Research
Research
Mechanochemistry (i.e. the use of mechanical energy to induce chemical reactions) represents a green synthetic strategy for the preparation of materials1, gas phase synthesis of chemical compounds2 and can be exploited for plastic recycling3.
Concerning the latter, the established pyrolysis strategy is an energy consuming method which also lacks selectivity, leading to hundreds of chemical by-products. In contrast, mechanochemistry, e.g., ball milling, was demonstrated to induce depolymerization in several plastic materials under relatively mild conditions. In addition, a better selectivity towards the monomer was observed. This ability makes the mechanochemical approach very attractive for plastic recycling. However, conversion rates are still relatively low. To improve this technique towards higher monomer production rates and to ultimately be able to upscale the process, it is important to gain insights regarding the reaction mechanism occurring during the milling of plastics.
I am working in the ERC StG project IMPACT (In-situ Mechano-catalysis for Polymer Activation and ConTrolled conversion). More specifically, I am designing an experimental set-up for the in-situ characterization of mechanochemically-induced depolymerization by means of infrared and Raman spectroscopy. This will include the design of a milling jar specifically suited for performing spectroscopic measurements during milling.
- Mauri, S., Calligaro, R., Pauletti, C. F., Camellone M. F., Boaro, M., Braglia, L., Fabris, S., Piccinin, S., Torelli, P., Trovarelli, A. Low-Temperature Methane Activation Reaction Pathways Over Mechanochemically-Generated Ce4+/Cu+ Interfacial Sites. Small 2024, 20, 2403028. https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202403028
- Han, G.-F., Li, F., Chen, Z.-W., Coppex, C., Kim, S.-J., Noh, H.-J., Fu, Z., Lu, Y., Singh, C. V., Siahrostami, S., Jiang, Q., Baek, J.-B.Mechanochemistry for ammonia synthesis under mild conditions. Nat. Nanotechnol. 2021, 16, 325-330. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-020-00809-9
- Hergesell, A. H., Baarslag, R. J., Seitzinger, C. L., Meena, R., Schara, P., Tomović, Ž., Li, G., Weckhuysen, B. M., & Vollmer, I. Surface-Activated Mechano-Catalysis for Ambient Conversion of Plastic Waste. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2024, 146(38), 26139–26147. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c07157
CV
CV
2025 – present
post-Doc researcher at Utrecht University in the group of Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysts under the supervision of Prof. Ina Vollmer.
2022-2025
post-Doc researcher at University of Udine under the supervision of prof. Alessandro Trovarelli.
2018-2022
PhD student at University of Udine under the supervision of prof. Alessandro Trovarelli.
Thesis title: Novel Catalysts for CO2 and CH4 Valorization/H2 Production Prepared via Mechanochemical Synthetic Approach.
2015-2018
Master’s degree in chemistry (nanostructured and supramolecular systems) at University of Trieste.
Thesis title: Ru(II) polypyridyl compounds: new synthetical approaches for bis and tris- heteroleptic derivatives from cis-locked precursors. (supervisor: prof. Enzo Alessio)
2012-2015
Bachelor’s degree in chemistry.