomass, thermochemical energy storage for CSP plants, and hydrogen-related devices for the Bioenergy, Solar and Hydrogen business units (some of them were patented) and participated in a good number of FP7 and H2020 projects. In 2017, I was awarded a Ramón and Cajal fellowship (ranked number 2 in Chemical Technology) from the Spanish Government to develop my own research at the Universidad Loyola Andalucía (Spain) where I currently work as a Full Professor and lead the Materials and Sustainability Research Group. Since I am at the University Loyola, I have secured for my host institution more than 2.0 M euros in public funding as a PI. The Materials and Sustainability Research Group as a whole has secured more than 3 M euros in public funding since its creation in 2017. In 2022, 2023 and 2024, I was included in the ‘World´s Top 2% Scientists Ranking’ issued by the prestigious Stanford University. I was Fulbright Visiting Professor at the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2025. I have been recognized three six-year research merits by CNEAI. I am co-author of more than 80 papers in SCI journals including one in Science (considered one of the 30 biggest chemical breakthroughs of the year according to Chemistry World), 5 book chapters, and a good number of high-impact reviews on catalytic biomass conversion (Energy and Environmental Science, Chemical Society Reviews, Annual Reviews). One of the reviews was selected as a key scientific article by Renewable Energy Global Innovations, the World's leading source of renewable energy research news. I have a cover paper in Green Chemistry, 3 hot papers in this prestigious journal, one of the most cited papers in Applied Catalysis B within 2010-2011, and 4 patents (one of them dealing with catalytic conversion of cellulose into diesel and gasoline which is licensed). I am only editor of three books on biomass conversion and biorefineries and regular reviewer of international scientific journals on Biofuels, Catalysis, and Green Chemistry. I have an h index of 44 and accumulates more than 9000 citations. I am member of the Editorial Board of several journals. I currently serve as a Horizon Europe expert evaluator for the European Commission and expert evaluator for the Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI). I have also served as an expert evaluator for the Italian Ministry for Education, University and Research (MIUR), the Polish National Research System and the Dutch Research Council (NWO).

