Bulgarian Academy of Sciences | Physical Chemistry | Surface Science
Professor Konstantin I. Hadjiivanov is a Bulgarian chemist and Academician of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. He is an internationally recognized scientist in the field of physical chemistry, with a strong focus on surface chemistry and heterogeneous catalysis.
His research is primarily dedicated to the investigation of adsorption phenomena on solid surfaces, the physicochemical characterization of oxide and porous materials, and the application of infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for in situ and operando analysis of surface species.
A major part of his scientific contribution lies in the development and refinement of the probe molecule approach, which has become a widely used methodology for the characterization of surface acidity, basicity, and active sites in heterogeneous catalysts.
He has made significant contributions to the understanding of molecular interactions at oxide surfaces, particularly in relation to catalytic activation mechanisms, surface reactivity, and adsorption–desorption processes under realistic reaction conditions.
Konstantin I. Hadjiivanov was born in Sofia, Bulgaria in 1958. He completed his secondary education at the Sofia Mathematical High School and graduated in Chemistry from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” in 1981.
In 1984, he joined the Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), where he began his scientific career in physical chemistry and surface science.
He obtained his PhD in 1990, followed by habilitation in 1996, and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science in 2000 for his work on adsorption and reactivity of small molecules on oxide surfaces.
During his scientific career, he was awarded a Humboldt Research Fellowship, which supported his international research collaborations and long-term scientific partnerships in Europe.
He served as Director of the Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry (BAS) from 2004 to 2017, during which time he significantly contributed to the development of surface science and catalysis research in Bulgaria.
In 2012, he was elected Corresponding Member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
From 2017, he has served as Vice President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, playing a leading role in national scientific policy and research development strategies.
In addition, he served as Deputy Minister of Education and Science (2021–2022), contributing to the development and implementation of national policies in higher education and scientific research.
Scopus Author ID: 7005719425
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Approximate metrics (Scopus):
• Publications: 220+
• Citations: 16,000+
• h-index: ~52
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Professor Konstantin I. Hadjiivanov has received several national and international scientific distinctions recognizing his contributions to surface chemistry, catalysis, and infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed species.
Beyond formal awards, his scientific work is widely cited and serves as a reference in the fields of infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed species and heterogeneous catalysis.
In the international research community, the impact of his work is primarily reflected not only in formal awards, but in:
Email: kih@svr.igic.bas.bg
Sofia, Bulgaria
Affiliation: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences