The INSTM-Unit of Pisa is based in the Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry (DCCI) of the University of Pisa. The unit comprises personnel from two different groups within DCCI: the Modular Framework Materials Chemistry (MoFMatCh) lab and the Advanced Organic Synthesis Lab (AOSL).
The MoFMatCh Lab, led by Prof. Marco Taddei, focuses on the design, synthesis and characterization of Metal Organic Frameworks as solid adsorbents, with a focus on carbon dioxide capture. The aim of the lab’s activities within DAM4CO2 is to optimize the preparation of MOFs with attractive CO2 capture performance and based on sustainable metals and linkers to be used as fillers for mixed-matrix membranes.
The AOSL group, co-managed by Prof. Marco Lessi, focused its activities on the development of new and greener protocols to prepare organic bio-active organic molecules and high conjugated cores to be use in material science, spanning from light interaction to response to external stimuli. About the DAM4CO2 project the aim of AOSL activities is the support in developing new protocols to functionalize the external surface of MOFs to improve their affinity within the Mixed Matrix Membrane.
INSTM laboratories
The INSTM-UNITO research unit in DAM4CO₂ contributes to WP3, WP5 and WP6 through the advanced characterization of all materials and membranes synthesized in the project. In particular, the Spectroscopy Laboratory enables materials investigation through spectroscopic techniques, including UV–Vis, FTIR, Raman, and Raman-THz. Equipped for ex situ, in situ, and operando studies, it supports analysis under multiple conditions. On the other side, the Adsorption Laboratory specializes in the characterization of porous materials and gas–solid interactions. Equipped with advanced volumetric, chemisorption, and breakthrough systems, it enables high-precision measurements of textural properties and gas–solid interactions, in both static and dynamic conditions.
The INSTM-UNIPG research unit in DAM4CO₂ contributes to WP2 and WP3 through the synthesis, characterization, and scale-up of microporous MOF materials based on Zr and Al with small carboxylic linkers, designed for efficient CO₂ capture. Within WP6, the group develops flow reactors enabling controlled gas–liquid–solid interactions for safe and efficient catalytic processes. The unit is equipped with advanced facilities for materials synthesis and characterization, including an X-ray Powder Diffractometer, TGA/DTA/DSC thermoanalyser and dedicated organic synthesis laboratories.
The INSTM-UNIPI research unit in DAM4CO₂ contributes to WP2 and WP3 through two different targets, (i) Green Synthesis, characterization and scale-up of MOF, as solid adsorbents, based on sustainable metals and linkers; (ii) Developing new protocols to functionalize the external surface of MOFs to improve their affinity within the Mixed Matrix Membrane. The unit is equipped with advanced facilities for materials synthesis and characterization, including an X-ray Powder Diffractometer, liquid state NMR, microwave reactors and dedicated organic synthesis laboratories.
UNIPG laboratories
UniTO laboratories
UniPI laboratories
INSTM personnel
Valentina Crocellà is an Associate Professor of Physical Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Turin. She earned her degree in Industrial Chemistry in 2007 and her PhD in Chemical Sciences in 2012. She then worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the same department until 2019, when she was appointed Assistant Professor of Physical Chemistry. For over a decade, her research has focused on the design, synthesis, and characterization of innovative materials for catalysis and selective adsorption, with a particular emphasis on carbon dioxide capture and conversion. She has authored more than 70 research articles in international peer-reviewed journals, including three publications in Nature. Within the DAM4CO2 project, she serves as Principal Investigator of the INSTM research unit and leads the work package dedicated to Materials Characterization.
Matteo Signorile is Associate Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Torino (UniTo). He got his PhD in Chemistry and Materials Sciences in 2017, focusing on operando Raman spectroscopy of zeolite catalysts. Afterward, he pursued postdoctoral research on various catalytic systems, expanding his expertise in computational chemistry and X-ray spectroscopy. Since 2020, he become researcher at UniTo, then Assistant Professor in 2022. His work focuses on the catalytic redox activation of small molecules, mainly over microporous materials (MOFs and zeolites), and on the development of operando and multi-technique characterization methods. In DAM4CO2, he leads advanced characterization of catalysts and membranes for CO₂ conversion, in collaboration with ITQ-UPV and ITM-CNR.
