Rodolfo Zanella is a chemical engineer (1998) from UNAM. He obtained his master’s degree in chemical engineering (2000) from UNAM and his Ph.D. in process engineering and catalysis from Université Pierre et Marie Curie–Paris VI (now Sorbonne Université), France, in 2003.

Following a postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Applied Sciences and Technological Development (CCADET) of UNAM in 2004, he joined the institution as a research assistant in 2006 and was promoted to senior researcher in 2009. He later served as Academic Deputy from 2011 to 2013 and subsequently as Director of CCADET from 2013 to 2018. He was also Director of the Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology at UNAM from 2018 to 2022, and Director of the UNAM Representative Office in France from 2022 to 2023. He currently serves as Coordinator of the University Seminar on Hydrocarbon Research at UNAM. He is a Level III member of Mexico’s National System of Researchers.

His research interests include photocatalytic hydrogen production via water splitting; catalysis for exhaust gas treatment (CO oxidation, NO reduction, and total oxidation); CO₂ valorization (methanation and artificial photosynthesis); hydrogen production and purification (water–gas shift reaction and preferential CO oxidation); photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds; and the deposition of mono- and bimetallic nanoparticles on reducible and non-reducible oxide supports. His work also encompasses the synthesis of pure and doped metal oxides.

He has authored 186 research articles, which have received approximately 9,000 citations (H-index: 48), as well as 7 book chapters, and has led 24 funded research projects. He has supervised 38 BSc students, 19 MSc students, 7 PhD students, and 17 postdoctoral fellows.

He has been recognized twice by Elsevier as first author of highly cited papers in chemical engineering journals. He has also received the National University Award for Young Scientists from UNAM and has been recognized as one of the most cited researchers at UNAM in the field of chemistry.

Photocatalytic production of green hydrogen.

Valorization of CO₂ (methanation and artificial photosynthesis). 

Catalysis focused on exhaust gas reactions (CO oxidation, NO reduction, total oxidation).

Elucidation of active sites in heterogeneous catalysts using in situ and operando techniques.

Catalysis focused on the production and purification of H₂.

Photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds.

Deposition of monometallic and bimetallic nanoparticles on reducible and non-reducible powder oxides liquid phase methods (deposition precipitation, ion adsorption, impregnation and colloidal routs).

Synthesis of metal oxides, pure and doped.

Substitution of noble metals in catalysts for hydrogen production and air pollution abatement: the role of bimetallic systems.” Sponsor: SECIHTI.

Bimetallic catalysts for total oxidation reactions or hydrogen production: is it possible to partially or completely replace noble metals?” Sponsor: PAPIIT-DGAPA-UNAM.

R. Camposeco, Ana E. Torres, and R. Zanella, Application of bimetallic Ru-Cu/TiO₂ catalysts in efficient CO₂ methanation, Molecular Catalysis (2026) 115968 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcat.2026.115968

D. G. Araiza, A. Hellmer, I. Ramírez-Cruz, L. A. Lares-Rangel, B. Portales-Martínez, M. Calatayud, A. E. Torres and R. Zanella, Integrating Experiments and Theory: In-Situ Spectroscopic and DFT Study of Propane Oxidation over AuCu/TiO₂ Catalysts, Chemical Engineering Journal, 534 (2026) 175012 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2026.175012

A. Hellmer, R. Mendoza-Cruz, B. Portales-Martínez, R. Zanella, Influence of pretreatment conditions and support type on CO oxidation activity of Au–Ni catalysts: Insights from operando DRIFTS, Applied Catalysis A 710 (2026) 120711, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2025.120711

A. Hellmer D. A. Solís-Casados, R. Zanella, Tunable oxygen vacancies and carbonate dynamics in Pd/Co_0.15CeO₂ catalysts: insights into low-temperature soot oxidation, Revista Mexicana de Ingeniería Química 25 (2026) Cat26773 https://doi.org/10.24275/rmiq/Cat26773

R. Camposeco, M. Hinojosa-Reyes, L. Hinojosa-Reyes, R. Zanella, Effective Ir co-catalyst deposited onto Cu/TiO₂ nanostructures for improved hydrogen evolution under UV and visible light, Surfaces and Interfaces 75 (2025) 107812, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfin.2025.107812

A. Hellmer, R. Mendoza-Cruz, B. Portales-Martínez, R. Zanella, Effect of Support on the Catalytic Performance of Au-Co₃O₄ Catalysts: An Operando DRIFTS-MS Study of the Propane Total Oxidation, Chemical Engineering Journal, 503 (2025) 158215, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.158215

Roberto Camposeco, Diego Servín, Rodolfo Zanella, Influence of the synthesis route on Au-Ir/Al₂O₃ catalysts performing the total propane oxidation reaction at low temperature, Journal of Molecular Structure, 1322 (2025) 140409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2024.140409

A. Gutierrez-Sánchez, D. Ramírez-Ortega, B. Portales, R. Zanella, Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production on Au/TiO₂-CeO₂ through the formation of oxygen vacancies, Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing 197 (2025) 109703, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mssp.2025.109703

