Prof. Elisa Jimenez-Izal

Profesora Adjunta. MatCat-KT Group Leader.
📍 Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea - University of the Basque Country (EHU/UPV) & Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Donostia Euskal Herria

She obtained her PhD in Theoretical Chemistry at the University of the Basque Country (EHU) in 2014, after completing research stays in Italy (Università degli Studi di Torino, group of Prof. Ugliengo) and Mexico (CINVESTAV-IPN Mérida, group of Prof. Merino). In 2015, she joined the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a postdoctoral researcher in the group of Prof. Alexandrova, specializing in heterogeneous catalysis, 2D materials, and the computational modelling of extended systems.

Since returning to EHU in 2018, she has developed an independent research line in theoretical and computational catalysis. She was awarded an Ikerbasque Fellowship in 2019 and appointed Assistant Professor at EHU in 2022. Her research focuses on metastable catalytic phases and the design of sustainable catalysts based on earth-abundant elements. To date, she has published around 40 peer-reviewed articles, delivered more than 20 presentations at international conferences, and secured competitive research funding as principal investigator.

CV

List of Publications:

40. Idoia Camara, Andoni Ugartemendia, Ramon M. Bergua, Joe M. Mercero and Jimenez-Izal
Voltage-Dependent Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on PtGe surfaces
Submitted
39. Camara, Idoia; Jimenez-Izal, Elisa; Lois, Sara; Sarasola, Ane; Garcia-Lekue, Aran*
Exploring tricoordinated graphitic oxygen as a reactivity modulator for efficient oxygen reduction catalysis
Submitted
38.

Berti, Andrea; Bergua, Ramón M.; Mercero, Jose M.; Perco, Deborah; Lacovig, Paolo; Lizzit, Silvano; Jimenez-Izal, Elisa; Baraldi, Alessandro

Ultra-Low Atomic Diffusion Barrier on Two-Dimensional Materials: The Case of Pt on Epitaxial Graphene Journal Article

ACS Nano, 2025, 19(40), 35921--35932

Links | BibTeX

37.

Ugartemendia, Andoni; Bergua, Ramón M.; Mercero, Jose M.; Jimenez-Izal, Elisa

Boosting synergistic effects between PtGe nanoalloys and 2D materials for PEMFC applications Journal Article

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2024, 89, 233--253

Links | BibTeX

36.

Ugartemendia, Andoni; Mercero, José M.; Jimenez‐Izal, Elisa; de Cózar, Abel

Doping Efects on Ethane/Ethylene Dehydrogenation Catalyzed by Pt2X Nanoclusters Journal Article

ChemPhysChem, 2024, 25(12)

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

35.

Ugartemendia, Andoni; Casademont-Reig, Irene; Zhao, Lili; Zhang, Zuxian; Frenking, Gernot; Ugalde, Jesus M.; Garcia-Lekue, Aran; Jimenez-Izal, Elisa

Deciphering the chemical bonding of the trivalent oxygen atom in oxygen doped graphene Journal Article

Chem. Sci., 2024, 15(16), 6151--6159

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

34.

Escayola, Sílvia; Jimenez-Izal, Elisa; Matito, Eduard; Ugalde, Jesus M.; Grande-Aztatzi, Rafael; Mercero, Jose M.

Unveiling the quantum secrets of triel metal triangles: a tale of stability, aromaticity, and relativistic effects Journal Article

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2024, 26(16), 12619--12627

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

33.

Bergua, Ramon M.; Pavloudis, Theodoros; Ugartemendia, Andoni; Palmer, Richard E.; Jimenez-Izal, Elisa

PdTi alloys as an excellent catalyst for semi-hydrogenation reactions Journal Article

Applied Surface Science, 2024, 672

Links | BibTeX

32.

Gastearena, Xuban; Ugalde, Jesus M.; Pieslinger, German E.; Sebastian, Eider San; Jimenez-Izal, Elisa

Unveiling the electronic origin of lanthanide based Metal Organic Framework with ideal spin filtering capacity Journal Article

Commun Phys, 2024, 7(1)

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

31.

Ugartemendia, Andoni; Mercero, Jose M.; de Cózar, Abel; Melander, Marko M.; Akola, Jaakko; Jimenez‐Izal, Elisa

Deposited PtGe Clusters as Active and Durable Catalysts for CO Oxidation** Journal Article

ChemCatChem, 2024, 16(3)

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

30.

Poths, P.; Zandkarimi, B.; Alexandrova, A. N.; Jimenez-Izal, E.

