Prof. Dr Alexandra Kuriganova, Platov South-Russian State Polytechnic University, Russia

Prof. Dr. Alexandra Kuriganova is a distinguished researcher in electrochemical nanomaterials, specializing in fuel cells, supercapacitors, and lithium-ion batteries 🔬⚡. She earned her Diplom (2008) and Ph.D. (2011) from South Russian State Technical University, focusing on nanosized Pt/C catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) 🔥🔋. Her international research collaborations span Germany 🇩🇪, France 🇫🇷, and Russia 🇷🇺, leading to innovative breakthroughs in catalyst development. Currently an Associate Professor and Senior Research Fellow at Platov South Russian State Polytechnic University, she has made significant contributions to nanodispersed metal oxides for energy applications 🌍🔎. Her work in pulse electrolysis and electrochemical dispersion techniques has redefined electrocatalyst synthesis, resulting in numerous high-impact publications 📚. A dedicated scientist and educator, she continues to advance nanotechnology for sustainable energy solutions, collaborating with leading institutions worldwide 🌱💡.

Publication Profile

Scopus

Education

Prof. Dr. Alexandra Kuriganova earned a Diplom (2008) in Chemical Technology of High-Molecular Compositions from South Russian State Technical University (Novocherkassk Polytechnic Institute), Novocherkassk. He continued his studies at the same institution, obtaining a Ph.D. (2011) in Technology of Electrochemical Processes and Corrosion Protection. His thesis, titled “Electrochemical Preparation of Nanosized Pt/C Catalysts for Fuel Cells with Proton Exchange Polymer Membrane,” was supervised by Prof. Dr. Nina V. Smirnova. Dr. [Name] has participated in prestigious international research fellowships, including the Institute of Problems of Chemical Physics (2011), TU Dresden (DAAD Scholarship, 2012), the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (2012), and NUST “MISIS” (2013) . 🌍🔬

Experience

Prof. Dr. Alexandra Kuriganova is a distinguished researcher in electrochemical materials and nanotechnology. She began her academic career as an Assistant Professor at South Russian State Technical University (2008-2013) 🎓, where she conducted research and taught chemical engineering courses. Since 2013, she has been an Associate Professor at Platov South Russian State Polytechnic University 🏛️, leading academic and research initiatives. As a Senior Research Fellow at the Research Institute of Nanotechnologies & Novel Materials (2014-Present) 🧪, she spearheads advancements in nanomaterials for energy storage and catalysis. Her international collaborations include studies on diesel oxidation catalysts 🚗, Li-ion battery anodes 🔋, Pt nanocrystal compressibility 🏗️, and nanoparticle growth 🔬.

Research Interest

Prof. Dr. Alexandra Kuriganova specializes in nanodispersed metal and metal oxide materials for electrochemical applications ⚡🔬, including proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), supercapacitors, and Li-ion batteries. Her research explores electrochemical oxidation and dispersion for nanoparticle synthesis. Collaborating with top institutions worldwide 🌍, she has worked on Pt/C catalysts for PEMFCs, Pt/γ–Al₂O₃ diesel oxidation catalysts, and SnO₂ nanoparticles for Li-ion batteries. She has partnered with scientists from Russia 🇷🇺, Germany 🇩🇪, France 🇫🇷, and beyond, leading to impactful joint publications 📚. Her work advances energy storage and catalysis, driving innovation in electrochemical technologies. 🚀🔋

Research Focus

Prof. Dr. Alexandra Kuriganova’s research focuses on the synthesis and application of nanodispersed metals and metal oxides for electrochemical energy storage and catalysis ⚡🔋. She has significantly contributed to fuel cell technology by developing high-performance Pt/C catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) 🚀. Her work in supercapacitors and batteries includes tin oxide-based anodes for Li-ion batteries and electrocatalytic materials for energy storage ⚡🔋. She pioneers pulse electrolysis techniques for synthesizing bimetallic electrocatalysts using electrochemical dispersion 🎯. Additionally, her studies on Pt/γ–Al₂O₃ catalysts for diesel oxidation involve collaborations with global research institutions 🌍. Her interdisciplinary expertise in electrochemistry, nanotechnology, and materials science has led to groundbreaking discoveries and high-impact publications 📚.

Publication Top Notes

1️⃣ New Insights into Controlling the Functional Properties of Tin Oxide-Based Materials 🧪
2️⃣ Theoretical and Technological Fundamentals of Pulse Electrolysis for Electro- & Catalytically Active Materials ⚡
3️⃣ Electrochemistry of Pt and Pd Under Pulse Electrolysis Conditions 🏗️
4️⃣ Pt Catalysts Prepared via Top-down Electrochemical Approach: Synthesis & Support Effects 🔬
5️⃣ Tungsten Oxide Nanopowders: Pulse AC Electrosynthesis & