Born in Prato, Italy, in 1997. She studied Physics at Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna (2016-2020). In 2020 she started her master in materials physics and nanoscience in Bologna, during which she did a one year Erasmus experience in Siegen, Germany, at the University of Siegen. Here she had the chance to attend an extracurricular programming course and get deeper knowledge in solid state matter and nano-optic. Then, she joined the research group of prof. Federico Boscherini to focus on synchrotron radiation and x-ray absorption spectroscopy studies. Therefore she went two weeks to the ESRF, Grenoble, to study Fe and Co based catalyst on WO3/BiVO4 photoanodes for water splitting. Here she was able to perform both ex-situ and in-situ XAS and her main duty was to perform the analysis of the acquired data. After obtaining the master she did an internship with Prof. Carsten Busse at the university of SIegen on building and analyzing 2D material, in particular she studied how to grow bigger and purer islands of Kagome.
Operando X-ray analysis of bimetallic electrocatalysts.
Project objectives: Study the electronic structure (oxidation and spin state, local coordination) and elemental distribution of Cu/M electrocatalysts fabricated within the network by means of nano X-ray fluorescence analysis and X-ray absorption and emission (photon-in/photon-out) spectroscopy. Characterization of different bimetallic systems and stoichiometries will shed light on the key parameters determining the best catalysts. This project includes the development of novel X-ray instrumentation and data analysis methods.
Working context: DC#7 will be hosted at the ESRF (France) and will be enrolled in the PhD school of the University of Grenoble Alpes, supervised by Dr. P. Glatzel and co-Supervised by Dr. Julie Villanova and Dr. Frederic Maillard. Part of the activity will be carried out during secondment periods at POLITO to learn on the fabrication process and sample preparation for its characterization at the ESRF, at ENVIPARK to learn about catalysts electrochemical characterization and at ADVENT for a training on membranes for CO2RR processes.
Expected outcome:
- Determine stoichiometry and chemical changes in the Cu/M bimetallic compounds under simulated working conditions.
- Understand relations between the electronic structure-composition and the catalytic properties of Cu/M layers.
- Define adequate protocols for in-situ characterization and nano-characterization of Cu/M bimetallic layers.
