Research keywords
- Reaction Engineering
- Colloids
- Nanoparticles
- Heterogeneous catalysis
- Catalysis
- Green chemistry
Biography
2022- Present: Professor, Department of Chemical engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge
2022- Present: Non-executive independent member of the Board if Directors, Fertiberia
2018 - 2022: Reader in Reaction Engineering and Catalysis
2016-present: Fellow (Title B) of St John's College, Cambridge
2015 - 2018: University Lecturer, University of Cambridge
2010 - 2015: Lecturer, University of Bath
2007 - 2010: PDRA in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London
2003 - 2004: Scientist Engineer, REPSOL YPF R&ID Centre, Madrid, Spain
PhD in chemical Engineering, University of Bath
MEng in Chemical Engineering, URJC, Madrid, Spain
Research
Leader of the Process Integration and Catalysis Group
The general focus on the research group is the integration of processes and development of novel catalytic routes for sustainable technologies. Our research involves different aspects:
- Reaction engineering: ranging from the development of 3D printed microdevices for the continuous production of metal nanoparticles with tuneable sizes to differential reactors for kinetic studies and membrane reactors.
- Integration of reaction and separation steps in chemical processes: with two main activities in the area of i. multiphasic systems in emulsions and ii. Metallic membranes for in-situ hydrogen separation.
- Development of nanostructured materials as catalytic supports with a focus on the structure-property relationships of a wide range of materials such as ceria, titanate, alumina and magnesia. In this field, we investigate the use of certain morphologies for the physical stabilisation of metal nanoparticles (e.g. gold, cobalt, palladium) for a wide of catalytic applications.
- Low temperature activation of molecules, specially methane and CO2 utilisation.
- Use of ammonia as a vector of sustainable hydrogen. Our activities range from the development of low temperature ammonia decomposition catalysts, integration within the existing PEM fuel cell technology and life cycle analysis.
Publications
Alexi Pubill-Rodriguez earned his PhD from the Université de Perpignan in France, where he began his research on solid-gas sorption of ammonia for use in refrigeration and thermal energy storage systems.
Since then, his work has focused on both experimental and modeling approaches in ammonia-based solid sorption systems, with particular attention to mass and heat transfer in porous and reactive media. He has contributed to various academic and industrial R&D projects, and he joined the CaPI group in May 2025.
