Group
CATMAT group is currently composed of a Full Professor in Industrial Chemistry, an Associate Professor in Industrial Chemistry, a researcher financed by PON, one post doc, nine PhD students and a lab technician.
Group members
Michela Signoretto
Full Professor of Industrial Chemistry
Her research focuses on nanomaterials synthesis for energy and environmental applications. More specifically, she works in the development of heterogeneous catalysts to be used in various fields of industrial chemistry for the production of fuels and fine chemicals and for environment protection. She is also involved in the formulation of new sustainable materials for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. She has co-authored 12 book chapters and over 140 scientific publications on international journals in the field of heterogeneous catalysis and material sciences.
She is the Delegate of the Rectress for The Scientific Research.
She is the Coordinator of GIC (Interdivisional group of Catalysis of the Italian Chemical Society).
She is the CEO of the innovative start up Ve Nice srl.
Tania Fantinel
Lab technician
She is technical assistant at the Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems Departement of Ca’ Foscari University since 1989.
Her activity is focused on the organization and support of research activities in the lab (management of lab equipment and lab logistic ensuring strictly safety procedures and safety checks) taking care of student during their degree training. Her skills mainly concerns materials' characterization using gas absorption in static and dynamic way (T.P.R., T.P.O., T.P.D., selective gas chemisorption), ionic and liquid chromatography, atomic adsorption.
Post doc researcher
Her research interests are catalytic science and gas/liquid phase reactions respecting the environment and circular economy. In particular, she is skilled in formulation, characterization and application of various micro-mesoporous and acid base materials such as zeolite, oxides, activated carbons, composites and hybrid. In addition, she is experienced in different classes of biomass and biomass waste and their valorization to valuable chemicals, fuels, energy and smart materials. More recently she has been involved in a project focusing on optimization of sustainable and innovative materials for photocatalysis.
Federica Menegazzo
Associate Professor of Industrial Chemistry
Her principal scientific interests are in the field of heterogeneous catalysis with a focus on the development of innovative nanostructured catalysts and their use in industrial and sustainable chemistry. In particular, she is working on the synthesis of metal nanoparticles supported on oxides materials and active carbon, their characterization and application for the production of fuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomasses. Most recently, her work was focused on hydrogen production from renewable sources. Recently she is also investigating the formulation of multifunctional materials for applications in Cultural Heritage. She has presented her works in several national and international congresses. She has co-authored 6 book chapters and over 80 publications in peer-reviewed journals
Elena Ghedini
Researcher of Industrial Chemistry
Her research is focused in solid-state chemistry covering aspect of synthesis characterization and reactivity of metal oxides and hybrid materials. Her activity has regarded mainly the investigation of nanoporous materials with controlled structure and morphology for catalytic applications and for bio-applications. More recently the research has been addressed to the optimization of sustainable and innovative synthetic approaches for the formulations of smart materials for the cosmetic market.
PhD students
Marco Pizzolato
PhD in Chemistry financed by a Company
Giulia Forghieri
PhD in Chemistry financed by a Company
Erica Galvagno
Thesis title: Synthesis, in-depth characterization and evaluation of the performance of nanocomposites-based formulationsfor the protection and conservation of Roman frescos
PhD in Chemistry funded by the Centre for Cultural Heritage Technology (CCHT) of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT)
Giulia Da Pian
Thesis title: Developement of catalytic materials for the energy transition
PhD in Chemistry
Giorgia Ferraro
PhD in Catalysis funded by a Company
Raffaella Lamuraglia
Thesis title: Caratterizzazione e protezione di elementi decorativi e opere d'arte eterogenee.
PhD in Chemistry funded by the Centre for Cultural Heritage Technology (CCHT) of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT)
Lilia Longo
Thesis title: Sustainable technologies for the valorization of wastes
PhD in Chemistry
Andrea Campostrini
Thesis title: New green and multifunctional materials for the protection of Cultural Heritage
PhD in Bio and Nanomaterials (funded by PON action Green in collaboration with the Company Uni.S.Ve.)
Davide Baldassin
Thesis title: SMART: Sustainable catalytic Materials and Approaches for biomass valoRizaTion
PhD in Sustainable Chemistry
Our graduates
Samuele Stival
Thesis title: Sviluppo di un formulato cosmetico solare in forma di stick sostenibile
Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Sustainable Technologies, a.y. 2022/2023
Davide Baldassin
Thesis title: Dalla biomassa di scarto allo sviluppo di un sistema catalitico
Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Sustainable Technologies, a.y. 2022/2023
Nicola Calderaro
Thesis title: Sviluppo di nanocontainer di silice per coating ad azione biocida
Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Sustainable Technologies, a.y. 2021/2022
Alessia Boscolo
Thesis title: Sviluppo di un coating multifunzionale a base di silice mesoporosa per la protezione dei beni culturali.
