Jose A. Mata

Jose A. Mata is an Associate Professor at the Universitat Jaume I, leading research in the Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM). His work focuses on developing catalytic processes for energy applications using hybrid materials, particularly organometallic complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands and 2D carbon materials like graphene.

Education: B.S. in Chemistry (University of Valencia, 1997); Ph.D. in Chemistry (University Jaume I, 2002 under Prof. Peris and Llusar). Postdoctoral training at Yale University (Robert Crabtree) and CNRS (Rinaldo Poli), followed by a Ramón y Cajal Fellowship (2005–2008) before joining INAM.

Research Interests: Catalytic systems for energy storage (e.g., hydrogen production via liquid organic carriers), design of graphene-supported metal nanoparticles, and mechanism-driven synthesis of functional organic molecules. His lab explores photocatalytic reactions, C–H activation, and sustainable catalytic methods.

Publications & Impact: Over 80 peer-reviewed articles (h-index 33, 4,000+ citations), 3 patents (including graphene-based catalyst immobilization), and a book chapter. Recent work emphasizes recyclable iridium nanoparticle catalysts and visible-light-driven reactions.

Labs & Teams: Leads the RG10 research group (Hybrid Catalytic Materials) at INAM, collaborating with institutions globally. Active in training students through postdoctoral, PhD, and undergraduate programs.