Her main interests lie in the study of metalloporphyrins and preparation of catalytic species for heterogeneous process for oxidation reaction, sequential reaction and esterification reaction, based on immobilization of catalytic species on solids like mesoporous silicas, layered compounds diferent metal oxydes.
Shirley was director of the Inorganic division of the Brazilian Chemical Society –SBQ (2014-2017), Brazilian Chemical Society board and consultive council member (2018-2020) and SBQ next president-elect (2022-2024).
EDUCATION
Shirley Nakagaki studied Chemistry at University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto Campus - USP - São Paulo state (1982-1985). She received her Master degree from the UNESP - University of the state of Sao Paulo at Araraquara, in 1988 and PhD from the same University in 1993, under supervision of Professor Yassuko Iamamoto. She conducted her postdoctoral research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) under supervision of Professor Kenneth S. Suslick, working with Microporous Porphyrin Solids (2002-2003). She also acted as a visiting professor at the University of Kyoto (1995) and Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand (ICCF) at Université Clermont Auvergne (2016 and 2019). She was selected for the Assistant Professorship at Federal University of Paraná State at Curitiba in 1992 where she became Full Professor in 2015.
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Catalysis
136
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Layered Hydroxide Salts as Catalysts for Cyclohexanone Ketalization: Impact of Synthetic Method and Composition Renaldo Marcos da Silva Junior, Luiz Natan Pedroso Honorato da Silva, João Felipe Stival, Guilherme Sippel Machado, Shirley Nakagaki Chemcatchem, 2026 This work reports the systematic evaluation of the synthetic route used to prepare several layered hydroxide salts (LHS) based on nitrate salts of cobalt, copper, nickel, and zinc and their physicochemical and catalytic properties. Four synthetic methods were investigated: hydrothermal (H), ammonia diffusion (A), mechanochemical (M), and precipitation (P) and the LHS obtained were characterized by different techniques such as X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The influence of the four synthetic methods on the structure of the prepared LHS is discussed, as well as the impacts on their catalytic activity. The synthesized LHS were employed as catalysts for the ketalization of cyclohexanone with methanol and it was observed that the changes in the metal (II) and different synthetic method used to prepare the LHS lead to a substantial impact in the catalytic results, suggesting that these variables are important tools to direct the best and appropriate use of this family of layered solids.
Photocatalytic Efficiency Improvement of Porous TiO2 Immobilized by a Pd-Te Complex for H2 Production by Water Splitting Camila N. Cechin, Tanize Bortolotto, Andressa Lunardi, Renaldo M. da Silva, Robert A. Burrow, et al. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025 Four photocatalysts solids were designed using a new Pd−Te complex, [Pd2(μ‐TePh)2(bipy)2](PF6)2, immobilized over titania to improve its solar energy harvesting ability for enhancing H2 production by water splitting under sunlight (300 W Xe/Hg lamp). Firstly, the photocatalytic performance for H2 production of the porous TiO2 supports (m‐TiO2), synthesized with varying textural properties and anatase/rutile contents, were compared. Furthermore, cyclic voltammetry measurements revealed that the Pd−Te complex can catalyze protons to hydrogen under weak acidic conditions. Then, different wt % concentrations of the complex were immobilized over the m‐TiO2 of the greatest performance and also over Degussa P25 (commercial titania) for photocatalytic comparison. Among the newly designed photocatalysts, the one containing only 4 wt% of Pd−Te complex over m‐TiO2 showed the greatest hydrogen production (3631 μmol g−1 h−1), which is 69 times greater than that of the pure m‐TiO2 and 378 times higher than that of the pure Pd−Te complex. These results suggested the crucial role of the Pd−Te complex when combined with m‐TiO2, promoting greater photocatalytic performance compared to the pure support. This outcome inspires an extensive investigation of metal complexes combined with semiconductors to improve their ability for photocatalytic H2 production by water splitting under sunlight.