Pt : Ge Ratio as a Lever of Activity and Selectivity Control of Supported PtGe Clusters in Thermal Dehydrogenation Journal Article

Chemcatchem, 2023

Links | BibTeX

29.

Madrigal-Carrillo, K. G.; Rodriguez, J. I.; Hernandez-Pichardo, M. L.; Jimenez-Izal, E.

Unraveling the effects of Fe and Mn promoters on the tungstated zirconia catalyst: A DFT study Journal Article

Applied Surface Science, 2022, 599

Links | BibTeX

28.

Rogolino, A.; Claes, N.; Cizaurre, J.; Marauri, A.; Jumbo-Nogales, A.; Lawera, Z.; Kruse, J.; Sanroman-Iglesias, M.; Zarketa, I.; Calvo, U.; Jimenez-Izal, E.; Rakovich, Y. P.; Bals, S.; Matxain, J. M.; Grzelczak, M.

Metal-Polymer Heterojunction in Colloidal-Phase Plasmonic Catalysis Journal Article

Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2022, 13(10), 2264-2272

Links | BibTeX

27.

Ugartemendia, A.; Mercero, J. M.; Cozar, A. De; Jimenez-Izal, E.

Does the composition in PtGe clusters play any role in fighting CO poisoning? (vol 156, 174301, 2022) Journal Article

Journal of Chemical Physics, 2022, 156(20)

Links | BibTeX

26.

Ugartemendia, A.; Mercero, J. M.; Cozar, A.; Jimenez-Izal, E.

Does the composition in PtGe clusters play any role in fighting CO poisoning? Journal Article

Journal of Chemical Physics, 2022, 156(17)

Links | BibTeX

25.

Ugartemendia, A.; Garcia-Lekue, A.; Jimenez-Izal, E.

Tailoring magnetism in silicon-doped zigzag graphene edges Journal Article

Scientific Reports, 2022, 12(1)

Links | BibTeX

24.

Ugartemendia, A.; Peeters, K.; Ferrari, P.; Cozar, A.; Mercero, J. M.; Janssens, E.; Jimenez-Izal, E.

Doping Platinum with Germanium: An Effective Way to Mitigate the CO Poisoning Journal Article

Chemphyschem, 2021, 22(15), 1603-1610

Links | BibTeX

23.

Vera-Iturriaga, J.; Madrigal-Carrillo, K. G.; Hernandez-Pichardo, M. L.; Rodriguez, J. I.; Jimenez-Izal, E.; la Fuente, J. A. M. De

A size-selective method for increasing the performance of Pt supported on tungstated zirconia catalysts for alkane isomerization: a combined experimental and theoretical DFT study Journal Article

New Journal of Chemistry, 2021, 45(23), 10510-10523

Links | BibTeX

22.

Jimenez-Izal, E.; Luzuriaga, I. O.; Ramos-Cordoba, E.; Matxain, J. M.

Role of Dispersion Interactions in Endohedral TM@(ZnS)(12) Structures Journal Article

Acs Omega, 2021, 6(25), 16612-16622

Links | BibTeX

21.

Zhang, Z. S.; Cui, Z. H.; Jimenez-Izal, E.; Sautet, P.; Alexandrova, A. N.

Hydrogen Evolution on Restructured B-Rich WB: Metastable Surface States and Isolated Active Sites Journal Article

Acs Catalysis, 2020, 10(23), 13867-13877

Links | BibTeX

20.

Jimenez-Izal, E.; Gates, B. C.; Alexandrova, A. N.

Designing clusters for heterogeneous catalysis Journal Article

Physics Today, 2019, 72(7), 38-43

Links | BibTeX

19.

Zhang, Z. S.; Jimenez-Izal, E.; Hermans, I.; Alexandrova, A. N.

Dynamic Phase Diagram of Catalytic Surface of Hexagonal Boron Nitride under Conditions of Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane Journal Article

Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2019, 10(1), 20-25

Links | BibTeX

18.

Jimenez-Izal, E.; Liu, J. Y.; Alexandrova, A. N.

Germanium as key dopant to boost the catalytic performance of small platinum clusters for alkane dehydrogenation Journal Article

Journal of Catalysis, 2019, 374, 93-100

Links | BibTeX

17.

Popov, I. A.; Jimenez-Izal, E.; Alexandrova, A. N.; Boldyrev, A. I.

Multicenter Bonding Effects in Oxygen Vacancy in the Bulk and on the Surface of MgO Journal Article

Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2018, 122(22), 11933-11937

Links | BibTeX

16.

