A pEek on the lab

Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza (Italy)

Contacts: Sergio BRUTTI, sergio.brutti@uniroma1.it

Web-site: https://research.uniroma1.it/termodinamica-dei-materiali-0

LAB and RESEARCH

Physics laboratory @ Materials thermodynamics laboratory is dedicated to vibrational micro-spectroscopy and electrochemical characterization of batteries and materials

PHYSICS LABORATORY @ MATERIALS THERMODYNAMICS LABORATORY

Physics Lab is part of the Materials thermodynamics laboratory where advanced electrochemical and vibrational micro-spectroscopy techniques are used for the characterization of materials, electrodes and interfaces for battery of fuel cells applications. Electrochemical testing stations (MTI Corp Battery analysers) are used for galvanostatic cycling (16 channels) under controlled temperature (Memmert oven from 25°C to 55°C). High temperature cell testing station is also available for cycling from 55°C to 120 °C (Memmert Oven and high temperature electrochemical El-Cell ECC-STD). An advanced electrochemical testing apparatus (potentiostat/galvanostat/eis, Ivium Vertex) is also available to run experiments under controlled temperature (Memmert Oven from 25°C to 55°C). A MicroRaman spectrofotometer (Dilor, equipped with He-Ne lase at 632 nm and a Peltier CCD) is available for Raman investigations also under operando conditions. A MicroFTIR spectrophotometer (Bruker Lumos-II) is available for ATR or reflectance FTIR investigation of samples. Designed sample holder with optical windows (sapphire, glass, KBr, diamond, silicon wafer) are available for ex situ, ex situ and operando investigation in Ar-confined environments. Also a single point N2-absorption apparatus is available for surface area estimates (Quantachrome Monosorb).

Chemistry laboratory @ Materials thermodynamics laboratory is dedicated to the preparation of materials and batteries in air and Ar-purified environments.

CHEMISTRY LABORATORY @ MATERIALS THERMODYNAMICS LABORATORY

Chemistry Lab is part of the Materials thermodynamics laboratory where materials synthesis, preparation and manufacture are carried out in air or under controlled and purified Ar-environments (Glove Box Iteco Eng SGS-30 with H2O/O2 purifier). Standard chemistry laboratory equiptement (laboratory counter, laboratory glassware, drying pumps, stirrers, hydraulic press, etc) and high temperature furnaces in air (Nabertherm) in gas-controlled conditions (MTI high temperature flow oven) and in dynamic vacuum (Buchi oven) are dedicated to materials preparation and battery components manufacture. Cell assembly is carried out in the available glove box. Also, a pressure-volumetric gas mixing system (O2/Ar) is available for experimental gas/liquid or gas/solid electrochemistry.

EXPERIMENTAL EQUIPMENT

MicroRaman spectrophotometer

MICRORAMAN SPECTROPHOTOMETER

The microRaman spectrophotometer is a Dilor Instrument equipped with a He-Ne red laser (wavelength 632 nm) a Peltier CCD, two gratings (600 and 1800 grids/mm), a Semrock RazorEdge® ultrasteep long-pass edge filter, four achromatic objectives (10x 50x, 50x long distance, 100x), a motorized XY sample stage and with confocal capabilities. This instrumentation allows the acquisition of Raman spectra resolved in time and space thanks to the use of computerized motion- and time-programmable routines. The microspectrophotometer is coupled to a personal computer. Tailored sample holders protected with sealed glass or sapphire windows can be manufactured by 3D printing and used to acquire spectra without exposing samples to air.

Electrochemical testing stations

ELECTROCHEMICAL TESTING STATIONS

Two electrochemical testing stations (MTI Corp Battery analyzers) run by two different personal computers are used for advanced electrochemical characterization of materials and batteries. The first is a battery analyzer for galvanostatic cycling (16 channels) under controlled temperature (Memmert oven from 25°C to 55°C). High temperature cell testing station is also available for cycling from 55°C to 120 °C (Memmert Oven and high temperature electrochemical El-Cell ECC-STD). The second electrochemical testing station is a multi-functional electrochemical apparatus (potentiostat, galvanostat, impedance analyzer, Ivium Vertex) suitable to run performance analysis of batteries as well as to investigate in detail the electrochemical responses under controlled temperature (Memmert Oven from 25°C to 55°C).

