Natalia Rey-Raap graduated in Chemical Engineering at the School of Technology and Experimental Sciences of the University Jaume I (Castellón, Spain) in 2009. She joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Construction as a research assistant from 2009 to 2011. In 2012, she started the doctoral program in Materials Science and Technology at the National Institute of Coal (INCAR-CSIC) in Oviedo, Spain; where achieved her PhD degree from the University of Oviedo in 2016. The PhD thesis was focused on the design of bespoke porous materials by microwave-assisted synthesis for several applications: thermal insulation, lithium-ion batteries, and supercapacitors. The PhD thesis was approved with distinction (Cum Laude) and awarded with i) Hunosa Award 2016 for the Best PhD Thesis, ii) Extraordinary PhD Award by the University of Oviedo in the field of Science and iii) Juan de Dios López González Award for the Best PhD Thesis in the field of Adsorption 2016-2017. The research performed during the PhD was also recognized as Finalist for the 8th edition of the Prize for Young Researchers of the Spanish Group of Coal 2017. 

Since 2016 Rey-Raap is a post-doctoral researcher at the Associate Laboratory LSRE-LCM, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FEUP), Portugal. Her current research is focused on the application of novel methods to synthesize porous carbon materials with tailored properties, to be used in several electrochemical systems: supercapacitors, fuel cells, and electrolyzers.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Development of new methodologies to obtain advanced carbon materials
Design of carbon-based electrocatalysts
Energy storage and conversion

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

N. Rey-Raap, L.S. Ribeiro, J.J.M. Órfão, J.L. Figueiredo, M.F.R. Pereira. Catalytic conversion of cellulose to sorbitol over Ru supported on biomass-derived carbon-based materials. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 256, 117826, 2019 R.G. Morais, N. Rey-Raap, J.L. Figueiredo, M.F.R. Pereira. Glucose-derived carbon materials with tailored properties as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction. Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, 10, 1089-1102, 2019 L.S. Ribeiro, N. Rey-Raap, J.L. Figueiredo, J.J.M. Órfão, M.F.R. Pereira. Glucose-based carbon materials as supports for the efficient catalytic transformation of cellulose directly to ethylene glycol. Cellulose, 26, 7337-7353, 2019 M. Canal-Rodríguez, A. Arenillas, J.A. Menéndez, D. Beneroso, N. Rey-Raap. Carbon xerogels graphitized by microwave heating as anode materials in lithium-ion batteries. Carbon, 137, 384-394, 2018 M. Canal-Rodríguez, A. Arenillas, N. Rey-Raap, G. Ramos-Fernández, I. Martín-Gullón, J.A. Menéndez. Graphene-doped carbon xerogel combining high electrical conductivity and surface area for optimized aqueous supercapacitors. Carbon, 118, 291-298, 2017 N. Rey-Raap, A. Arenillas, J.A. Menéndez. A visual validation of the combined effect of pH and dilution on the porosity of carbon xerogels. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 223, 89-93, 2016 N. Rey-Raap, M.-L.C. Piedboeuf, A. Arenillas, J.A. Menéndez, A.F. Léonard, N. Job. Aqueous and organic inks of carbon xerogels as models for studying the role of porosity in lithium-ion battery electrodes. Materials & Design, 109, 282-288, 2016 N. Rey-Raap, A. Szczurek, V. Fierro, A. Celzard, J.A. Menéndez, A. Arenillas. Advances in tailoring the porosity of tannin-based carbon xerogels. Industrial Crops and Products, 82, 100-106, 2016 N. Rey-Raap, A. Szczurek, V. Fierro, J.A. Menéndez, A. Arenillas, A. Celzard. Towards a feasible and scalable production of bio-xerogels. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 456, 138-144, 2015

SELECTED PROJECTS

SmarText4Estore - Smart Textiles for Energy Storage: From New Scalable Fabrication Processes to Wearable Supercapacitor Clothing. Reference: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-031271. Funded by: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, P2020|COMPETE - Projetos em Todos os Domínios Científicos. Starting Date: 2018/07/15. Duration: 36 months. UnirCell - Unitised regenerative fuel cell for efficient renewable energy supply: from materials to device. Reference: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016422. Funded by: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, PAC - P2020|COMPETE -Programa de Ações Conjuntas. Starting Date: 2017/01/01. Duration: 48 months. AIProcMat@N2020 - Advanced Industrial Processes and Materials for a Sustainable North Region of Portugal2020. Reference: NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000006. Funded by: CCDR-N - Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Norte, P2020|Norte2020 - Projetos Integrados ICDT. Starting Date: 2016/06/01. Duration: 36 months.
Natalia Rey
Investigador Doutorado
nataliarey@fe.up.pt