Dyck, O.; Kim, S.; Jimenez-Izal, E.; Alexandrova, A. N.; Kalinin, S. V.; Jesse, S.

Building Structures Atom by Atom via Electron Beam Manipulation Journal Article

Small, 2018, 14(38)

Links | BibTeX

15.

Jimenez-Izal, E.; Alexandrova, A. N.

Computational Design of Clusters for Catalysis Book Chapter

, 2018, 69, 377-400

Links | BibTeX

14.

Jimenez-Izal, E.; Zhai, H. C.; Liu, J. Y.; Alexandrova, A. N.

Nanoalloying MgO-Deposited Pt Clusters with Si To Control the Selectivity of Alkane Dehydrogenation Journal Article

Acs Catalysis, 2018, 8(9), 8346-8356

Links | BibTeX

13.

Thomas, J. C.; Goronzy, D. P.; Serino, A. C.; Auluck, H. S.; Irving, O. R.; Jimenez-Izal, E.; Deirmenjian, J. M.; Machacek, J.; Sautet, P.; Alexandrova, A. N.; Base, T.; Weiss, P. S.

Acid-Base Control of Valency within Carboranedithiol Self-Assembled Monolayers: Molecules Do the Can-Can Journal Article

Acs Nano, 2018, 12(3), 2211-2221

Links | BibTeX

12.

Cui, Z. H.; Jimenez-Izal, E.; Alexandrova, A. N.

Prediction of Two-Dimensional Phase of Boron with Anisotropic Electric Conductivity Journal Article

Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2017, 8(6), 1224-1228

Links | BibTeX

11.

Jimenez-Izal, E.; Saeys, M.; Alexandrova, A. N.

Metallic and Magnetic 2D Materials Containing Planar Tetracoordinated C and N Journal Article

Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2016, 120(38), 21685-21690

Links | BibTeX

10.

Jimenez-Izal, E.; Ugalde, J. M.; Matxain, J. M.

Nanocluster-Assembled materials Book

, 2016, 18, 113-148

Links | BibTeX

9.

Jimenez-Izal, E.; Moreno, D.; Mercero, J. M.; Matxain, J. M.; Audiffred, M.; Merino, G.; Ugalde, J. M.

Doped Aluminum Cluster Anions: Size Matters Journal Article

Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 2014, 118(24), 4309-4314

Links | BibTeX

8.

Jimenez-Izal, E.; Azpiroz, J. M.; Gupta, R.; Matxain, J. M.; Ugalde, J. M.

CdS nanoclusters doped with divalent atoms Journal Article

Journal of Molecular Modeling, 2014, 20(6)

Links | BibTeX

7.

Jimenez-Izal, E.; Matxain, J. M.; Piris, M.; Ugalde, J. M.

Second-Row Transition- Metal Doping of (ZniSi) Journal Article

Computation, 2013, 1(3), 31-45

Links | BibTeX

6.

Huber, S. M.; Scanlon, J. D.; Jimenez-Izal, E.; Ugalde, J. M.; Infante, I.

On the directionality of halogen bonding Journal Article

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2013, 15(25), 10350-10357

Links | BibTeX

5.

Jimenez-Izal, E.; Matxain, J. M.; Piris, M.; Ugalde, J. M.

Self-assembling endohedrally doped CdS nanoclusters: new porous solid phases of CdS Journal Article

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2012, 14(27), 9676-9682

Links | BibTeX

4.

Jimenez-Izal, E.; Chiatti, F.; Corno, M.; Rimola, A.; Ugliengo, P.

Glycine Adsorption at Nonstoichiometric (010) Hydroxyapatite Surfaces: A B3LYP Study Journal Article

Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2012, 116(27), 14561-14567

Links | BibTeX

3.

Huber, S. M.; Jimenez-Izal, E.; Ugalde, J. M.; Infante, I.

Unexpected trends in halogen-bond based noncovalent adducts Journal Article

Chemical Communications, 2012, 48(62), 7708-7710

Links | BibTeX

2.

Jimenez-Izal, E.; Matxain, J. M.; Piris, M.; Ugalde, J. M.

Thermal Stability of Endohedral First-Row Transition-Metal TM@ZniSi Structures Journal Article

Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2011, 115(16), 7829-7835

Links | BibTeX

1.

Jimenez-Izal, E.; Matxain, J. M.; Piris, M.; Ugalde, J. M.

Structure and Stability of the Endohedrally Doped (X@CdiSi)(i=4,9,12,15,16)(q=0,+/- 1) Journal Article

Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2010, 114(6), 2476-2483

Links | BibTeX