Cycle/Years
39th cycle [2023-2026]
Contacts
Supervisors
Prof. Bernazzani Luca, Prof. Ciancaleoni Gianluca
Title of the PhD project
Preparation and Physicochemical Characterization of new Deep Eutectic Solvents
Abstract of the PhD project
Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) are a novel class of liquid mixtures characterized by significant negative deviations of their melting points compared to ideal behavior. Additionally, their melting points are significantly lower than those of their individual components, usually compounds with Hydrogen Bond Donor (HBD) and Hydrogen Bond Acceptor (HBA) features. As a function of the nature and ratio of the components, DESs exhibit a series of tunable physicochemical properties such as density, viscosity, melting point, pH and ionic conductivity. These features potentially permit to optimize yield, selectivity, solubility or any other parameter of interest for each particular application. The aim of this project is to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature and physicochemical properties of DESs by preparation and full characterization of the physical, thermal, rheological and electrical properties of a vast amount of different DESs composed of the archetypal HBA Choline Chloride and metal halides (acting as HBD). A few selected DES systems presenting the best suitable properties may be utilized in a specific application (e.g. depolymerization of plastic waste) and further characterized with advanced techniques to shed light on their intermolecular interactions and structure.
Academic Fields and Disciplines (SSD), main and secondary
CHIM/01 - ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Educational and third mission activities
• Laboratory assistant for the courses “Chimica Fisica I e Laboratorio” and “Chimica Fisica Industriale e Laboratorio”
• Partecipation at BRIGHT2024 with a stand about Rheology and its application in materials’ science
International
• Traineeship at Centre for Sustainable Materials Processing – University of Leicester, February - July, 2025, Leicester (UK)
Publications
• Andrea Volpe, Chiara Pelosi, Celia Duce, Gianluca Ciancaleoni, Luca Bernazzani, “Evaluation of physicochemical properties and metal electrodeposition from deep eutectic mixtures based on choline chloride and cobalt chloride hexahydrate” Journal of Molecular Liquids, 2025-06 10.1016/j.molliq.2025.127937
Oral communications at conferences
• Andrea Volpe, Chiara Pelosi, Celia Duce, Gianluca Ciancaleoni, Luca Bernazzani, “Characterization and Electrochemical Applications of a Cobalt-Based Eutectic Mixture”, ISYDES 2025 - 1st International Symposium on Deep Eutectic Solvents, from 3-6 June 2025, Bari, Italy
• Andrea Volpe, Chiara Pelosi, Celia Duce, Gianluca Ciancaleoni, Luca Bernazzani, “Physicochemical characterization of a Cobalt-based Type II Deep Eutectic Solvent and its electroplating applications”, AICAT/GICAT 2024 - XLV National Conference on Calorimetry, Thermal Analysis and Applied Thermodynamics, December 9th – 11th, 2024, Caserta (Italy)
Poster communications at conferences
• A. Volpe , C. Pelosi , G. Ciancaleoni , L. Bernazzani. “Characterization of a Cobalt-based Deep Eutectic Solvent”. MEG 2025 – Midlands Electrochemistry Group, June 17th, 2025, Leicester (UK)
• A. Volpe , C. Pelosi , G. Ciancaleoni , L. Bernazzani. “Preparation and physicochemical characterization of a Cobalt-based Deep Eutectic Solvent”. SCI 2024 – XXVIII national congress of Società Chimica Italiana, August 26th - 30th, 2024, Milan (Italy)
• A. Volpe , C. Pelosi , G. Ciancaleoni , L. Bernazzani. “Preparation, physicochemical characterization and applications of a Cobalt-based Deep Eutectic Solvent”. CFF 2024 - Chemistry For the Future International Conference, July 3rd - 5th, 2024, Pisa (Italy)
• A. Volpe, F.M. Vivaldi, B. Melai, F. Di Francesco. “Mitigation of Copper corrosion with N-Heterocyclic Carbenes”. CFF 2023 - Chemistry For the Future International Conference, June 28th - 30th, 2023, Pisa (Italy)
Funding
PNRR ex DM 118_2023 - Public Administration PhD Scholarship
