Green Energy & Engineering

Specific mission

Development of highly efficient catalysts for the total oxidation of hydrocarbons.
Development of highly efficient electrocatalysts for PEMFC and DMFC.

Main research topics

• Catalytic combustion of light hydrocarbons monoliths and foams for catalytic combustion.
• Energetic valorization of wastes.
• PEMFC and DMFC electrocatalysts: synthesis and characterization of carbon-based materials as supports for low-Pt and non-noble electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction, methanol oxidation reaction, and hydrogen oxidation reaction.

Main partnerships

• CNR-ITAE (Messina, Italy), Fuel processing Materials and Technologies (FPMAT) Group, Dr. Antonio Vita; Group, Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells and Electrolizers (DAFCE) Group, Dr. Vincenzo Baglio
• CNR-ICCOM (Firenze, Italy), Dr Alessandro Lavacchi
• Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Department of Materials Science (Milano, Italy), Prof. Carlo Santoro
• Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Faculty of Chemistry (Krakow, Poland): Materials and Surface Chemistry (MSC) Group, Prof. Andrzej Kotarba
• IFP – Energies Nouvelles, Department of Reactions and Modeling of Reactors (Solaize, France), Dr Frédéric Augier
• University of Ontario, Institute of Technology, (Oshawa, Canada), Prof. E. Bradley Easton
• Technische Universität Darmstadt (Darmstadt, Germany), Prof. Ulrike I. Kramm
• University of Santiago de Chile, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology (Santiago de Chile), Prof. José H. Zagal
• University of California Irvine, Samueli School of Engineering (Irvine, USA), Prof. Plamen Atanassov 

Projects and publications

• Selected recent publications
  2018

  1. Rh/CeO2 thin catalytic layer deposition on alumina foams: Catalytic performance and controlling regimes in biogas reforming processes
     Article
     

     Italiano, C.; Ashraf, M. A.; Pino, L.; Moncada Quintero, C. W.; Specchia, S.; Vita, A.
     CATALYSTS
     MDPI
     Vol.8 pp.24 (pp.1-24) ISSN:2073-4344 DOI:10.3390/catal8100448

  2. The effect of Fe, Co, and Ni structural promotion of cryptomelane (KMn8O16) on the catalytic activity in oxygen evolution reaction
     Article
     

     Stelmachowski, P.; Monteverde, A. H.; Jakubek, T.; Kotarba, A.; Specchia, S.
     ELECTROCATALYSIS
     Springer
     Vol.9 pp.8 (pp.762-769) ISSN:1868-2529 DOI:10.1007/s12678-018-0488-9

  3. A fuel cell catalyst support based on doped titanium suboxides with enhanced conductivity, durability and fuel cell performance
     Article
     

     Alipour Moghadam Esfahani, R.; Ebralidze, I. I.; Specchia, S.; Easton, E. B.
     JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY. A
     The Royal Society of Chemistry
     Vol.6 pp.11 (pp.14805-14815) ISSN:2050-7496 DOI:dx.doi.org/10.1039/C8TA02470G

  4. Fuel Cells
     Book chapter
     

     Coralli, A.; Sarruf, B.; de Miranda, P. E.; Osmieri, L.; Specchia, S.; Minh, N. Q.
     Science and Engineering of Hydrogen-Based Energy Technologies
     Academic Press (Elsevier) (BRASILE)
     pp.84 (pp.39-122) ISBN:9780128142516 DOI:10.1016/B978-0-12-814251-6.00002-2

  5. Recent trends on the application of PGM-free catalysts at the cathode of anion exchange membrane fuel cells
     Article
     

     Osmieri, L.; Pezzolato, Lorenzo; Specchia, S.
     CURRENT OPINION IN ELECTROCHEMISTRY
     Elsevier BV
     Vol.9 pp.17 (pp.240-256) ISSN:2451-9103 DOI:10.1016/j.coelec.2018.05.011

