Research Interests
Our research interest is the design of heterogeneous catalysts with high control of composition, size, morphology, and surface and chemical properties. We have focused on the study of hydrogenation and oxidation reactions, with an emphasis on the conversion of carbon dioxide and biomass derivatives into value-added products. Catalysis and catalyst design are very attractive research areas, which include both fundamental and applied studies.
Research Projects
Fapesp (Thematic Project 21/00675-4): Tying up materials for electrochemical energy storage and catalysis
RCGI (Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Innovation):
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The interaction of custom-made nanominerals in tropical soils: a solution to improve soil ecosystem functions and carbon sequestration
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Development of adsorbent materials based on metal-organic networks for transport and storage of H2 and CO2
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Development of a scale-up process to convert CO2 into methanol under supercritical conditions
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The Future of Ethanol in the Transport Sector
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​Catalytic conversion of methanol to aromatics at high pressure​​
Selected publications
Galhardo, Thalita S.; BRAGA, Adriano H.; Arpini, Bruno H.; Szanyi, János; Gonçalves, Renato V.; Zornio, Bruno F.; Miranda, Caetano R.; Rossi, Liane M. Optimizing Active Sites for High CO Selectivity during CO2 Hydrogenation over Supported Nickel Catalysts. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, v. 143, p. 4268-4280, 2021.
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Braga, Adriano H.; Costa, Natália J S; Philippot, Karine; Gonçalves, Renato; Szanyi, János; Rossi, Liane M. Structure and activity of supported bimetallic NiPd nanoparticles: influence of preparation method on CO2 reduction. ChemCatChem, v. 12, p. 2967-2976, 2020.
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Gothe, Maitê L.; Pérez-Sanz, Fernando J.; Braga, Adriano H.; Borges, Laís R.; Abreu, Thiago F.; Bazito, Reinaldo C.; Gonçalves, Renato V.; Rossi, Liane M.; Vidinha, Pedro. Selective CO2 hydrogenation into methanol in a supercritical flow process. Journal of CO2 Utilization, v. 40, p. 101195, 2020.
Fiorio, J. L.; Gonçalves, R. V.; Teixeira-Neto, E.; Ortuño, M. A.; Lopez, N.; Rossi, L. M. Accessing frustrated Lewis pair chemistry through robust Gold@N-doped carbon for selective hydrogenation of alkynes. ACS Catalysis, v. 8, p. 3516-3524, 2018.
Fiorio, J. L.; Lopez, N.; Rossi, L. M. Gold-ligand catalyzed selective hydrogenation of alkynes into cis-alkenes via H2 heterolytic activation by frustrated Lewis pairs. ACS Catalysis, v. 7, p. 2973–2980, 2017.​
Review articles
Imagine turning pollution into fuel. That is the exciting promise of carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrogenation, a process that takes CO2 – a major greenhouse gas – and transforms it into useful chemicals and fuels. One important product is methanol, a versatile chemical used in almost everything from plastics to fuels. We can also create other valuable compounds like methane, which can be directly injected into existing natural gas pipelines, and more complex hydrocarbons that can be used as gasoline or jet fuel. This offers the tantalizing possibility of creating “e-fuels” – sustainable alternatives to traditional fossil fuels. However, how we can do it? An international consortium provides an overview in “Science”.
This concept article provides an overview of molecular hydrogen (Hâ‚‚) activation via heterolytic dissociation, emphasizing its role in enhancing the activity of gold-catalyzed chemoselective hydrogenations. The discussion highlights the preference of heterolytically dissociated hydrogen species for hydrogenating polar bonds, which are optimal acceptors for proton and hydride pairs, underscoring the significance of this mechanism in selective catalysis.
This Review analyses the strategies utilized to improve hydrogen–Au interactions, from addressing the importance of the Au particle size to exploring alternative mechanisms for H2 dissociation on Au cations and Au–ligand interfaces. These insights hold the potential to drive future applications of Au catalysis.
Review article Hydrogenation of carbon dioxide: from waste to value. In this minireview we discuss specific reaction pathways, mainly via catalytic hydrogenation and tandem processes for CO2 conversion in hydrocarbons, olefins, aromatics and alcohols. The majority of the steps have been studied extensively, but there are still significant challenges in developing active, selective, and stable catalysts for CO2 conversion and upgrade into molecules containing two or more carbons (C2+) suitable for large-scale CO2 valorization processes.
Review article The role and fate of capping ligands in colloidally prepared metal nanoparticle catalysts published in Dalton Transactions. In this Perspective review, we focus on the choice of capping ligands (or stabilizing agents), and their role and fate in different steps from preparation to catalysis. Evaluating the influence of the ligands on the catalytic response is not trivial, but the literature provides examples where the ligands adsorbed on the nanoparticle surface dramatically change the activity and selectivity for a particular reaction, while acting either as a dynamic shell or a passivation coating.
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Instituto de Química
UNIVERSIDADE DE SÃO PAULO
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Prof. Liane M. Rossi
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Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748
Build 12, room 1265 (lab) and 863 (office)
São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brasil
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PHONE
+55 11 30912181 (Lab)
+55 11 30919143 (Office)
News...
Mar 2025 Artigo sobre produção de renováveis através de CO2 é publicado na Science
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Jan 2025 Cientista brasileira recebe reconhecimento da Casa Real Sueca
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Oct 2024 Professora da USP é primeira latino-americana a conquistar a Cátedra Rei Carl XVI Gustaf da Suécia
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Nov 2023 Professor Liane Rossi as visiting professor at Stockholm University
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Dez 2021 Prof. Rossi was appointed member of the Brazilian Academy of Science (ABC)
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Mar 2021 Cientistas avançam na transformação de CO2 em produtos de alto valor
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Oct 2020 - Pesquisadores do RCGI desenvolvem novo processo para a conversão de CO2 em metanol
Sep 2020 - Químicos buscam transformar CO2 que iria para atmosfera em produtos de valor
Jul 2020 - Study investigates bimetallic catalyst activity in reducing CO2 emissions
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May 22 2018 - Gold catalyst for selective hydrogenations important transformations in the chemical industry.
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June 12 2017 - Research of catalysts for mitigation of carbon dioxide emission
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Review of Magnetic Nanomaterials in Catalysis: Advanced Catalysts for Magnetic Separation and Beyond published in Green Chemistry. This Review gives an overview of the use of magnetic nanomaterials as catalyst supports for magnetic separation and for other magnetic field-driven technologies. Recent scientific progress on the preparation of surface-modified magnetic nanomaterials and the most common synthetic approaches to attach or immobilize non-magnetic catalytic active phases onto magnetic nanomaterials were discussed. The review paper has featured on the Front Cover of Green Chemistry.