Personal profile

About Me

I am Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Bar-Ilan University. In 2022, I joined the group of Prof. Christophe Copéret at ETH Zurich as an FCS postdoctoral fellow, after my Graduate studies at Hebrew University.

My new group will focus on the fascinating intersection of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry. Our core mission is to leverage the power of heterogeneous catalysts to enable cleaner energy solutions, reduce emissions, and combat pollution. 

Unveiling Catalysis at the Nanoscale

Our research lies at the intersection of heterogeneous catalysis, inorganic chemistry, and high-resolution spectroscopy, aiming to uncover why and how chemical reactions occur on solid surfaces at the nanoscale. We integrate advanced spectroscopic techniques, tailored material synthesis, and computational modeling to understand how structure and dynamics govern catalytic behavior. Our work centers on three main themes:

Nanoscale Mapping of Surface Reactivity

We develop and apply cutting-edge vibrational nanospectroscopies, including AFM-IR, sSNOM, and tip-enhanced Raman (TERS), to visualize chemical activity across individual catalyst nanoparticles. Using selective probe molecules, we generate spatially resolved maps that reveal how reactivity varies across different surface sites, shedding light on the role of surface heterogeneity in catalysis.

Structural Dynamics at Metal–Metal Interfaces

We investigate the structural evolution of bimetallic catalysts under reaction conditions. Through surface organometallic chemistry and in situ spectroscopy, we study how alloying, segregation, and interfacial restructuring impact catalytic behavior. These insights are essential for understanding the often-hidden role of dynamic interfaces in driving selectivity and activity.

ssNMR and NQR spectroscopy for studying single-site catalysts

We probe the local environments of active sites in both molecularly defined and nanoparticle-based catalysts via ssNMR and NQR spectroscopy. These methods provide unique fingerprints of oxidation states, ligand environments, and electronic structure. Coupled with isotope labeling and DFT calculations, we use these tools to connect local electronic features with catalytic performance in real-world systems.

Education/Academic qualification

Chemistry, PhD, Catalytic reactions via high-spatial-resolution IR measurements, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

20162020

Organic Chemistry, Master's Degree, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

20142016

Chemistry, Bachelor, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

20122014

Research

  • Fields of Interest
  • Surface Chemistry
  • Heterogeneous Catalysis
  • High Resolution Infrared Spectroscopy
  • Materials Chemistry

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