Cycle / Years
41th cycle [2025-2028]
Contacts
Supervisor(s)
Prof. Francesco Pineider, Dott. Alessio Gabbani
Title of the PhD project
Development of Nanostructured Photocatalysts for in-Orbit Synthesis of Aerospace Propellants
Abstract of the PhD project
The growing focus on environmental sustainability has progressively extended the concept of the green transition to the space sector as well. The significant increase in orbital missions, the prospects of Lunar and Martian exploration, and the need to reduce dependence on toxic and expensive propellants are driving the development of safer, more cost-effective, and environmentally friendly propulsion solutions. This PhD project, carried out within the European Innovation Council pathfinder GreenSWaP (Green Solar-to-propellant Water Propulsion), focuses on the synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles as photocatalysts for the conversion of water into H2O2 and H2, which will be employed as green propellants in aerospace applications.
Academic Fields and Disciplines (SSD), main and secondary
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Educational and third mission activities
• Teaching support to the course of “Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry”, University of Pisa, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, 2026 April 13-17 (Disp. n. 135/2026).
• Teaching support to the course of “Laboratory of Organic Chemistry”, University of Pisa, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, 2026 April 21-24 (Disp. n. 719/2025).
• Held a lesson of the course “Nanostructured inorganic systems”, University of Pisa, 2026 May 11th.
• PCTO activity for High School students, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, Pisa, June 2026.
Organization of PLASMONICA Workshop 2026, University of Pisa, 2026 July 8-10.
International
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Publications
• G. Papi, M. Guelfi, A. Bagnasco, F. Marchetti and G. Pescitelli “A family of cobalt(II) complexes exhibiting record dissymmetry factors in vibrational circular dichroism”. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2025, 64, 52 (DOI: 10.1002/anie.202517057).
• G. Papi, M. Guelfi, S. Zacchini, F. Marchetti and G. Pescitelli “Record Dissymmetry in Vibrational Optical Activity: Combining Vibronic Coupling and Aggregation in Cobalt(II) Camphorate Complexes”. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2026, e5800931 (DOI: 10.1002/anie.5800931).
Oral communications at conferences
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Poster communications at conferences
• G. Papi, M. Guelfi, A. Bagnasco, F. Marchetti and G. Pescitelli, “Novel chiral cobalt(II) complexes exhibiting remarkable VCD signal enhancement”, PLASMONICA SCHOOL 2026, Arcetri, Florence 2026, March 23-27, poster and flash presentation.
• G. Papi, V. Demontis, F. Scattareggia, T. Funaioli, A. Gabbani, F. Pineider, “Undoped and Sn-doped In2O3 Nanocrystals: a versatile platform for infrared plasmonic applications”, Chemistry for the Future International Conference, University of Pisa, 2026 July 1-3, poster and flash presentation.
Other achievements
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Funding
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