Silvia Bordiga is Full Professor in Physical Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Turin. From 2012 to 2020 she was Prof. II at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Oslo. She is associate Editor of ACS Catalysis. She received many awards: 2019- Francois Gault Lectureship Award from EFCAT; 2018-2019- Chemistry European Fellow; 2021- Premio Antonio Feltrinelli dall’ Accademia dei Lincei, 2023- Paolo Chini award from SCI. She became member of Lincei Accademy in 2023 and Accademia delle Science di Torino in 2024. Her scientific activity is devoted to the study of the physical–chemical properties of high surface area nanostructured materials used as heterogeneous catalysts, materials for adsorption, separation and storage, through in situ spectroscopies.
The research activity of Prof. Ferdinando Costantino is focused on the synthesis and characterization of crystalline metal-organic materials with porous structure and nanometric size for numerous purposes such as carbon dioxide absorption and separation, photocatalysis for the degradation of dyes and for the activation of CO2, application in the field of new generation photovoltaics and in nanomedicine. Ferdinando Costantino is co-author of 125 scientific papers in international journals and more than 60 scientific contributions to national and international conferences.
Prof. Luigi Vaccaro is a co-author of 300 scientific publications and has a H-index of 64. His research focuses on green and sustainable synthesis with a holistic approach. The valorization of bio- and waste-derived feedstocks in synergy with the use of properly designed heterogeneous catalysts and alternative technologies, such as tailor-made continuous flow reactors, microwave irradiation, electrochemistry, and ultrasound, are key topics in his research activity that aim at waste prevention and minimization.
Marco Lessi received his PhD in Chemistry in 2008 from the University of Pisa, defending a thesis on the optimization of heterogeneous enantioselective catalysts supported on polymeric matrices. After a one-year period in a private chemical company, he rejoined the Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry at the University of Pisa in 2009. Initially as a postdoctoral fellow and later as an assistant professor, he carried out his research at the Advanced Organic Synthesis Laboratory. In 2020, he was appointed Associate Professor at the same university. His research focuses on the development of green catalytic protocols for the synthesis of highly conjugated molecules through C–H activation, with applications in material science and life science.
Marco Taddei (MT) received his PhD (2011) in Chemical Sciences from the University of Perugia (Italy). He had postdoctoral positions at the University of Perugia (2011-2014), Paul Scherrer Institute (Switzerland, 2015-2016) and Swansea University (UK, 2017-2019), before joining the University of Pisa in 2020. MT is the author of more than 60 articles in international, peer reviewed Journals and three book chapters. In 2017, MT co-founded novoMOF, a Swiss-based company that manufactures and commercialises metal-organic frameworks. In 2022, MT was awarded the Nasini Medal of the Inorganic Chemistry Division of the Italian Chemical Society and the Nardelli Prize of the Italian Crystallographic Association.
Matteo Bartalucci, was awarded the PhD in Chemical Sciences with excellence in April 2024 from the University of Perugia, working on the design and synthesis of PROTACs aiming to explore and expand the toolbox of hijackable E3 ligases for TPD. Since April 2024, he has been involved as a Junior Researcher in the European project “Double Active Membranes for a sustainable CO₂ cycle” (DAM4CO₂), under the supervision of Prof. Luigi Vaccaro. His current research interest concerns the development of novel catalyzed processes in flow using solid catalysts.
Dr. Giulio Bresciani received his Master’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Pisa in 2015. In 2016, he was admitted to the Doctoral School in Chemistry and Material Science at the same university. During his PhD, he spent six months as an exchange student in Prof. Timo Repo's group at the University of Helsinki. He completed his PhD in 2020 under the supervision of Prof. Guido Pampaloni, focusing on the synthesis of novel metal carbamates and their catalytic applications in CO₂ activation. Dr. Bresciani worked for 18 months on the "doMino" project (PRIN2020) as a research fellow. Since May 2024, he has been part of the European project "Double Active Membranes for a Sustainable CO₂ Cycle" (DAM4CO₂), under the supervision of Prof. Marco Taddei and Prof. Marco Lessi. His research interests center on the synthesis and characterization of metalorganic frameworks (MOFs), with a particular focus on X-ray diffraction techniques.