  6. Insights into the effect of catalyst loading on methane steam reforming and controlling regime for metallic catalytic monoliths
     Article
     

     Ashraf, M. A.; Sanz, O.; Montes, M.; Specchia, S.
     INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
     Elsevier Ltd.
     Vol.43 pp.15 (pp.11778-11792) ISSN:1879-3487 DOI:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.04.126

  7. Polypyrrole-derived Fe-Co-N-C catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction: performance in alkaline hydrogen and ethanol fuel cells
     Article
     

     Osmieri, L.; Zafferoni, C.; Wang, L.; Monteverde, A. H.; Lavacchi, A.; Specchia, S.
     CHEMELECTROCHEM
     Wiley-VCH
     Vol.5 pp.12 (pp.1954-1965) ISSN:2196-0216 DOI:10.1002/celc.201800420

  8. High specific surface area supports for highly active Rh catalysts: Syngas production from methane at high space velocity
     Article
     

     Italiano, C.; Luchters, N. T. J.; Pino, L.; Fletcher, J. V.; Specchia, S.; Fletcher, J. C. Q.; Vita, A.
     INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
     Elsevier Science Limited
     Vol.43 pp.11 (pp.11755-11765) ISSN:0360-3199 DOI:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.01.136

  9. Effects of using two transition metals in the synthesis of non-noble electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in direct methanol fuel cell
     Article
     

     Osmieri, L.; Escudero-Ci, d. R.; Armandi, M.; Ocon, P.; Monteverde, A. H.; Specchia, S.
     ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
     Elsevier Science Limited
     Vol.266 pp.13 (pp.220-232) ISSN:0013-4686 DOI:10.1016/j.electacta.2018.02.036

  10. Highly active platinum supported Mo-doped titanium nanotubes suboxide (Pt/TNTS-Mo) electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in PEMFC
      Article
      

      Alipour Moghadam Esfahani, R.; Rivera Gavidia, L. M.; García, G.; Pastor, E.; Specchia, S.
      RENEWABLE ENERGY
      Pergamon –Elsevier Science LTD
      Vol.120 pp.11 (pp.209-219) ISSN:0960-1481 DOI:10.1016/j.renene.2017.12.077

  11. Syngas production by steam and oxy-steam reforming of biogas on monolith-supported CeO2-based catalysts
      Article
      

      Vita, A.; Italiano, C.; Ashraf, M. A.; Pino, L.; Specchia, S.
      INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
      Elsevier Ltd.
      Vol.43 pp.14 (pp.11731-11744) ISSN:0360-3199 DOI:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.11.140

  12. Morphology and dispersion of nanostructured manganese-cobalt spinel on various carbon supports: the effect on the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media
      Article
      

      Kostuch, A.; Gryboś, J.; Indyka, P.; Osmieri, L.; Specchia, S.; Sojka, Z.; Kruczała, K.
      CATALYSIS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
      The Royal Society of Chemistry
      Vol.8 pp.14 (pp.642-655) ISSN:2044-4753 DOI:10.1039/C7CY02228J

  13. Analysis of Ru/La-Al2O3 catalyst loading on alumina monoliths and controlling regimes in methane steam reforming
      Article
      

      Ashraf, M. A.; Sanz, O.; Italiano, C.; Vita, A.; Montes, M.; Specchia, S.
      CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
      Elsevier Science SA
      Vol.334 pp.16 (pp.1792-1807) ISSN:1385-8947 DOI:10.1016/j.cej.2017.11.154

  14. Application of a non-noble Fe-N-C catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in an alkaline direct ethanol fuel cell
      Article
      

      Osmieri, Luigi; Escudero Cid, R.; MONTEVERDE VIDELA, ALESSANDRO HUGO; Ocón, P.; Specchia, Stefania
      RENEWABLE ENERGY
      Elsevier Science
      Vol.115 pp.12 (pp.226-237) ISSN:0960-1481 DOI:10.1016/j.renene.2017.08.062

