Emulsions are at the basis of many processes, like in oil industry, and in detergency and of many commodities (foods, pharmaceutics, cosmetics); often, they are made using dangerous and polluting chemicals. Studying emulsions could help the industry to become more green, reducing or substituting these chemicals.
Our research aims at investigating several open problems in the physics of emulsions. What is the link between the effects of surfactants on a single oil-water interface and the ageing of emulsions? What are the main destabilization phenomena? How do drops move in different stages of emulsion ageing? To study this, we combine correlation spectroscopy experiments also removing the effect of gravity by performing experiments in orbit on the International Space Station. We then perform numerical simulations and develop mathematical models to intepret the results and identify different dynamical regimes.
Developing innovative filters to eliminate pollutants
Some pollutants can escape from standard filters; filters for photocatalytic oxidation (PCO, filters formed by catalytic materials activated by light) can degrade them. An ideal filter exploiting advanced oxidation processes (AOP) has large active surface and uses little energy. We study innovative photocatalytic filters based on solid foams built using novel photoactive nanostructures, combining material science and interface science.
Stimuli-responsive nanostructures for medicine and drug delivery
Nanostructures activated by external stimuli can generate physical (heating, mechanical stress) or chemical (generation of radicals) effects on their surroundings.
What if we could develop innovative medical approaches based on these nanostructures to treat health problems that are now difficult to treat?