Matteo Monai

Utrecht University

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Bert M. Weckhuysen

Utrecht University

Paolo Fornasiero

University of Trieste

Tiziano Montini

University of Trieste

Raymond J. Gorte

University of Pennsylvania

Florian Meirer

Utrecht University

Charlotte Vogt

Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

Guusje Delen

Utrecht University

Michele Melchionna

University of Trieste

Angela E. M. Melcherts

Utrecht University

Jonathan D. Poplawsky

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Cooperative Institutions

Utrecht University

National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology

University of Pennsylvania

University of Trieste

Institute for the Chemistry of OrganoMetallic Compounds

Cancer Genomics Centre

University of Delaware

Philadelphia University

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

ETH Zurich

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Towards Sustainable H₂ Production: Rational Design of Hydrophobic Triphenylamine‐based Dyes for Sensitized Ethanol Photoreforming

ChemSusChem (2017)

Alessio Dessì Matteo Monai Matteo Bessi Tiziano Montini Massimo Calamante

Abstract Donor–acceptor dyes are a well‐established class of photosensitizers, used to enhance visible‐light harvesting in solar cells and in direct photocatalytic reactions, such as H 2 production by photoreforming of sacrificial electron donors (SEDs). Amines—typically triethanolamine (TEOA)—are commonly employed as SEDs in such reactions. Dye‐sensitized photoreforming of more sustainable, biomass‐derived alcohols, on the other hand, was only recently reported by using methanol as the electron donor. In this work, several rationally designed donor–acceptor dyes were used as sensitizers in H 2 photocatalytic production, comparing the efficiency of TEOA and EtOH as SEDs. In particular, the effect of hydrophobic chains in the spacer and/or the donor unit of the dyes was systematically studied. The H 2 production rates were higher when TEOA was used as SED, whereas the activity trends depended on the SED used. The best performance was obtained with TEOA by using a sensitizer with just one bulky hydrophobic moiety, propylenedioxythiophene, placed on the spacer unit. In the case of EtOH, the best‐performing sensitizers were the ones featuring a thiazolo[5,4‐ d ]thiazole internal unit, needed for enhancing light harvesting, and carrying alkyl chains on both the donor part and the spacer unit. The results are discussed in terms of reaction mechanism, interaction with the SED, and structural/electrochemical properties of the sensitizers.

Triethanolamine

Triphenylamine

Electron donor

Moiety

Electron acceptor

10.1002/cssc.201701707

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Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Absorption through Intact and Damaged Human Skin

Molecules (2019)

Marcella Mauro Matteo Crosera Matteo Monai Tiziano Montini Paolo Fornasiero

Cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles (NPs) are used in polishing products and absorbents, as promoters in wound healing, and as organopesticide decontaminants. While systemic bioaccumulation and organ toxicity has been described after inhalation, data on CeO2 NPs’ transdermal permeation are lacking. Our study was an in vitro investigation of the permeation of 17-nm CeO2 NPs dispersed in synthetic sweat (1 g L−1) using excised human skin on Franz cells. Experiments were performed using intact and needle-abraded skin, separately. The average amount of Ce into intact and damaged skin samples was 3.64 ± 0.15 and 7.07 ± 0.78 µg cm−2, respectively (mean ± SD, p = 0.04). Ce concentration in the receiving solution was 2.0 ± 0.4 and 3.3 ± 0.7 ng cm−2 after 24 h (p = 0.008). The Ce content was higher in dermal layers of damaged skin compared to intact skin (2.93 ± 0.71 µg cm−2 and 0.39 ± 0.16 µg cm−2, respectively; p = 0.004). Our data showed a very low dermal absorption and transdermal permeation of cerium, providing a first indication of Ce skin uptake due to contact with CeO2.

Cerium oxide

Human skin

10.3390/molecules24203759

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Enhanced Long‐Term Stability of a Photosensitizer with a Hydroxamic Acid Anchor in Dye‐Sensitized Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

European Journal of Organic Chemistry (2023)

Giorgia Salerno Bianca Cecconi Ottavia Bettucci Matteo Monai Lorenzo Zani

Abstract Climate change mitigation on a global scale will only be possible through the achievement of ambitious decarbonisation goals, requiring an energy transition that involves switching from fossil fuels to clean fuels such as hydrogen. The photocatalytic approach is one of the most studied methods for directly converting sunlight into hydrogen. In this work, we present the synthesis, characterization, and application of the PTZ1 ‐ HA dye, which was obtained by replacing the terminal conventional carboxylic anchoring moieties of a previously studied phenothiazine‐based dye ( PTZ1 ) with hydroxamic acid functionalities. The photoinduced performance of the two dyes as photosensitizers was compared in both dye‐sensitized solar cells and dye‐sensitized photocatalytic systems. PTZ1 ‐ HA ‐sensitized photocatalysts showed improved stability in hydrogen generation due to the introduction of the hydroxamic acid as an alternative anchor group, which was shown to slow down hydrolysis in aqueous media. Even though the light harvesting ability of PTZ1 ‐ HA was lower than that of PTZ1 , the higher stability of PTZ1 ‐ HA ‐sensitized devices allowed for improved photocatalytic generation of H 2 over prolonged periods. The superior long‐term efficiency of the hydroxamic acid based dye is important in view of potential practical applications.

