Molecular Electrochemistry Laboratory (MECLab)

The study of electron transfer (eT) mechanism in (bio-)molecular systems is of paramount importance to decipher structure-related properties to develop new technologies, whose applications range from catalysis and sustainable energy production to biosensing platforms. Electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) is a fascinating phenomenon caused by highly exergonic eT reaction between electrogenerated radicals leading to the formation of an excited state species that emits a photon. ECL finds applications in biosensors and light-emitting devices.

Advances of nanotechnology, micro- and nano-fabrication, and integration of electrochemical and optical (SPR, SERS) technologies can provide the building blocks to develop highly selective and sensitive devices and will play a pivotal role in cancer research in the near future. In fact, they can provide the essential tools for fast, quantitative, and inexpensive analyses. Early diagnosis of circulating cancer protein biomarkers and therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) represent a niche in the field of biosensing in oncology that still lacks integrated technologies and competences, and thus needs to be explored in depth. 

Functionalized electrode surfaces and novel nanostructured materials can serve as catalytic site to generate sustainable energy (e.g. “green hydrogen”) or high-performance batteries. A better understanding of the properties of such materials in terms of efficient electron transfer holds a tremendous fallout with respect to climate change and can help implementing existing technologies and developing new ones. New technologies are highly sought to possibly stop global warming and to provide the next generations with the necessary tools to generate/consume sustainable and renewable energy, while taking care of our home planet.

The environmental pollution represents a complex problem that threatens the health and life of animal and plant ecosystems on our planet. When dealing with water pollution, new engineered materials have been designed, synthesized and tested to enhance wastewater treatment processes. Among the pollutants present in water, antibiotics have been deeply investigated due to their abuse, their ability to cause ecological harm (e.g.: endocrine disruption and antimicrobial resistance) and their mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. Therefore, development of novel nanostructured materials enabling electrocatalytic and photocatalytic degradation might provide a convenient and sustainable route to achieve this goal.