History of Catalysis at Purdue
1962
Robert G. Squires arrived to establish a new research era focused on catalytic surface properties and advanced spectroscopic methods.
1974-1981
Nick Delgass joins Purdue. Together with Ronald Andres and Christos Takoudis, Nick Delgass started building significant momentum in catalysis research. Their research contributed to the understanding of nanoparticle synthesis and properties, including some of the earliest studies of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy in catalysis.
1996-2000
The School of Chemical Engineering made a strategic decision, driven by the vision of Nick Delgass, to strengthen its leadership and recruited Jochen Lauterbach (1996) and Kendall Thomson (2000), who brought expertise in surface science, advanced spectroscopy, and first-principles molecular modeling.
2002
After Lauterbach's departure in 2002 and the subsequent two-fold expansion of the School's facilities, the School reaffirmed its commitment to lead in the area of surface catalysis by recruiting Chelsey Baertsch and Fabio Ribeiro. Her research addressed microreactor devices and the use of catalysts as components of sensors. Delgass and Ribeiro connected as one force and collaborations flourished and became the norm and culture for which the Purdue Catalysis Center is known today. Large multiple-PI long-term grants brought an influx of state-of-the-art equipment, expert staff members, and talented graduate students, all of which combined to bolster the output and reputation of the catalysis program at Purdue. This growth persuaded Arvind Varma, the Head of the School at the time, to further build the catalysis area into one of the largest and most diverse in the U.S.
2013-2015
This next phase (2013) brought to Purdue Rajamani Gounder and Jeffrey P. Greeley, two outstanding young faculty, who chose Purdue over attractive offers from some of the top chemical engineering departments in the U.S. Raj Gounder, an expert in catalytic reaction kinetics and zeolite synthesis infused these important areas into the catalysis program. Jeff Greeley brought world-class expertise in first-principles molecular modeling, allowing the program to bring theory into the analysis of the structure and function of catalytic solids. In 2015, Jeffrey T. Miller was recruited from Argonne National Laboratory to lead an effort in synchrotron-based spectroscopic tools, with emphasis on X-ray absorption spectroscopy.
2021
Brian Tackett was recruited to spearhead CISTAR's energy transition initiatives, particularly in decarbonization strategies through electrochemistry, an excellent experimental complement to the theoretical approaches of the Greeley group.
2023
The arrival of Enrique Iglesia from UC-Berkeley, through the concerted efforts at the School and campus levels, also marks a significant milestone and brings to the Purdue Catalysis Center his vast experience, extensive laboratory infrastructure, and long-standing relationships with the industry and business sectors.
2025
David Hibbitts was recruited to bring a unique and complementary blend of theoretical and experimental skills into the Purdue Catalysis Center, and to strengthen and expand the collaborative environment nurtured by the School and CISTAR.
Faculty
Brian M. Tackett
2021–Present / Assistant Professor
Electrocatalysis and Decarbonization
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