Functional Inorganic Nanomaterials Group

Development of new synthetic methodologies for the preparation of nanostructured Ce, Ti, Zr, Si, Al oxide-based materials, doped with heteroatoms and/or noble metal nanoparticles (Cu, Au, Pd), as catalysts and photocatalysts for:
- the eco-sustainable production/purification of hydrogen, as an energy carrier in the field of fuel cell technology for motor-vehicles;
- photo-degradation of dyes and drugs for wastewater treatment under UV or simulated solar light irradiation.

Design and synthesis of silicas and multi-component oxide systems with ordered mesoporosity and high surface area, by templating and self-assembly methods (cationic, anionic and non-ionic surfactants).

Preparation of pillared clays with inorganic polyoxycation pillars and porous clay heterostructures with silica-zirconia pillars.

Preparation of organic/inorganic 2D and 3D nanostructures from inorganic templates.

Preparation of functional hybrid organic-inorganic layered nanostructures.

Synthesis of novel luminescent nanocrystals based on lanthanide-doped transition metal compounds with controlled and homogeneous shape and size for cultural heritage applications (anti-counterfeiting purposes).

Development of sustainable dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC), starting from nanostructured semiconductors and dyes extracted by the waste of winemaking process (“lees”), for the realization of DSSC solar cells.

* Project developed in collaboration with Vinicola Serena srl, a venetian winery located in the Prosecco region.

Investigation of the composition, structure and morphology of the prepared systems by many characterization techniques such as N2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR, Raman and DRIFT-UV-vis spectroscopies, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature-programmed reduction/oxidation/desorption (TPR-TPO, TPD), TEM and SEM microscopies.

Optimization and performance validation of the materials in catalytic, photocatalytic, optical applications.