Research lines:

•    In silico design of SElective and REsponsive NAnoporous materials for water purification.

Recent research has demonstrated that atomically-defined nanopores, such as carbon nanotubes, can significantly improve the performance of water purification membranes in terms of permeability and selectivity. Starting from this insight, project SERENA aims at designing new types of crystalline nanoporous materials with improved selectivity towards ions or solutes which, in addition, are responsive to external stimuli in order to achieve more effective and controllable water purification. SERENA will exploit an emerging class of crystalline porous materials - framework materials - which, by combining a variety of weakly-bonded building blocks, offers the possibility to tailor with atomic accuracy the chemical and physical properties of the framework, including its porosity, surface area, flexibility, and responsiveness. A strong synergy of SERENA is anticipated with ERC-2018-StG project HyGate: inspired by the exceptional control of ion and solute transport achieved in biological channels, SERENA aims at designing, aided by computer simulations, new crystalline porous materials which combine selectivity and responsiveness to external stimuli to foster a new generation of water purification technologies. 

Advisor: Alberto Giacomello

Researchers: Flavio Costa, Giovanni Di Muccio