Reference professors: Daniele Pontiroli, Mauro Riccò
E-mail: daniele.pontiroli@unipr.it, mauro.ricco@unipr.it
Research area: Flexible electronics based on laser-induced graphene.
Topic1: Study of flexible micro-supercapacitors based on graphene obtained by photothermoconversion of appropriate precursors, for IoT applications.
Collaborations: Startup 1010 Srl
Topic 2: Study of electrochemical micro-sensors based on graphene obtained by laser thermoconversion. Biomedical applications.
Collaborations: Startup 1010 Srl
Techniques and methodologies: Synthesis of materials using laser techniques, electrochemical measurements on devices (cyclovoltammetry, galvanostatic charge and discharge measurements, impedance spectroscopy).
Research area: Supercapacitors for energy storage
Topic 1: Study of biocompatible and environmentally friendly supercapacitors based on vegetable carbon (biochar) obtained from biomass pyro-gasification, for applications in large-scale energy storage and biomedicine.
Collaborations: Prof. Chiara Milanese, University of Pavia; Prof. Alessio Malcevschi, Dept. of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability.
Topic 2: Study of high-performance supercapacitors based on graphene decorated with transition metal oxide nanoparticles. Automotive applications, energy harvesting.
Collaborations: Dott. Roberto Verucchi, IMEM-CNR Trento; Dott. Giovanni Bertoni, CNR-Istitute of Nanoscience, Modena.
Techniques and methodologies: Materials synthesis, assembly of prototype cells, characterisation measurements by powder X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), XPS, electrochemical measurements on devices (cyclovoltammetry, galvanostatic charge and discharge measurements, impedance spectroscopy).
Reference professors: Giuseppe, Allodi, Pietro Bonfà, Roberto De Renzi
E-mail: giuseppe.allodi@unipr.it, pietro.bonfa@unipr.it, roberto.derenzi@unipr.it
Research area: Physics of Materials
Topic 1: Quantum Spin Liquids: Do they exist? Explain high Tc superconductivity?
Starting with an article in Physics Today that qualitatively introduces this issue that pervades frontier matter physics over the last thirty years and is beginning to receive clear answers.
Collaborations: PRIN QT-FLUO (Roma I e II, Napoli, PoliMi)
Topic 2: AgF2 thin films as new high Tc superconductors.
An ambitious project that aims to open a new chapter on unconventional superconductors, for which NMR measurements are planned.
Collaborations: PRIN QT-FLUO (Roma I e II, Napoli, PoliMi)
Topic 3: DFT simulation of magnetic and superconducting materials: algorithms and parallel computing in Condensed Matter Physics.
Implementation and benchmark of new approximations for the exchange-correlation functional.
Collaborations: Dr. Ifeanyi Onuorah, Dip. SMFI, UniPR, MAX EU Center of Excellence.
Topic 4: NMR study of materials for energy.
Magnetic resonance in the hyperfine, zero external field helps to clarify why some Heusler alloys are promising for energy harvesting.
Collaborations: Massimo Solzi, Dip. SMFI, UniPR
Topic 5: Spectroscopy of polarised muons and the role of hydrogen in the wide-gap semiconductor Ga2O3.
Hydrogen plays an important, but difficult to demonstrate, role in doping and passivation of semiconductors. Positive muons form a light (and radioactive) isotope of hydrogen and promise to reveal the mechanism of these effects.
Collaborations: Roberto Fornari, Dip. SMFI, UniPR
Techniques and methodologies: NMR, µSR, Density Functional Theory.
Reference professors: Massimo Solzi, Francesco Cugini
E-mail: massimo.solzi@unipr.it, francesco.cugini@unipr.it
Research area: Innovative magnetic materials for new sustainable energy conversion technologies (magnetic refrigeration and thermo-magnetic harvesting of waste heat)
Topic 1: Graphene-based functional magnetic composites for thermo-magnetic energy conversion.
Collaborations: Prof. Daniele Pontiroli, Dr. Giacomo Magnani (Dep. SMFI, UNIPR); Dr. Franca Albertini (IMEM-CNR Institute Parma); Prof. Lara Righi (Dep. SCVSA UNIPR)
Tecniche e metodologie: synthesis of intermetallic materials; preparation and optimization of composite materials enriched with carbon nanostructures; development of composite casting and printing techniques; magnetic, structural and magneto-caloric characterization; evaluation of materials performance through a setup for the simulation of Brayton thermo-magnetic cycles and a prototype of thermo-magnetic generator.
Topic 2: Metallic magnetic materials for thermo-magnetic energy conversion: study of the correlation between magnetic, structural and microstructural properties and synthesis of new materials with high thermo-magnetic performance.
Collaborations: Dr. Franca Albertini (IMEM-CNR Institute Parma); Prof. Lara Righi (Dep.SCVSA UNIPR); Prof. Paolo Veronesi (Dep. of Mechanical Engineering UNIMORE)
Techniques and methodologies: synthesis and optimization of new advanced functional materials; experimental study of the correlation between magnetic, structural and microstructural properties by magnetometry, magnetic resonance, diffraction and microscopy techniques; measurement of the magneto-caloric effect and evaluation of the thermo-magnetic performance by innovative experimental setups.
Topic 3: Realization and optimization of a prototype of thermo-magnetic energy generator: a new sustainable technology for the recovery of waste heat.
Techniques and methodologies: conception and design of the device, also by means of simulations of the thermal-magnetic-dynamic system through a finite-elements approach (Matlab); realization and experimental optimization of the prototype (geometric / mechanical configuration, permanent magnet configuration, forming of functional elements, control and acquisition hardware and software); performance testing of different thermo-magnetic materials.