Articles or Reviews

Publications
Low-activation-energy ammonia synthesis over Ru/CexLa1-xOy via solid solution-induced oxygen vacancy formation
ARROYO CAIRE, JAVIER, Duran-Uribe, Edgar S. , LARA ANGULO, MAYRA ANABEL, DIAZ PEREZ, MANUEL ANTONIO, Sepulveda-Escribano, Antonio , SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS
29/06/2026
Article
Single-Atom Catalysts for Low-Temperature Thermocatalytic Ammonia Synthesis
ARROYO CAIRE, JAVIER, Abelleira-Pereira, Jose Maria , SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS
17/04/2026
Review
P-doped activated carbons for methane thermocatalytic decomposition
BALLOI, VALENTINA, Duran-Uribe, Edgar S. , Sepulveda-Escribano, A. , DIAZ PEREZ, MANUEL ANTONIO, SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS
13/03/2026
Article
Metal-Support Interactions in Single-Atom Catalysts for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
MANSILLA ROUX, ALEXANDRA, LARA ANGULO, MAYRA ANABEL, SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS
13/01/2026
Review
Selective Deoxygenation of Biomass Polyols into Diols
SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS
30/08/2025
Review
Efficient CeO2 and CeO2-Al2O3 supports for Ru as 3rd generation ammonia synthesis catalysts: enhanced kinetic mechanism over commercial Ru/CeO2
Arroyo-Caire, Javier , Duran-Uribe, Edgar S. , LARA ANGULO, MAYRA ANABEL, DIAZ PEREZ, MANUEL ANTONIO, Sepulveda-Escribano, Antonio , SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS
19/05/2025
Article
CeNix Alloys as Catalysts for Ammonia Synthesis: Insights on Ni-CeN Surface Layer Formation and Its Impact
ARROYO CAIRE, JAVIER, Jiang Y. , DIAZ PEREZ, MANUEL ANTONIO, LARA ANGULO, MAYRA ANABEL, Miyazaki M. , SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS, Kitano M. , Hosono H.
21/11/2023
Article
Post-synthetic ligand exchange as a route to improve the affinity of ZIF-67 towards CO2
Villalgordo-Hernandez, David , DIAZ PEREZ, MANUEL ANTONIO, BALLOI, VALENTINA, LARA ANGULO, MAYRA ANABEL, Narciso, Javier , SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS, Ramos-Fernandez, Enrique V.
15/11/2023
Article
A Conceptual Approach for the Design of New Catalysts for Ammonia Synthesis: A Metal—Support Interactions Review
ARROYO CAIRE, JAVIER, DIAZ PEREZ, MANUEL ANTONIO, LARA ANGULO, MAYRA ANABEL, SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS
08/11/2023
Review
Metal-Organic Frameworks as Formose Reaction Catalysts with Enhanced Selectivity
BALLOI, VALENTINA, DIAZ PEREZ, MANUEL ANTONIO, LARA ANGULO, MAYRA ANABEL, Villalgordo-Hernandez, David , Narciso, Javier , Ramos-Fernandez, Enrique V. , SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS
01/08/2023
Article
Facile Synthesis of Heterogeneous Indium Nanoparticles for Formate Production via CO2 Electroreduction
PEREZ SEQUERA, ANA CRISTINA, DIAZ PEREZ, MANUEL ANTONIO, LARA ANGULO, MAYRA ANABEL, Holgado J.P. , SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS
01/04/2023
Article
Thermomechanical Performance Analysis of Novel Cement-Based Building Envelopes with Enhanced Passive Insulation Properties
MARÍN MONTÍN, JORGE JULIO, ROQUE RODRÍGUEZ, EDUARDO, Xu, Yading , Savija, Branko , SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS, MONTERO CHACÓN, FRANCISCO DE PAULA
01/07/2022
Article
Mixed-Valence Ce/Zr Metal-Organic Frameworks: Controlling the Oxidation State of Cerium in One-Pot Synthesis Approach
Ronda-Lloret, Maria , Pellicer-Carreno, Isaac , Grau-Atienza, Aida , Boada, Roberto , Diaz-Moreno, Sofia , Narciso-Romero, Javier , SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS, Sepulveda-Escribano, Antonio , Ramos-Fernandez, Enrique V.
01/07/2021
Article
Membrane-less ethanol electrooxidation over pd-m (M: Sn, mo and re) bimetallic catalysts
Ruiz-López E. , DIAZ PEREZ, MANUEL ANTONIO, de Lucas-Consuegra A. , Dorado F. , SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS
01/01/2021
Article
Improved Thermochemical Energy Storage Behavior of Manganese Oxide by Molybdenum Doping
MOYA, JAVIER , MARUGAN, JAVIER , ORFILA, MARÍA , DIAZ PEREZ, MANUEL ANTONIO, SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS
01/01/2021
Article
Hydrogenation of 4-nitrochlorobenzene catalysed by cobalt nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped activated carbon
Villora-Pico, J. J. , Campello-Gomez, I. , SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS, Pastor-Blas, M. M. , Sepulveda-Escribano, A. , Ramos-Fernandez, E. V.
01/01/2021
Article
Recent advances in the electroreduction of CO2 over heteroatom-doped carbon materials
PEREZ SEQUERA, ANA CRISTINA, DIAZ PEREZ, MANUEL ANTONIO, SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS
01/10/2020
Article
Electrochemical Reduction of CO2: Overcoming Chemical Inertness at Ambient Conditions
PEREZ SEQUERA, ANA CRISTINA, DIAZ PEREZ, MANUEL ANTONIO, SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS
13/03/2020
Article
Catalytic Production of Jet Fuels from Biomass
DIAZ PEREZ, MANUEL ANTONIO, SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS
12/02/2020
Article
Gas-phase electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 to chemicals on sputtered Cu and Cu-C catalysts electrodes
Gutierrez-Guerra, N. , Gonzalez, J. A. , SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS, Lopez-Fernandez, E. , Valverde, J. L. , de Lucas-Consuegra, A.
01/04/2019
Article
Interplay of Support Chemistry and Reaction Conditions on Copper Catalyzed Methanol Steam Reforming
DIAZ PEREZ, MANUEL ANTONIO, Moya, Javier , SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS, Faria, Jimmy
14/11/2018
Article
Low-Temperature Electrocatalytic Conversion of CO2 to Liquid Fuels: Effect of the Cu Particle Size
de Lucas-Consuegra, Antonio , SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS, Gutierrez-Guerra, Nuria , Luis Valverde, Jose
01/08/2018
Article
Electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 to added-value chemicals in a high-temperature proton-exchange membrane reactor
Gutierrez-Guerra, N. , Valverde, J. L. , Romero, A. , SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS, de Lucas-Consuegra, A.
01/08/2017
Article

Conference Paper, Proceedings Paper, Conference Presentation or Abstract

Congresses
Techno-economic assessment of Oxy-Biomass Combustion and Power-to-Methane as an integrated system
GARCÍA LUNA, SEBASTIAN, ORTIZ DOMÍNGUEZ, CARLOS, SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS, BREY SÁNCHEZ, JOSÉ JAVIER, CHACARTEGUI, RICARDO
05/09/2022 - 08/12/2022
Abstract de un Congreso
Facile synthesis method for the production of indium nanoparticles as a catalyst for CO2 electroreduction reaction
PEREZ SEQUERA, ANA CRISTINA, SERRANO RUIZ, JUAN CARLOS, DIAZ PEREZ, MANUEL ANTONIO
20/03/2022 - 24/03/2022
Ponencia del Congreso

