This project aims at identifying reproducible and scalable routes towards the synthesis of stable tailored transition metal doped graphenic nanostructures and at providing proof of their enhanced chemical activity for sensing and energy conversion.

The expertise of the research teams covers the preparation, the fundamental theoretical and experimental study, and, finally, the realistic application of these novel C-based materials.

The preparation routes will follow both innovative bottom-up strategies and scalable and top-down approaches, driven by theoretical predictions from density functional calculations.

We will exploit a wide arsenal of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques to achieve an accurate characterization of the prepared nanostructures and of their adsorption and reaction properties.

The final goal of the project is to strengthen key European priorities for Health, Environment and Energy by testing the new materials as sensors for disease diagnosis and environmental pollution, and as electrocatalysts for O₂ reduction, H₂ evolution and CO₂ reduction reactions, that take place in fuel cells and/or electrolyzers.

During the project development we will take special care of training and career development opportunities for young researchers and of gender balance.