The research activity is focused on the synthesis and characterization of molecular organometallic compounds containing low-valent transition metals stabilized by ligands. The study particularly examines metal carbonyl clusters as atomically defined nanomaterials for electrochemical applications and as precursors for nanostructured catalytic systems.
Specifically, these Metal Carbonyl Clusters (MCCs) are investigated in:
- homogeneous catalysis, as pre-catalysts for hydrogenation and hydrogen transfer reactions;
- heterogeneous catalysis, as metal precursors for monodisperse nanoparticles supported on different materials for redox reactions (in collaboration with Prof. Albonetti, from the industrial catalysis research group);
- electrocatalysis, encapsulated within the pores of a MOF (Metal-Organic Framework) giving a simplified access to highly active nanomaterials (in collaboration with Prof. R.A. Fisher, Technical University of Munich).
