Ph.D. 2011 The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

B.Sc. 2003 The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Research Focus: 
Heterogeneous catalysis is an essential technology for the formation of environmentally friendly, alternative feedstock. We are a multidisciplinary group aims at elucidating the mechanisms that governs catalytic processes in order to prepare highly controllable catalysts suited for energy-needs of the 21st century society. To uncover the full potential of heterogeneous catalysis for energy applications, we employ a bottom-up approach in which we design the properties of catalysts in order to activate designated bonds within a reactant molecule. Structure-reactivity correlations within the catalytic systems are analyzed with advanced in-situ spectroscopy in order to unfold the dynamic processes that shape the catalytic reaction.

Selected Publications

1. E. Gross, F. D. Toste and G. A. Somorjai “Polymer-Encapsulated Metallic Nanoparticles as a Bridge between Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysis” Catal Lett 145 (2015) 126.

2. E. Gross , X. Z. Shu, S. Alayoglu, H. A. Bechtel, M. C. Martin, F. D. Toste and G. A. Somorjai “In Situ IR and X-ray High Spatial-Resolution Microspectroscopy Measurements of Multistep Organic Transformation in Flow Microreactor Catalysed by Au Nanoclusters" J. Am. Chem. Soc. 126, (2014), 3624.

3. E. Gross, J. H. C. Liu, S. Alayoglu, F. D. Toste and G. A. Somorjai “Asymmetric catalysis at the Mesoscale: Gold nanoclusters embedded in hydrogen-bonded chiral self-assembled-monolayer as heterogeneous catalyst for asymmetric reactions” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 135, (2013), 3881.

4. E. Gross, J. H. C. Liu, F. D. Toste and Gabor A. Somorjai “Selectivity control in heterogeneous catalysis by tuning nanoparticles properties and flow-reactor’s residence time” Nature Chemistry 4, (2012), 947.