Maria de Lourdes Carreon GarciduenasView profile
Associate Professor
Maria de Lourdes Carreon Garciduenas serves as Associate Professor in the Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Arkansas College of Engineering. Her research program focuses on developing plasma processing as a competitive alternative for the electrification and decentralization of chemical processes, with particular emphasis on sustainability and addressing climate change challenges. Her educational background includes: B.S. Chemical Engineering, Universidad Michoacana, 2007 M.S. Chemical Engineering, Universidad Michoacana, 2010 Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Louisville, 2015 Dr. Carreon's research interests center on plasma catalysis and materials synthesis for environmental and energy applications. She leads investigations into rational design of porous materials at different scales, including zeolites, mixed metal oxides, nanowires, nanotubes, thin films, graphene, and MOFs. Her work focuses on tailoring these materials to achieve unique surface interactions with non-thermal plasma, with applications in ammonia synthesis, carbon dioxide reformation, and carbamate production. She has pioneered approaches using plasma catalysis as an alternative for electrification of chemical processes, with recent emphasis on converting greenhouse gases more sustainably. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on ammonia synthesis through plasma catalysis, CO2 conversion technologies, and innovative reactor designs. Her research demonstrates how plasma processing can operate at lower temperatures with reduced scale and complexity compared to conventional methods, potentially enabling decentralized chemical production. The work increasingly integrates computational modeling with experimental approaches to understand reaction mechanisms at the molecular level. Dr. Carreon has received significant recognition for her work: NSF CAREER Award (nearly $540,000 over five years) Two Kokes Awards Conn Center Fellowship award As part of her NSF CAREER award, she conducts STEM outreach for Girl Scouts, providing immersive experiences with hands-on activities to foster early interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Her research group receives funding from multiple sources to support work in plasma catalysis and materials synthesis, with current projects focused on CO2 utilization and sustainable chemical production. Dr. Carreon actively collaborates with researchers across disciplines and institutions, serving as an editor for IOP SciNotes and as an active member of Mexico's National Science Council (CONAHCYT). The Carreon Research Group operates within the Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Arkansas, utilizing specialized equipment for plasma processing and materials characterization. The group's work aligns with the department's focus areas in energy and sustainability, contributing to the university's broader research mission in addressing global challenges through chemical engineering innovation.



