Our research focuses on the design, synthesis and characterization of functional materials and nanostructures for energy, environmental and photonic applications.
We investigate structural, electronic, optical, catalytic and transport properties, with particular emphasis on light-induced processes, plasmonic properties and charge-transfer mechanisms at the nanoscale.
We exploit physical synthesis and advanced in-situ and ex-situ characterization, largely using synchrotron and free-electron laser facilities, in close collaboration with theoretical and international research partners.
Functional oxides are key materials for addressing the growing challenges of sustainable energy conversion and environmental protection. We develop innovative materials and architectures that combine optimized functionality, stability, and the use of abundant elements, and we investigate the mechanisms underlying light-induced processes and catalytic activity at the atomic scale. Our research combines physical synthesis methods with advanced characterization, including ultrafast spectroscopies and operando measurements at international large-scale facilities, such as synchrotrons and free-electron lasers.
Transparent conducting oxide films and nanostructures are receiving increasing interest for their peculiar plasmonic response and epsilon-near-zero behavior in the mid-infrared with applications in electro-optics and photonics.
We grow, fabricate and investigate these systems combining structural, electronic, optical and electrical characterization through in-situ equipments and collaborations in international institutes and large-scale facilities, in strict collaboration with theoretical support.
One of our labs is equipped with a nanocluster Gas Aggregation Source for the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs). The NPs are metal@insulators and metal@metal core@shell systems. for instance, Ag@MgO plasmonic films were produced and inserted inside perovskite solar cells, obtaining a 3% increase of power conversion efficiency. At present, we study plasmonic Au NP assemblies, to be used in chemical detection by making use of Raman spectroscopy, of great interest in pharmaceutics, medical diagnostics, food processing etc.
GROUP MEMBERS:
- Prof. Sergio D‘Addato – email: sergio.daddato@unimore.it
- Dr. Paola Luches – email: paola.luches@cnr.it
- Dr. Alessandro di Bona – email: alessandro.dibona@cnr.it
- Dr. Stefania Benedetti – email: stefania.benedetti@cnr.it
- Dr. Eleonora Spurio – email: eleonora.spurio@cnr.it
Recent Projects:
- PRIN 2022 AMONIX – “Amorphous conductors are a new route for plasmonics“ – https://www.nano.cnr.it/amonix/
- PR FESR 2023 Sensidrogen – “Sviluppo di Sensori innovativi per il monitoraggio di perdite di Idrogeno in siti di produzione, stoccaggio e utilizzo“ https://www.sensidrogen.it/
- PNRR ECOSISTER – “Ecosystem for Sustainable Transition in Emilia-Romagna“, Ecosistemi dell’Innovazione, 2023-2026, Spoke 1 and 2.
- PR FESR 2023 MAGMOVE- “Materiali MAGnetici sostenibili nei Motori elettrici ad elevata efficienza per la transizione VErde”
- PRIN PNRR 2022 HYBORON- “Metal cluster decoration of Borophene nanostructures with enhanced Hydrogen adsorption and release properties”
- VINNOVATE 2025 NANOSENSE- “Nanoparticle-engineered SERS substrate fpr Next-Generation Molecular Detection“. PRIN 2022 e-DyNaFOx – “electron Dynamics in Nanostructured Functional Oxides” https://www.nano.cnr.it/edynafox/
Recent Publications:
- S. Pelatti, E. Spurio, D. Catone, P. O’Keeffe, S. Turchini, G. Ammirati, F. Paleari, D. Varsano, S. Benedetti, A. di Bona, S. D’Addato, Y. Jiang, P. Zalden, Y. Uemura, H. Wang, D. Vinci, X. Huang, F. Lima, M. Biednov, D. Khakhulin, C.J. Milne, F. Boscherini, P. Luches. “Ultrafast Dynamics of Electronic and Structural Modifications Induced by Photoexcitation in Cerium Oxide”, Adv. Electron. Mater. 2025, 11, e00429, doi: 10.1002/aelm.202500429.
- E. Spurio, S. Mauri, S. Pelatti, M.L. Rivera-Salazar, S. D’Addato, P. Torelli, P. Luches, S. Benedetti. “Ambient-Pressure Near-Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Study of the Photothermal Water Splitting Process on the Cu:CeO2 Nanostructure Surface”, ACS Applied Nano Materials, 2026, 9, 9400−9408. Doi: 10.1021/acsanm.6c00868.
- T.Virgili, L. Bursi, R. Magrin Maffei, M. Guizzardi, A. Villa, A. di Bona, A. Mescola, G. C. Gazzadi, A. Calzolari, S. Benedetti, “Tailoring the Ultra-Fast Infrared Optical Response of Al:ZnO Through Nanostructuration”, Adv. Mater. Technol. 2026, 11, e01940; doi: 10.1002/admt.202501940.
- R. Magrin Maffei, M. Magnozzi, M. Sygletou, S. Colace, S. D’Addato, A. Yu. Petrov, M. Canepa, P. Torelli, A. di Bona, S. Benedetti, F. Bisio. “Active optical modulation in hybrid transparent conductive oxide/electro-optic multilayers”, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2025, 13, 6346 – 6353; DOI: 10.1039/d4tc04748f.
- M. Borghi, A. Mescola, G. Paolicelli M. Montecchi, S. D’Addato, S.Vacondio, L. Bursi, A. Ruini, B. P. Doyle, T. Grasser, L. Pasquali, “Initial stages of growth and electronic properties of epitaxial SrF2 thin films on Ag(111)”, Applied Surface Science, 2024, 656, 159724, https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2024.159724
- E. Spurio, E. Rotunno, P. Rosi, S. Pelatti, G. Paolicelli, A. Mescola, G.C. Gazzadi, P. Luches, S. D’Addato, “Gas-phase synthesis of plasmonic nanoparticles with robust high band-gap shell materials: a study of Cu@CaF2 with AI supported transmission electron microscopy analysis2, Journal of Applied Physics, 2026, 140, 074301, https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0340196.
- E. Spurio, F. Alimonti, G. Bertoni, S. D’Addato, G. Ammirati, A. Paladini, S. Turchini, D. Catone, P. O’Keeffe, P. Luches, J. Chem. Phys. 164, 124702 (2026), doi:10.1063/5.0309793