Rob Rioux

Rob Rioux is the Friedrich G. Helfferich Professor of Chemical Engineering and Professor of Chemistry at Pennsylvania State University. He serves as Associate Department Head of Chemical Engineering. His research focuses on catalysis, nanomaterials, and energy-related applications, with emphasis on intermetallic compounds, single-atom catalysts, and catalytic reaction mechanisms. Key areas include heterogeneous catalysis, photocatalysis, and the design of novel catalysts for selective hydrogenation, CO2 capture, and biomass conversion.

Education details are not explicitly provided in the text, though his roles and publications suggest advanced training in chemical engineering and chemistry. The Rioux Lab at Penn State conducts interdisciplinary research, involving postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers. Notable collaborations include work with the Matsoukas group on energetic materials and Janik’s group on catalytic hydrogenation mechanisms.

Research interests span catalyst synthesis (e.g., intermetallics, gamma-brass alloys), nanocrystal growth mechanisms, and surface chemistry. Techniques employed include isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and density functional theory (DFT). Recent studies highlight the role of chloride ions in nanoparticle synthesis, solvent effects on catalytic reactions, and the development of high-throughput catalyst evaluation methods.

Publications emphasize catalytic selectivity, reaction kinetics, and material characterization. The lab actively explores applications in renewable energy, including hydrogen evolution from photocatalysts and CO2 sequestration. Equipment includes advanced spectroscopic and calorimetric tools for in situ analysis of catalytic processes.