Ricardo Hidalgo

Our research

Life is nothing but an electron looking for a place to rest

Albert Szent-Györgyi

We are focused on the development and fundamental studies of bioelectrochemical (BES) systems for catalysis. We are interested in the electrode/microorganism interface as well as in the development of biotechnological applications for BESs.

We are also starting a project on the electrochemical study of flavoenzymes that play important roles in biology.

Collaborators
Max Chavarría
Mavis Montero
Andrey Herrera

We are based at the Reasearch Centre for Natural Products (CIPRONA), and at the Research Centre for Electrochemistry and Chemical Energy (CELEQ).

Ricardo obtained his Bachelors in Chemistry from Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR). He then went on to Oxford to do a PhD in bio-inorganic chemistry under the supervision of Professor Kylie Vincent, where he developed spetroelctrochemical methods for studying hydrogenase enzyme mechanisms. Ricardo later took a Marie-Curie Fellowship to do postdoctoral research in Electromicrobiology in Barcelona. He joined the inorganic chemistry team at UCR in early 2019 where he now teaches inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry, and has started his own reseaerch in bioelectrochemical systems.

News

Student(s) required
We currently have an open position for a highly-motivated student to work on a project on bioelectrochemistry. It is an interdisciplinary project that will involve collaboration with people from other areas (physicists and biologists).
Some fundamental background in electrochemistry and biochemistry is desired.
To apply or enquire further about this opportunity, contact us with a statement and qualifications.

Publications

Proton transfer in the catalytic cycle of NiFe hydrogenases: insight from vibrational spectroscopy
Ash, P.A., Hidalgo, R., Vincent, K.A. ACS Catalysis, 2017, 7, (4), 2471-2485.
DOI:10.1021/acscatal.6b03182

Protein Film Infrared Electrochemistry Demonstrated for Study of H₂ Oxidation by a [NiFe] Hydrogenase
Ash, P. A., Hidalgo, R., Vincent, K. A., 2017, J. Vis. Exp. (130), e55858.
DOI:10.3791/55858

Infrared Spectroscopy During Electrocatalytic Turnover Reveals the Ni-L Active Site State During H₂ Oxidation by a NiFe Hydrogenase
Hidalgo, R.; Ash, P. A.; Healy, A. J.; Vincent, K. A. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 7110.
DOI:10.1002/anie.201502338

Discovery of Dark pH-Dependent H⁺ Migration in a [NiFe]-hydrogenase and Its Mechanistic Relevance: Mobilizing the Hydrido Ligand of the Ni-C Intermediate
Murphy, B. J.; Hidalgo, R.; Roessler, M. M.; Evans, R. M.; Ash, P. A.; Myers, W. K.; Vincent, K. A.; Armstrong, F. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 8484.
DOI:10.1021/jacs.5b03182

Synchrotron-based Infrared Microanalysis of Biological Redox Processes under Electrochemical Control
Ash, P. A.; Reeve, H. A.; Quinson, J.; Hidalgo, R.; Zhu, T.; McPherson, I. J.; Chung, M. -W.; Healy, A. J.; Nayak, S.; Lonsdale, T. H.; Wehbe, K.; Kelley, C. S.; Frogley, M. D.; Cinque, G.; Vincent, K. Anal. Chem., 2016,
DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b00898

Comparison of carbon materials as electrodes for enzyme electrocatalysis: hydrogenase as a case study
Quinson. J.; Hidalgo, R.; Ash. P. A.; Dillon, F.; Grobert, N.; Vincent, K. A. Faraday Discuss. 2014, 172, 473.
DOI:10.1039/C4FD00058G