Hydroxamic acid

10.1002/ejoc.202300924

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The Role of Water in Carbon Dioxide Adsorption in Porphyrinic Metal‐Organic Frameworks

ChemCatChem (2023)

Bettina Baumgartner P. Tim Prins Jaap N. Louwen Matteo Monai Bert M. Weckhuysen

Capturing and converting CO

10.1002/cctc.202300722

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In situ Nanoscale Infrared Spectroscopy of Water Adsorption on Nanoislands of Surface‐Anchored Metal‐Organic Frameworks

Angewandte Chemie (2020)

Guusje Delen Matteo Monai Florian Meirer Bert M. Weckhuysen

Abstract Despite technological advancements, probing gas‐solid interfaces at the nanoscale is still a formidable challenge. New nano‐spectroscopic methods are needed to understand the guest–host interactions of functional materials during gas sorption, separation, and conversion. Herein, we introduce in situ Photoinduced Force Microscopy (PiFM) to evidence site‐specific interaction between Metal‐Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and water. To this end, we developed amphiphilic Surface‐anchored MOF (SURMOF) model systems using self‐assembly for the side‐by‐side hetero‐growth of nanodomains of hydrophilic HKUST‐1 and hydrophobic ZIF‐8. PiFM was used to probe local uptake kinetics and to show D 2 O sorption isotherms on (defective) HKUST‐1 paddlewheels. By monitoring defect vibrations, we visualized in real‐time the saturation of existing defects and the creation of D 2 O‐induced defects. This work shows the potential of in situ PiFM to unravel gas sorption mechanisms and map active sites on functional (MOF) materials.

Characterization

10.1002/ange.202011564

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Citations (5)

Exploring the 3D printing of molybdenum carbide-based catalysts for the reverse water gas shift reaction: A multi scale study

Chemical Engineering Journal (2024)

Arturo Pajares Jacob Andrade‐Arvizu Disha Jain Matteo Monai Jasper Lefevere

Water-gas shift reaction

10.1016/j.cej.2024.149048

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Citations (7)

メタン燃焼における階層的Pd系触媒の活性に及ぼす二酸化硫黄の影響【Powered by NICT】

Applied Catalysis B Environment and Energy (2017)

Matteo Monai Montini Tiziano Michele Melchionna Duchon Tomas Kus Peter

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The water gas shift reaction over Pt–CeO₂ nanoparticles confined within mesoporous SBA-16

Journal of Materials Chemistry A (2017)

Daniela Carta Tiziano Montini Maria F. Casula Matteo Monai S. Bullita

Pt–CeO₂ nanoparticles confined in mesoporous silica SBA-16 as successful catalysts for the single step, low temperature water gas shift reaction.

Water-gas shift reaction

10.1039/c7ta03640j

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Citations (27)

The effect of sulfur dioxide on the activity of hierarchical Pd-based catalysts in methane combustion

Applied Catalysis B Environment and Energy (2016)

Matteo Monai Tiziano Montini Michele Melchionna Tomáš Duchoň Peter Kúš

Chemisorption

Physisorption

10.1016/j.apcatb.2016.09.016

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Citations (84)

Dynamic restructuring of supported metal nanoparticles and its implications for structure insensitive catalysis

Nature Communications (2021)

Charlotte Vogt Florian Meirer Matteo Monai Esther Groeneveld Davide Ferri

Some fundamental concepts of catalysis are not fully explained but are of paramount importance for the development of improved catalysts. An example is the concept of structure insensitive reactions, where surface-normalized activity does not change with catalyst metal particle size. Here we explore this concept and its relation to surface reconstruction on a set of silica-supported Ni metal nanoparticles (mean particle sizes 1-6 nm) by spectroscopically discerning a structure sensitive (CO2 hydrogenation) from a structure insensitive (ethene hydrogenation) reaction. Using state-of-the-art techniques, inter alia in-situ STEM, and quick-X-ray absorption spectroscopy with sub-second time resolution, we have observed particle-size-dependent effects like restructuring which increases with increasing particle size, and faster restructuring for larger particle sizes during ethene hydrogenation while for CO2 no such restructuring effects were observed. Furthermore, a degree of restructuring is irreversible, and we also show that the rate of carbon diffusion on, and into nanoparticles increases with particle size. We finally show that these particle size-dependent effects induced by ethene hydrogenation, can make a structure sensitive reaction (CO2 hydrogenation), structure insensitive. We thus postulate that structure insensitive reactions are actually apparently structure insensitive, which changes our fundamental understanding of the empirical observation of structure insensitivity.

Restructuring

Particle (ecology)

Metal particle

10.1038/s41467-021-27474-3

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Citations (61)