ZnO with Different Morphologies Sensitized by Metalloporphyrins as Catalysts for H2 Production by Water Splitting Under Sunlight João F. Stival, Camila N. Cechin, Bernardo A. Iglesias, Ernesto S. Lang, Júlio S. Rebouças, et al. Chemistry an Asian Journal, 2025 In this work, zinc oxide with different morphologies and textural properties were prepared and sensitized with metalloporphyrins (MPs) aiming to improve its solar energy harvesting capability for H2 production by water splitting under sunlight (a 300 W Xe/Hg lamp). An anionic iron(III)porphyrin and a cationic manganese(III)porphyrin were immobilized on different ZnO solids predominantly by electrostatic interactions. In general, the prepared MP‐free ZnO solid yielded modest catalytic results which had apparently no direct correlation with their textural properties or morphology. On the other hand, when these ZnO solids had iron or manganese porphyrin sensitizing them, their catalytic performances changed and a superior yield towards H2 production was observed in comparison to the pure ZnO solids, making evident the synergy achieved between these two components (ZnO and metalloporphyrins) for the prepared solids. It was also observed that the metalloporphyrins and the respective free‐base ligand suffered redox reactions when used as homogenous catalyst in this reaction, which could influence their performances as catalysts. The same was not observed in the solids containing immobilized MP, suggesting some protective effect of the ZnO solids on the MP complexes upon immobilization probably due to interaction of the complexes with the ZnO matrix.
Introduction to the RSC Advances Emerging Investigators Series 2024 Fabienne Dumoulin, Shirley Nakagaki Rsc Advances, 2025 Professor Fabienne Dumoulin and Professor Shirley Nakagaki are delighted to introduce the RSC Advances Emerging Investigators Series, which highlights some of the very best work of early career researchers.
Introduction to the RSC Advances Emerging Investigators Series 2023 Fabienne Dumoulin, Shirley Nakagaki Rsc Advances, 2024 Dr Fabienne Dumoulin and Professor Shirley Nakagaki are delighted to introduce the RSC Advances Emerging Investigators series, which highlights some of the very best work of early career researchers.
Revisiting the Synthesis of Gibbsite, a Precursor for Li/Al LDH Synthesis and Its Use as a Support for Porphyrin Immobilization Gabriela Bosa, Caroline Silva, Bianca Brito, Carolina Terzi, Fernando Wypych, et al. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, 2024 In this work, some of the synthesis methods already reported for aluminum(III) hydroxide polymorphs with layered structure like gibbsite are revisited. Gibbsite was synthesized with high purity and yield by a simple route developed from modifications of a heating method proposed in the literature, making it possible to prepare gibbsite in regular glassware, avoiding the use of hydrothermal reactor and oven, as described in the literature. The proposed synthesis was conducted with a heating system under reflux conditions in a glass heating flask, using an oil bath, without the need for more sophisticated equipment. This is an accessible alternative method for crystalline gibbsite synthesis, with yield (76 wt.%). The obtained gibbsite was used as a precursor for the synthesis of a lithium/aluminum layered double hydroxide (LDH) from the intercalation method of Al(OH)3 in aqueous solution of lithium chloride. Gibbsite and the obtained LDH Li/Al were used for the immobilization of an anionic porphyrin with a loading on the order of 10-5 mol g-1 of solid, thus being alternative solid supports for catalytic species such as porphyrins.
Introduction to the RSC Advances Emerging Investigators Series 2022 Fabienne Dumoulin, Shirley Nakagaki Rsc Advances, 2023 Dr Fabienne Dumoulin and Professor Shirley Nakagaki are delighted to introduce the RSC Advances Emerging Investigators Series, which highlights some of the very best work of early career researchers.
Microporous porphyrin solids Kenneth S. Suslick, P. Bhyrappa, J.-H. Chou, Margaret E. Kosal, Shirley Nakagaki, et al. Accounts of Chemical Research, 2005