Book chapters and books

Book chapters and books
Electrocatalytic Conversion of CO2 to Syngas
05/03/2021
Capítulo de un Libro
MOF-from material chemistry to catalytic applications
11/09/2020
Capítulo de un Libro
Low-Temperature Electrocatalytic Conversion to Liquid Fuels: Effect of the Cu Particle Size of CO2.
01/06/2020
Capítulo de un Libro
Metal Organic Frameworks: From Material Chemistry to Catalytic Applications
01/01/2020
Capítulo de un Libro
Electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to syngas
01/01/2019
Capítulo de un Libro
Biomass Conversion Technologies
01/01/2017
Capítulo de un Libro
Biomass conversion technologies: Catalytic conversion technologies
01/01/2017
Capítulo de un Libro

Research projects

Projects
Movilidad senior Juan Carlos Serrano
Project
01/03/2025
Amount: 19381 €
Principal Investigator: JUAN CARLOS SERRANO RUIZ
Informe sobre tecnologías para la producción de hidrógeno procedente de la gasificación de tejidos
Consultancy
11/11/2024
Amount: 18029 €
Principal Investigator: JUAN CARLOS SERRANO RUIZ
Elaboración de una revisión bibliográfica sobre tecnologías para la obtención de hidrógeno
Consultancy
01/03/2024
Amount: 4840 €
Principal Investigator: JUAN CARLOS SERRANO RUIZ
Estudio de obtención, almacenamiento y distribución de energía e hidrógeno renovables a partir de biomasa como vector para una transición energética sostenible
01/01/2024
Amount: 558398.75 €
Principal Investigator: JUAN CARLOS SERRANO RUIZ
Valorización catalítica y electrocatalítica de componentes del biogás a hidrógeno verde y metanol
Project
01/09/2023
Amount: 157500 €
Principal Investigator: JUAN CARLOS SERRANO RUIZ
ACELERANDO LA TRANSICIÓN HACIA UNA INDUSTRIA 4.0 SOSTENIBLE, DIGITAL Y CIRCULAR, CON NUEVAS TECNOLOGÍAS DE PROCESO, IA Y SIMBIOSIS INDUSTRIAL PARA MAXIMIZAR LA VALORIZACIÓN DE RESIDUOS DE COMBUSTIÓN EN EL SECTOR DE INFRAESTRUCTURAS Y REDUCIR CO2 EMITIDO
02/09/2021
Amount: 110000 €
Principal Investigator: CARLOS ORTIZ DOMÍNGUEZ
Análisis de los atributos técnicos de los materiales de construcción fabricados por el cliente
Consultancy
11/06/2021
Amount: 750.2 €
Principal Investigator: JUAN CARLOS SERRANO RUIZ
P?doped carbons in electrocatalytic applications (Electrophor) PID2019-108453GB-C22
Project
01/06/2020
Amount: 96800 €
Principal Investigator: JUAN CARLOS SERRANO RUIZ
Producción de carbohidratos y productos de valor a partir de CO2
Project
01/01/2020
Amount: 211780 €
Principal Investigator: JUAN CARLOS SERRANO RUIZ
Equipamiento Laboratorio CarboCat
Project
01/04/2019
Amount: 543294.88 €
Principal Investigator: JUAN CARLOS SERRANO RUIZ
Mapeo, consolidación y diseminación de las Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) para el sector de la construcción en el espacio SUDOE (SUDOKET)
Project
01/04/2018
Amount: 264911.69 €
Principal Investigator: PEDRO RODRÍGUEZ CORTÉS
Ramón y Cajal - Juan Carlos Serrano Ruíz
Project
01/02/2017
Amount: 308600 €
Principal Investigator: JUAN CARLOS SERRANO RUIZ
colaboración para el desarrollo de un proyecto de construcción y explotación de una planta de pre-tratamiento de grasas vegetales y animales para la producción de Biocarburantes
Consultancy
Amount: 30250 €
Principal Investigator: MANUEL ANTONIO DIAZ PEREZ

External research projects

External Projects
catalytic desoxigenation of biomass liquids derived from biomass liquefaction
Project start date: 01/01/2011
Directed theses
Obtención de azúcares a partir de formaldehido: estudio de la reacción de la formosa
Defended on 13/09/2024
Electroreducción de CO2 para la generación de productos químicos de valor
Defended on 15/12/2023