Team
Senior researcher at ISMN-CNR, Messina, is an expert in Material Sciences; her research activities deal with R&D projects and consultancies for developing advanced PoC products with a particular view to innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation.
The current research interests include essentially the design, synthesis, and structural study of multifunctional and multicomponent nano-hybrid or nanocomposites, useful as advanced materials or coatings for surface properties implementation, with various potential applications in optoelectronic, sensing, catalysis, environmental remediation, buildings, cultural heritage, and biomedicine. These nanostructured materials are based on functional nanomaterials with different dimensionality/morphology/composition, doping molecules featuring opportune properties, and (blended)polymers.
Recently the research activity has aimed to set-up of green and eco-friendly synthesis protocols starting from natural substances or waste, which lead to the obtainment of functional materials that can also be recycled and re-used several times, paying attention to sustainability and the principles of circular economy, from cradle to grave.
She is also co-founder and ex-President of the innovative startup ATHENA Green Solutions S.r.l., a spin-off of CNR and UniMe, and referent inventor of two international patents (ArgiNaRe and Bioremediation).
Skills: Organometallic Chemistry, Material Chemistry, Hi-Tech and smart Textiles, Nanotechnology, Green Chemistry, Polymer Science, Spectroscopy
Silvia Sfameni
Team member
TD Researcher@ISMN-CNR
TD Researcher at ISMN-CNR on the project SAMOTHRACE, MUR-PNRR innovation ecosystem, focusing on the "Design, rational synthesis and characterization of hybrid and functional sol-gel based micro/nanostructured materials with high protective performance and for the implementation of surface properties" (sc. resp. Dr. M.R. Plutino).
She was a post-doctoral fellow at the ISMN-CNR, funded by the PON MUR 2014-2020 TETI project, focusing on the ”Design and synthesis of smart and innovative materials for the development of sensors for monitoring environmental pollutants” (sc. resp. Dr. M.R. Plutino).
She gained her Ph.D. in 2022 in Engineering and Chemistry of Materials and Construction at the University of Messina, with a project “Study of chromium-free anticorrosive nanotechnological systems in surface pretreatment in aqueous phase” financed by Confindustria (Noxosorkem Group S.r.l.) and CNR (sc. resp. and PhD thesis co-tutor Dr. M.R. Plutino).
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Skills: Material Chemistry, Hi-tech textiles, Polymer Science, Nanotechnology
TD Researcher at ISMN-CNR on the MUR-PNRR extended partnership"MICS – Made in Italy Circolare e Sostenibile" project, focusing on the "design, synthesis and characterization of advanced, organic, inorganic and hybrid, micro- and nanostructured materials, to be used as functional and smart systems in the treatment of surfaces, and the removal/detection of pollutants and environmental parameters"(sc. resp. Dr. M.R. Plutino).
She gained her Ph.D. in 2023, thanks to an innovative PhD project with industrial characterization “Design and Development of SmaRt AdvancEd MaterialS and SusTainable Technologies for WAteR Treatment" (RESTART), funded by a PON-MUR scholarship “Ricerca e Innovazione 2014-2020 (sc. resp. and tutor: Dr. M.R. Plutino).
Her research interest essentially includes the design, synthesis, and characterization of advanced and sustainable multifunctional materials and coatings, by sol-gel synthesis and/or supramolecular approaches with applications in the environmental remediation field and other sustainable sectors.
She is also co-founder of the spin-off/startup ATHENA Green Solutions S.r.l. and co-inventor of the international patent ArgiNaRe.
Skills: Green Chemistry, Nanotechnology, Materials Chemistry, Environmental Remediation
Giulia Rando
Team member
TD Researcher@ISMN-CNR
Elisabetta Scalone
Team member
PhD Student @UniMe
The PhD in Chemical Sciences at the University of Messina is based on the project “REcycling and use of waste-derived and bio-based materials for the development of NEW multifunctionAL and sustainable technical materials" (RENEWAL), funded by the PhD PNRR “Transizioni digitali e ambientali” D.M. n118/2023 (tutor: Dr. M.R. Plutino).
