Welcome to a seminar in the series SmallTalks [about Nanoscience] arranged by Nano Area of Advance.
Speaker: Adriano Pierini, Postdoc, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.
Coffee will be served after the seminar. Students are welcome to participate!
Overview
Date:
Starts 19 October 2026, 15:00Ends 19 October 2026, 16:00Location:
Language:
English
Abstract
Chemical reactivity at water-air interfaces has emerged as a key factor in processes ranging from atmospheric chemistry to catalysis. Recent evidence suggests that water microdroplets provide uniquely reactive environments, where the accumulation of reactive oxygen species can significantly enhance the activation of small molecules.
This effect opens new possibilities for the transformation of greenhouse gases such as methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) into value-added products, contributing to strategies for mitigating their environmental impact.
This contribution presents a combined conceptual and computational perspective on interfacial reactivity, highlighting the molecular mechanisms that govern chemical transformations in confined aqueous environments. By bridging fundamental insight and potential applications, the work aims to advance the understanding of water-mediated reactivity and its role in sustainable chemical processes.
- Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Assistant Professor, Quantum Technology, Microtechnology and Nanoscience