Research

ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE (ECL)

Our focus in the field of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is the exploration of the synergy between electrochemistry and luminescence employing microbeads with electroactive species used as dynamic pattern for ECL. This novel approach allows to achieve highly sensitive and selective detection methodologies with applications in different fields, especially on promising and innovative sensors thanks to the use of studied set up and analytes

This technique is applied in many projects.

ELECTROCATALYSIS

Our reseach is mainly focused on those electrochemical processes to get molecules suitable as energy vectors.

CO₂ Reduction Reaction (CO₂RR)

In our group promising nanostructured materials were generally tested as catalysts to improve both the selectivity and performances of the studied reactions, among them CO₂ reduction (CO₂RR). 

Recently, innovative molecular catalysts, Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs), made by non-nobel metals are introduced. The unique structure of MOFs offer advantages in catalysis and have potential applications in our research.

The catalysts performances toward CO₂RR are tested in a Flow Cell which limits mass-transport problems, to obtain higher current densities in order to achieve industrial scalability. Additionally, the great improvement in our group is the use of Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) as working electrode with the catalysts deposited on to overcome the problem of CO₂ solubility in aqueous environment. 

Water Splitting Reaction

Another key area of our expertise regards the water splitting. In particular, we focus on the enhancing the efficiency of electrocatalysts involved in the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) and Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER).

Molecular Electrochemistry

Studies of redox processes of molecules of scientific interesting in ultra high vacuum. Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence of luminophor metal complex.

Surface functionalization

Surface functionalization and them studies with electrochemical methods. Morfological analysis with scanning probe microscopy techniques.