D. G. Araiza, M. Fernández, M. Sánchez-Ugalde, A. Miranda, D. A. Solís-Casados, V. Maturano-Rojas. R. Zanella, AuPd/TiO₂ catalysts in the CO oxidation: Insights into the synthesis procedure and in-situ spectroscopy studies, Topics in Catalysis 68 (2025) 1725–1746 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-025-02051-w

R. Camposeco, A. E. Torres, R. Zanella, Study of catalysts based on Au-M (Ir, Pd, Pt and Ru) loaded onto TiO₂ for enhanced carbon monoxide oxidation at low temperatures, Chemical Engineering Science, 305 (2025) 121174 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2024.121174

Mundo Nano. Revista Interdisciplinaria en Nanociencias y Nanotecnología

Editor-in-Chief

Patent: Aleación oro-plata, proceso para su preparación y su empleo como catalizador. Authors: R. Zanella, J. M. Saniger, J. G. Pérez, Title number: 329726, Country: México, valid until March 20th 2029.

Patent: Piezas fotocatalíticas de TiO₂ y procesos para su elaboración Authors: F. Méndez, R. Almanza, L. Ruiz, A. Caballero, R. Zanella. Title number: MX 410845 B, Country: México, valid until September 5th 2038.

D. G. Araiza, C. A. Celaya, D. A. Solís-Casados, J. Muñiz, R. Zanella, Unveiling the structural behavior of bimetallic AuCu/TiO₂ catalysts in the CO oxidation: A combined in-situ spectroscopic and theoretical study, Chemical Engineering Journal 494 (2024), 152921, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.152921

N. S. Portillo-Vélez, R. Zanella, Comparative study of transition metal (Mn, Fe or Co) catalysts supported on titania: Effect of Au nanoparticles addition towards CO oxidation and soot combustion reactions, Chemical Engineering Journal 385 (2020) 123848, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2019.123848

J C. Durán-Álvarez, B. Prado, R. Zanella, M. Rodríguez, S. Díaz, Wastewater surveillance of pharmaceuticals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico City and the Mezquital Valley: A comprehensive environmental risk assessment, Science of the Total Environment 100 (2023) 165886 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165886

L. A. Calzada, S. Collins, C. W. Han, V. Ortalan, R. Zanella, Synergetic Effect of Bimetallic Au-Ru/TiO₂ Catalysts for Complete Oxidation of Methanol, Applied Catalysis B 207 (2017) 79-92, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2017.01.081

R. Zanella, V. Rodríguez-González, Y. Arzola, A. Moreno-Rodríguez, Au/Y-TiO2 Catalyst: High Activity and Long-Term Stability in CO Oxidation, ACS Catalysis 2 (2012), 1-11, http://dx.doi.org/doi: 10.1021/cs200332v

A. Sandoval, A. Aguilar, C. Louis, A. Traverse, R. Zanella, Bimetallic Au-Ag/TiO2 Catalyst Prepared by Deposition-Precipitation. High Activity and Stability in CO Oxidation, Journal of Catalysis 281 (2011) 40-49, http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.jcat.2011.04.003

R. Zanella, E. V. Basiuk, P. Santiago, V. A. Basiuk, E. Mireles, I. Puente-Lee, J. M. Saniger, Deposition of gold nanoparticles onto thiol-functionalized-multi-walled carbon nanotubes, Journal of Physical Chemistry B. 109, (2005) 16290-16295, http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1021/jp0521454

R. Zanella, C. Louis, Influence of the condition of thermal treatments and of storage on the size of the gold particles in Au/TiO₂ samples, Catalysis Today, 107-108, (2005) 768-777, http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.cattod.2005.07.008

R. Zanella, L. Delannoy, C. Louis, Mechanism of deposition of gold precursors onto TiO₂ during preparation by cation adsorption and by deposition-precipitation with NaOH and urea, Applied Catalysis A. 291, (2005) 62-72,
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.apcata.2005.02.045

R. Zanella, S. Giorgio, R. Touroude, C. Louis, Crotonaldehyde Hydrogenation by Supported Gold on TiO2: Structure Sensitivity and Mechanism, Journal Catalysis 223, (2004) 328-339, http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.jcat.2004.01.033

R. Zanella, S. Giorgio, Ch.-H Shin, C. R. Henry, C. Louis, Characterization and reactivity in CO oxidation of gold nanoparticles supported on TiO₂ prepared by deposition-precipitation with NaOH and Urea, Journal of Catalysis, 222, (2004) 357-367, http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.jcat.2003.11.005

R. Zanella, S. Giorgio, C. Henry, C. Louis, Alternative methods for the preparation of gold nanoparticles supported on TiO₂, Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 106, (2002) 7634-7642, http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1021/jp0144810

• Chemical Reactors Professor

• Heterogeneous Catalysis Professor

Ongoing students

Doctoral:

• Cristopher Ibañez Pinacho

Master’s:

• Julio César Pedrozo Alfonso
• Mayra Daniela Rosas Lara
• José Emilio Bernal Loeza

Undergraduate:

• Rodrigo Tapia Ramírez
• Aldo Antonio Rivera Cabrero
• Zaid Toledano Mondragón
• José Manuel López Mancilla

Postdoctoral fellows

• Dr. Carlos Hernández Fontes

• Mundo Nano

• University Seminar on Hydrocarbon Research