Dr. Margherita Cavallo received his Master’s degree in Materials Science from the University of Torino in 2020. In 2021, she joined the Doctoral School in Chemistry and Material Science at the same institution. She defended her PhD thesis titled "Exploring innovative materials for carbon dioxide capture and valorisation" in February 2025. Since 2020, her research has focused on the advanced characterization of materials for Carbon Dioxide Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS). Her expertise includes the physical-chemical characterization of adsorbents and catalysts using techniques such as transmission IR, ATR, DRIFT, Raman, DR-UV-Vis spectroscopies, volumetry, microcalorimetry, XRD, and TGA. She has participated in two funded research projects: “SATURNO” (Scarti organici e Anidride carbonica Trasformati in carbURanti,fertilizzanti e prodotti chimici; applicazione concreta dell’ecoNOmia circolare), a regional Europeanfunded project, and “4AirCRAFT” (Air Carbon Recycling for Aviation Fuel Technology) funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. Since November 2024, she has been involved in the European project DAM4CO₂"Double Active Membranes for a Sustainable CO₂ Cycle", under the supervision of Dr. Matteo Signorile and Prof. Valentina Crocellà.
Francesco Della Croce, graduated cum laude in Chemistry at University of Pisa in January 2024 under the supervision of Prof. Marco Taddei. Starting from February 2024, he took on a role as a Junior 1 Researcher in the European project “Double Active Membranes for a sustainable CO₂ cycle” (DAM4CO₂), under the supervision of Prof. Marco Lessi and Prof. Marco Taddei. Currently, his research interest concerns the synthesis and characterization of Metal-Organic Frameworks based on non-critical raw materials.
Dr. Virginia Guiotto graduated in Materials Science at the University of Torino in 2021. In January 2022, she started her PhD in Chemical and Materials Sciences at the same university, under the supervision of Prof. Valentina Crocellà. The main target of the PhD programme was the advanced characterization of novel metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) potentially employed as fillers in novel composite materials for CO separation. During the PhD, she collaborated with an Italian PRIN project (doMino) and spent three months at the Heriot-Watt University of Edinburgh. She successfully completed her PhD program in March 2025. Dr. Virginia Guiotto has been working as an INSTM Junior Researcher in the Horizon Europe DAM4CO2 research project. Her research interests concern the advanced characterization of microporous materials such as MOFs and polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs), with a particular focus on in situ infrared spectroscopy and volumetric/calorimetric techniques.
Alireza Nazari Khodadadi, completed his M.Sc. degree in bioorganic chemistry at Sharif University of Technology under the guidance of Prof. Hamidreza Kalhor in 2018. Then, he worked in R&D at the pharmaceutical company CinnaGen Group. In 2021, he commenced a Marie Curie Ph.D. fellowship (STiBNite) under the supervision of Prof. Luigi Vaccaro at the University of Perugia, Green S.O.C. In April 2024, Alireza transitioned to the role of Junior Researcher within the HORIZON-EIC-2022 ''DAM4CO₂'' project, where continues to contribute to research within the same research group.
Maria Sole Notari, graduated cum laude in Chemical Sciences at the University of Perugia in September 2022. She has already worked on MOFs for CO₂ adsorption during her undergraduate studies. For one year she worked as a research fellowship in the PRIN2020 project “doMino”. From March 2024, she joined the European project "Double Active Membranes for a Sustainable CO₂ Cycle" (DAM4CO₂) supervised by Prof. Ferdinando Costantino as a research fellowship. Her main task within this project is to deal with the synthesis scale-up of metal-organic frameworks based on non-critical raw materials.
Federico Panagini, graduated in Industrial Chemistry at the University of Turin in October 2024 working on the catalytic field under the supervision of Dr. Matteo Signorile. From November 2024 he is involved in the European project "Double Active Membranes for a sustainable CO₂ cycle" (DAM4CO₂) as a PhD student. His project, focused on advanced characterization of metal- and metal-oxides for catalysis, is supervised by Dr. Matteo Signorile and Prof. Valentina Crocellà.
Letizia Trovarelli, graduated cum laude in Chemical Sciences at the University of Perugia in September 2023, worked on MOFs (metal-organic frameworks) during her thesis under the supervision of Prof. Ferdinando Costantino. First as a Junior 1 Researcher and then, from January 2024, as a PhD student, she is involved in the European project "Double Active Membranes for a sustainable CO₂ cycle" (DAM4CO₂). Her project is supervised by prof. Ferdinando Costantino and prof. Valentina Crocellà. Her current research interest concerns the synthesis and characterisation of metal-organic frameworks based on non-critical raw materials.