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Chemical & Petroleum Engineering
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CPE Faculty and Staff

Javier Guzman

Javier Guzman

Assistant Professor

B. S., Chemical Engineering, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, 1999, Mexico
Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of California at Davis, 2003, USA (with Prof. Bruce C. Gates)
Postdoctoral Associate, Instituto de Tecnología Química (ITQ), 2005, Spain (with Prof. Avelino Corma)

Office: 4141B Learned Hall
Phone: (785) 864-4969
Fax: (785) 864-4967
E-mail: jguzman@ku.edu

Research Interests


  • Nanotechnology
  • Advanced Materials
  • Catalysis, Kinetics, and Reaction Engineering
  • Green Chemistry and Engineering
  • Charaterization of Solids by Spectroscopic Techniques
  • Synchrotron Radiation Applied to Nanomaterials

Professor Guzman's research is directed towards the investigation of nanomaterials and advanced materials focusing on the chemistry and physics controlling the interactions and reactions at the molecular level. Although Prof. Guzman.s research interests fall into basic science, he recognizes the possibilities for the applications of his findings in several technological areas such as microelectronics, fine chemicals, clean technologies, sensors, and others. His current research is focused on the rational design of metal oxides and silica-based nanoarchitectures by use of structure director agents, as well as its specific organic-inorganic structure functionalization at the nanoparticles surface. Another aspect involves the molecular design of site-specific immobilization of well-defined metal complexes on porous hosts.

Publication List:


  • Nanocrystalline ZrO2 Enhances the Reactivity of Supported Gold in the Homocoupling of Phenylboronic Acid. A. Palacios, P. Ramirez, M. Lopez, and J. Guzman, Appl. Catal. A 2006, submitted.

  • Role of Gold Cations in the Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide Catalyzed by Iron Oxide-Supported Gold. G. J. Hutchings, M. S. Hall, A. F. Carley, P. Landon, B. E. Solsana, C. J. Kiely, A. Herzing, M. Makkee, J. A. Moulijn, A. Overweg, J. C. Fierro-Gonzalez, J. Guzman, and B. C. Gates, J. Catal. 2006, 242, 71.78.

  • Influence of CO and O2 Treatments on the Structure and Activity of Au/λ-Al2O3 Catalysts. J. Guzman, J. C. Fierro-Gonzalez, V. Aguilar-Guerrero, Y. Hao, and B. C. Gates, Z. Phys. Chem. 2005, 219, 921.938

  • CO Oxidation Catalyzed by Supported Gold: Coperation between Gold and Nanocrystalline Rare-Earth Supports Forms Reactive Surface Superoxide and Peroxide Species. J. Guzman, S. Carretin, J. C. Fierro-Gonzalez, Y.-L. Hao, B. C. Gates, and A. Corma, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2005, 44, 4778.4781

  • Spectroscopic Evidence for the Supply of Reactive Oxygen during CO Oxidation Catalyzed by Gold Supported on Nanocrystalline CeO2. J. Guzman, S. Carrettin, and A. Corma,J. Am. Chem. Soc.2005, 127, 3286.3287.

  • Supported Gold Catalyses Homocoupling of Phenylboronic Acid with High Conversion and Selectivity. S. Carrettin, J. Guzman, and A. Corma, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2005, 44, 2.5 (selected as a Hot Paper).

  • Synthesis and Reactivity of Dimethyl Gold Complexes Supported on MgO: Characterization by Infrared and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopies. J. Guzman, B. G. Anderson, C. Vinod, K. Ramesh, J. W. Niemantsverdriet, and Bruce C. Gates, Langmuir 2005, 21, 3675.3683.

  • Nanocrystalline and Mesostructured Y2O3 as Supports for Gold Catalysts. J. Guzman and A. Corma,Chem. Commun. 2005, 6, 743.745.

  • XANES and Temperature Programmed Reduction Study of the Activation of Au/λ-Al2O3 Catalysts. C. K. Costello, J. Guzman, J. H. Yang, Y. M. Wang, M. C. Kung, B. C. Gates, and H. H. Kung J. Phys. Chem. B2004, 108, 12529.12536.

  • A Mononuclear Gold Complex Catalyst Supported on MgO: Spectroscopic Characterization during Ethylene Hydrogenation Catalysis. J. Guzman and B. C. Gates, J. Catal. 2004, 226, 111.119.

  • Role of Cations in Supported Molecular Gold Catalysts for CO Oxidation.J. Guzman, S. Kuba, J. C. Fierro-Gonzalez, and B. C. Gates in Proceedings of the 13th International Congress on Catalysis, 2004, 126.128.

  • Formation of Gold Clusters on TiO2 from Adsorbed Au(CH3)2(C5H7O2): Characterization by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy. J. Guzman, S. Kuba, J. C. Fierro-Gonzalez, and B. C. Gates, Catal. Lett. 2004, 95, 77.86.

  • Catalysis by Supported Gold: Correlation Between Catalytic Activity for CO Oxidation and Oxidation States of Gold. J. Guzman and B. C. Gates, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 2672.2673.

  • Supported Molecular Catalysts: Metal Complexes and Clusters on Oxides and Zeolites. J. Guzman and B. C. Gates, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans. 2003, 17, 3303.3318 (Dalton Perspective; selected as cover art).

  • Reactions of Au(CH3)2(acac) on λ-Al2O3: Characterization of the Surface Organic, Organometallic, Metal Oxide, and Metallic Species. J. Guzman and B. C. Gates, Langmuir 2003, 19, 3897.3903.

  • Oxidation States of Gold in MgO-Supported Complexes and Clusters: Characterization by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy and Temperature Programmed Oxidation and Reduction. J. Guzman and B. C. Gates, J. Phys. Chem. B 2003, 107, 2242.2248.

  • Structure and Reactivity of a Mononuclear Gold Complex Catalyst Supported on Magnesium Oxide. J. Guzman and B. C. Gates, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2003, 42, 690.693 (selected as a Hot Paper).

  • Simultaneous Presence of Cationic and Reduced Gold in Functioning MgO-Supported CO Oxidation Catalysts: Evidence from X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy. J. Guzman and B. C. Gates, J. Phys. Chem. B 2002, 106, 7659.7665.

  • Synthesis and Structure of Tetrairidium Clusters on TiO2: Characterization by Infrared and Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopies. J. F. Goellner, J. Guzman, and B. C. Gates, J. Phys. Chem. B 2002, 106, 1229.1238.

  • Effect of Synthesis Methods on the Structural Properties of Zr-Ti Mixed Oxides. J. Guzman, H. Perez-Pastenes, J. Trejo-Gaytan, and T. Viveros-Garcia, Rev. Mex. Ing. Quimica 2002, 1, 29.36.

  • Gold Nanoclusters Supported on MgO: Synthesis, Characterization, and Evidence of Au6. J. Guzman and B. C. Gates, Nano Letters 2001, 1, 689.692.


Research Group


Nanostructured Materials and Catalysis Group