  2017

  1. Optimization of Pd catalysts supported on Co3O4 for low-temperature lean combustion of residual methane
     Article
     

     Ercolino, Giuliana; Stelmachowski, PAWEL JAN; Grzybek, G.; Kotarba, A.; Specchia, Stefania
     APPLIED CATALYSIS. B, ENVIRONMENTAL
     Elsevier BV
     Vol.206 pp.14 (pp.712-725) ISSN:0926-3373 DOI:10.1016/j.apcatb.2017.01.055

  2. The relationship between the structure and ethanol oxidation activity of Pt-Cu/C alloy catalysts
     Article
     

     Zamanzad Ghavidel, M. R.; Monteverde Videla, Alessandro H. A.; Specchia, Stefania; Bradley Easton, E.
     ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
     Elsevier BV
     Vol.230 pp.15 (pp.58-72) ISSN:0013-4686 DOI:10.1016/j.electacta.2017.01.129

  3. Benchmark comparison of Co3O4 spinel-structured oxides with different morphologies for oxygen evolution reaction under alkaline conditions
     Article
     

     MONTEVERDE VIDELA, ALESSANDRO HUGO; Stelmachowski, PAWEL JAN; Ercolino, Giuliana; Specchia, Stefania
     JOURNAL OF APPLIED ELECTROCHEMISTRY
     Kluwer Academic Publishers
     Vol.47 pp.10 (pp.295-304) ISSN:0021-891X DOI:10.1007/s10800-016-1040-3

  4. Hydrogen-rich syngas production through mixed residual biomass and HDPE waste via integrated catalytic gasification and tar cracking plus bio-char upgrading
     Article
     

     ALIPOUR MOGHADAM ESFAHANI, Reza; Osmieri, Luigi; Specchia, Stefania; Yusup, S.; Tavasoli, A.; Zamaniyan, A.
     CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
     Elsevier BV
     Vol.308 pp.10 (pp.578-587) ISSN:1385-8947 DOI:10.1016/j.cej.2016.09.049

  5. Innovative carbon-free low content Pt catalyst supported on Mo-doped titanium suboxide (Ti3O5-Mo) for stable and durable oxygen reduction reaction
     Article
     

     ALIPOUR MOGHADAM ESFAHANI, Reza; VANKOVA KRASIMIROVA, Svetoslava; MONTEVERDE VIDELA, ALESSANDRO HUGO; Specchia, Stefania
     APPLIED CATALYSIS. B, ENVIRONMENTAL
     Elsevier B.V.
     Vol.201 pp.11 (pp.419-429) ISSN:0926-3373 DOI:10.1016/j.apcatb.2016.08.041

  6. Performance of a Fe-N-C catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in direct methanol fuel cell: cathode formulation optimization and short-term durability
     Article
     

     Osmieri, Luigi; Escudero Cid, R.; MONTEVERDE VIDELA, ALESSANDRO HUGO; Ocón, P.; Specchia, Stefania
     APPLIED CATALYSIS. B, ENVIRONMENTAL
     Elsevier B.V.
     Vol.201 pp.13 (pp.253-265) ISSN:0926-3373 DOI:10.1016/j.apcatb.2016.08.043

  7. The effect of the preparation method of Pd-doped cobalt spinel on the catalytic activity in methane oxidation under lean fuel conditions
     Article
     

     Ercolino, Giuliana; Grodzka, A.; Grzybek, G.; Stelmachowski, PAWEL JAN; Specchia, Stefania; Kotarba, A.
     TOPICS IN CATALYSIS
     Springer
     Vol.60 pp.9 (pp.333-341) ISSN:1022-5528 DOI:10.1007/s11244-016-0620-0

Reference laboratories

• Laboratory Gre.En2 Lab 1
• Laboratory Gre.En2 Lab 2
• Sputtering Laboratory

Leader

• SPECCHIA STEFANIA

PhD, Post-docs and Grant researchers

• MAZZEI HERNAN GABRIEL