Bachelor's degree in Science and Technologies for Cultural Heritage , a.y. 2021/2022
Elisa Andreatta
Thesis title: Formulazioni di solari high tech sviluppati attraverso approcci sostenibili
Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Sustainable Technologies A.Y. 2021/2022
Enrica Bonotto
Thesis title: Da scarto a risorsa: dai gusci di nocciola ai nuovi ingredienti per la nutraceutica
Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Sustainable Technologies A.Y. 2021/2022
Giulia Da Pian
Thesis title: Catalytic materials for methane dry reforming in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Master's degree in Chemical and Sustainable Technologies, a.y. 2021/2022
Isabel Pizzoccaro
Thesis title: "La Visual Literacy come strumento della diagnostica artistica. Il caso dei pannelli decorativi ealkizzati da Amen per la Tavernetta dei poeti a Padova"
Bachelor's degree in Science and Technologies for Cultural Heritage, a.y. 2021/2022
Mirko Magnan
Thesis title: Sintesi di olefine a partire da syngas proveniente da fonti non convenzionali
Master's degree in Chemistry and Sustainable Technologies, a.y. 2022/2023
Giorgia Ferraro
Thesis title: Strategies for improving CO2 photoreduction under solar light
Master's degree in Chemistry and Sustainable Technologies, a.y. 2022/2023
Erica Fiorini
Thesis title: Sviluppo e caratterizzazione di uno stick solare per utilizzo in condizioni ambientali estreme
Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Sustainable Technologies, a.y. 2021/2022
Alice Franchin
Thesis title: Design di cosmetici sostenibili attraverso la valorizzazione di scarti agroalimentari Made in Italy
Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Sustainable Technologies, a.y. 2021/2022
Irene Martin
Thesis title: Novel photocatalytic materials for CO2 utilization
Master's degree in Chemistry and Sustainable Technologies, a.y. 2021/2022
Margherita Riello
Thesis title: Da scarto a risorsa: dai gusci di nocciola a nuovi catalizzatori per le reazioni di idrogenazione
Master degree in Chemistry and Sustainable Technologies A.Y. 2021/2022
Erica Spagnoli
Thesis title: Development of a new formulation for smart sunscreen
Master's degree in Science and Technologies of Bio and Nanomaterials A.Y. 2021/2022
Emma Camarotto
Thesis title: Sviluppo di approcci integrati per applicazioni cosmetiche
Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Sustainable Technologies A.Y. 2021/2022
Previous academic years
Best thesis awards
- Andrea Campostrini is the winner of the ABC Division Award for the best Master Degree thesis in Science for Cultural Heritage (edition 2022).
The award ceremony will take place during the ABC congress in Turin on june, 23th (2022).
Thesis title: “Investigating coating applications for protection of Roman frescoes” - Giulia Forghieri is the winner of the Industrial Chemistry Division Award for the best Master Degree thesis in Industrial Chemistry (edition 2020).
The award ceremony took place online on march, 5th (2021).
Thesis title: Nanostructured Materials for the photo-driven conversion of CO2. An investigation on the strategies for improved Photo-catalysis by Metal Oxide Semiconductors - Cristina Pizzolitto is the winner of the Industrial Chemistry Division Award for the Best Master Degree thesis in Industrial Chemistry (edition 2017) .
The award ceremony took place during the XXVI Congress of SCI in Paestum.
Title of the thesis: “Sviluppo di catalizzatori nanostrutturati a base di Nickel per la produzione di idrogeno” - Valentina Nichele is the winner of the GIC 2010 award for the Best Master Degree thesis for “the originality of the research developed in the field of catalysis and the brilliant elaborate dissertation”.
The award ceremony took place during the X School of Catalysis GIC2010 in Palermo (15-18/09/2010).
Title of the thesis: “Incapsulamento della galattosidasi in una matrice di silice preparata via sol-gel”.
Visiting students and interns
Giuseppe Bagnato
University of Lancaster (UK)
visiting researcher, a.y. 2022/2023 (3 months)
Jennifer Theissen
Université de Namur
Valorization of wastes by pyrolysis and activation in order to obtain different biochars that can be used as catalytic support
fellow, a.y. 2021/2022 (3 months)
Andrea Campostrini
University of Bologna and CCHT-IIT
Investigating coating applications for protection of Roman frescoes
fellow, a.y. 2020/2021 (9 months)
Lea Caseaux
University of Lyon 1, France
Formulation of dermocosmetic products
fellow but online due to pandemia, a.y. 2019/2020 (2 months)
Veronika Adler
Molecular and medical biotechnology, University of Verona
Sviluppo di un idrogel idratante
fellow, a.y. 2022/2023 (6 months)
Anna Grazia Gallone
University of Ferrara
Cosmesi zerowaste per l'hair care
fellow, a.y. 2020/2021 (9 months)
Daniela Pricop
Chemistry of materials, Sorbonne University, Paris, France Master's degree visiting student, a.y. 2020-2021 (3 months)
Elena D'Iseppi
University of Ferrara
Degree in Biotechnologies
Dalla biomassa al prodotto cosmetico. Valorizzazione degli scarti ortofrutticoli per la realizzazione di uno smart gel
fellow, a.y. 2019/2020 (9 months)
Previous academic years
Collaborations with universities
- Turin University, Prof. G. Cerrato
- Turin University, Dr. M. Manzoli
- Turin University, Dr. S. Tabasso
- Milan University, Prof. C. Bianchi
- Milan University, Prof. I. Rossetti
- Genova University, Prof. G. Ramis
- Ferrara University, Prof. G. Cruciani
- Perugia University, Prof. L. Barelli and Dr. A. Di Michele
- Bologna University, Prof. F. Cavani
- Bologna University, Prof. A. Vaccari
- Roma University, Prof. D. Gazzoli and Dr. Daniela Pietrogiacomi
- Heriot Watt University UK, Prof. Mercedes Maroto-Valer
- Heriot Watt University UK, Dr. Aimaro Sanna
- Institute of Catalysis and Petroleumchemistry Spain, Dr. Vicente Corberan
- Institute of Catalysis, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Bulgaria, Prof. T. Tabakova
- Process Chemistry Center (PCC) Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry and reaction Engineering Finland, Prof. T. Salmi and Prof. D. Murzin.
- Department of Chemistry, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran, Prof. A. Tavasoli
