My research combines a passion for fundamental physics with the ambition to develop nanostructured materials for renewable energy. At the nanoscale, interfacial dynamics, reduced dimensionality, and confinement effects give rise to unique properties that enable new energy solutions.
During my PhD and early postdoctoral work, including research stays in Stuttgart and at ESRF synchrotron, I investigated nanocrystalline metals and core/shell nanoparticles, focusing on their elastic, vibrational, magnetic, and transport properties. These studies shaped my interest in the structural origins of material functionality.
In the following years, my work turned to metal hydrides for solid-state hydrogen storage, which remains a central theme of my group. I pioneered a method to synthesize biphasic Mg–based nanoparticles by gas-phase condensation, achieving benchmark results in low-temperature, reversible hydrogen storage. This line of research led to international recognition and leadership roles in collaborative networks on hydrogen materials.
In parallel, I established a new line of activity on solar-driven hydrogen production via photoelectrochemical conversion, initiating research on semiconducting oxide nanostructures as photoelectrodes. This effort has grown into a strong interdisciplinary program, involving physicists, chemists, and engineers, and has consolidated the experimental infrastructure of my group.
Today, I lead N-REX (Nanomaterials for Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage) at the University of Bologna, where we investigate nanostructured systems for hydrogen storage and solar-to-chemical energy conversion. Our activities integrate materials synthesis, advanced characterization, and mechanistic studies, aiming to bridge fundamental physics with energy innovation.
