thesis proposals
Francesco Pellegrino, Fabrizio Sordello, Valter Maurino, Claudio Minero
synthesis and characterization of 2d-materials for environmental and smart applications
Develop of morphology controlled 2D-materials such as graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nitride and MXenes and their characterizations to investigate the effect of the particles morphology and surface characteristics on their functional properties. The synthetised materials can be coupled with semiconductors for environmetal and energy applications or with textiles for obtaining smart composites.
Claudio Minero, Valter Maurino, Marco Minella, Fabrizio Sordello, Francesco Pellegrino
photocatalysis on nanostructured semiconductors for Hydrogen Production and cO2 reduction
Shape controlled nanoparticles to investigate the effect of the nanoparticles morphology and surface characteristics on the CO2 photo- or photoelectron-reduction.
Study of the photocatalytic mechanism of the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER). Understanding the effect of different co-catalysts and of the illumination conditions on the HER rates. Overcoming the governing limiting effects for the HER .
innovative strategies for pollutants abatement
Study of processes and technologies for depollution, addressing issues of both basic and applied research. The members of this groups has been dealing with the study and optimization of advanced oxidative processes (often based on the interaction between light and matter, for example the processes of heterogeneous photocatalysis on semiconductors) for the removal of pollutants both in aqueous compartments (industrial or civil wastewater), and in the atmosphere (abatement of gaseous pollutants). They have developed strong industrial interactions, acquiring considerable problem-solving skills.
Claudio Minero, Valter Maurino, Paola Calza, Debora Fabbri, Marco Minella, Fabrizio Sordello, Francesco Pellegrino
Maria Concetta Bruzzoniti, Luca Rivoira
Environmental Analytical chemistry
development of methods for sample pretreatment and analysis of organic and inorganic contaminants in environmental and food matrices, using advanced substrates and liquid/gas chromatographic and ICP-MS techniques;
synthesis and application of ceramic components and bio-based supports (i.e biochar) with hierarchical porosity in selected environmental topics (hybrid adsorption/photodegradation for pollutant removal from wastewaters);
optimization of analytical protocols for the extraction and identification of microplastics in environmental and food matrices;
determination of hexavalent chromium in different matrices (soils, sediment, waters, cosmetics) development of analytical protocols for the determination of micropollutants in urban, industrial wastes, biomasses and wastewaters to be valorized within the context of circular economy;
data collection and processing by advanced statistical tools (i.e. principal components design) and chemometrics approaches, such as experimental design technique
environmental photochemistry
Investigation of the main photochemical processes in the environment (natural waters, atmosphere and ice/snow) with a focus on the reactions able to abate pollutants.
Role of the dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the photochemical production of highly reactive species
Phototrasformation of organic compound in the ice matrix (role of these processes in the study of glacial and polar processes)
Photochemical self-cleaning ability of surface waters
Role of the photochemical processes in the environmental fate of pollutants
Connections between the climate change and the environmental fate of pollutants
Davide Vione, Claudio Minero, Marco Minella
Friction Materials for Automotive Applications
Objectives: develop materials for friction applications in brake pads. Improving the wear and friction characteristics of the brake pads studying the morphological properties of shape and size controlled materials. Develop of new material composites for automotive applications.
Study of the third-body generated at the interface between pad and disc during braking. Develop of new composites and direct application in pads in order to study the changes after braking. Correlation between morphology and friction characteristics. The study will make great use of analytical techniques such as: AFM, SEM, EDS, XRD, Nano-Indentation, Tribological Analysis, etc.
Possibility to carry out the thesis in ITT.
Valter Maurino, Francesco Pellegrino