Glove box quipped with flow purifier for O2/H2O

GLOVEBOX

A standard glove box apparatus (SGS-30 model from Iteco Eng srl) equipped with electro-valves (in and out), triple pressure gauge, vacuum pump and purification system. The inner atmosphere is constituted by purified Ar spilled from high-pressure cylinders, flowing over columnar traps for water and molecular oxygen. The contaminants concentration is continuously monitored by electrochemical H2O and O2 sensors. Inside the glove box different instruments are available: hydraulic press, microbalance, stirrer and high temperature sealer for glove bags. Samples are stored into classifiers into the glove box for safe handling and cells are assembled in the protected environment inside the glove box.

PEOPLE

Associate Professor at Uniroma1

sERGIO BRUTTI

Sergio Brutti is the PI of the Uniroma1 unit in the project. He is Associate Professor in the scientific sector of Physical Chemistry (SSD CHIM/02; SC 03 / A2) at the Chemistry Department. In his young age he had the chance to work for many great scientists in Italy (Bruno Scrosati, Giovanni de Maria) and in UK (David Pettifor, Peter Bruce). From 2018 he is leader of the Thermodynamics of Materials research laboratory (https://research.uniroma1.it/laboratorio/145278#/0). His scientific activity mainly concerns the study of the design and demonstration of novel materials for battery applications. Scientific activities are reported in 136 Scopus products (H-index = 31, total citations 3103) and 1 European/international patents.

Tenure Track Researcher at Uniroma1

MARCO AGOSTINI

Marco Agostini is tenure track researcher in the scientific sector of Physical Chemistry (SSD CHIM/02; SC 03 / A2) at the Department of

Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies at Uniroma1. He has been one of the last scholars of Prof. Bruno Scrosati and collaborated for many years with Jusef Hassoun. Before moving to Uniroma1, he has been working for many years from ENI Spa and at the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg (Sweden). His scientific activity mainly concerns the study of innovative materials and techniques for battery science. Scientific activities are reported in 47 Scopus products (H-index = 23, total citations 1826).

Associate Professor at Uniroma1

Maria Assunta Navarra

Maria Assunta Navarra is Associate Professor in the scientific sector of Physical Chemistry (SSD CHIM/02; SC 03 / A2) at the Chemistry Department. In her young age she has been scholar of Bruno Scrosati and Stefania Panero: she also has a long-lasting strong collaboration with Aleksandar Matic at the Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden). From 2019 She is leader of the Electrochemistry and energy storage/conversion materials laboratory (https://research.uniroma1.it/laboratorio/163883#/0). The scientific activity mainly concerns the development of innovative battery formulations and energy conversion materials. Scientific activities are reported in 92 Scopus products (H-index = 27, total citations 2228) and 1 European/international patents.

Full Professor at Uniroma1

Paola D’Angelo

Paola D’Angelo is Full Professor in the scientific sector of Physical Chemistry (SSD CHIM/02; SC 03 / A2) at the Department of Chemistry and Senior Research Fellow at the Scuola Superiore di Studi Avanzati Sapienza - SSAS. She is Leader of the Synthesis and Characterization of Innovative and Sustainable Materials laboratory (https://research.uniroma1.it/laboratorio/144971#/0). She is Associate Editor of the Radiation Physics and Chemistry (Elsevier) journal. Her scientific activity mainly concerns the development of innovative sustainable materials using eco-friendly chemical routes and their characterization in functional environment (batteries, chemical reactors, etc). Scientific activities are reported in 165 Scopus products (H-index = 44, total citations 4865).