The RENEWAL project aims to create innovative sustainable materials and coatings. These materials can be used as hybrid nanostructured coatings for the implementation of surface properties, but also innovative nanohybrids or nanocomposites which, used as they are or in combination with appropriate polymeric blends (also sol-gel based), allow the development of sustainable systems, and technological and digital solutions for various applications, including construction, cultural heritage, textiles, sensors, environmental remediation, blue growth.
Skills: Nanotechnology, Materials Chemistry, Green Chemistry
She has a Master’s degree in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology and is currently a PhD student in Chemical Sciences at the University of Messina (Cycle XL), enrolled under the “Dalla Ricerca all’Impresa” program (D.M. n. 630/2024), funded by the PhD PNRR. Her doctoral research is supported by an industrial scholarship co-funded by OGS and UniMe, and is focused on the project “Optimization of COâ‚‚ mineralization using waste brines: An investigation into the efficiency and kinetics of COâ‚‚ conversion into stable carbonates utilizing desalination waste brines” (tutor: Dr. M.R. Plutino).
Her research investigates the optimization of COâ‚‚ mineralization processes using waste brines derived from desalination, with particular emphasis on evaluating the efficiency and kinetics of carbonate formation. The project aims to identify the optimal physicochemical conditions for maximizing stable carbonate yield under mild operating parameters, and assesses the environmental impact and scalability of the process within the broader CCUS framework.
Skills: Environmental Chemistry, Green Chemistry, Materials Science
Annarita Borgosano
Team member
PhD Student @UniMe
Alessia Mastrolembo Ventura
Team member
PhD Student @UniMe
She has a master degree in biology and is actually a PhD student in Chemical Sciences at the university of Messina (Ciclo XL) with an industrial scholarahip financed by OGS and UniMe on the project “COâ‚‚-Environment Interactions in the Hydrothermal System of Panarea,” funded by the PhD PNRR program “Dalla ricerca all’impresa” D.M. n.630/2024 (tutor: Dr. M.R. Plutino).
Her project focuses on the development of innovative and sustainable sensor technologies for real-time monitoring of key environmental parameters (COâ‚‚, pH, temperature, salinity) in extreme marine ecosystems affected by natural COâ‚‚ emissions. The research combines advanced materials, numerical modeling, and biological data to support predictive tools for marine ecosystem dynamics, with applications in marine research, environmental protection, coastal management, and smart agriculture.
Skills: Environmental Chemistry, Green Chemistry, Materials Science
The PhD research activity in “Chemical Sciences” at the University of Messina is funded by a DM 630/2024 scholarship in collaboration with “Sanipur Spa” (sc. resp. Dr. M.R. Plutino and Dr. S. Libertino, and industrial tutor: Fermi Beatrice).
The project activity has two main objectives: the first one is to develop innovative strategies to detect total bacterial load in water, exploiting chemiluminescence reactions between luciferase and luciferin in presence of ATP and optical sensors that can reveal the light emitted in order to have a continuous monitoring of water systems; the second one is to study and create new advanced materials to efficiently prevent biofouling that can compromise disinfection strategies and bacteria contamination in mains water with the risk of opportunistic pathogens colonization that can threaten human health.
Skills: Materials Chemistry, Green Chemistry, Water monitoring
Giuseppe Andrea Screpis
Team member
PhD Student @UniMe
Hafsa Anwar
Team member
PhD Student @UniMe
Master of Science in Physical Chemistry (CGPA 3.66/4.00).
The PhD research activity in “Chemical Sciences” at the University of Messina is funded by a DM 630/2024 scholarship in collaboration with “ArgoIt” (sc. resp. Dr. M.R. Plutino and Dr. S. Libertino).
Skills: Materials Chemistry, Green Chemistry, Physical Chemistry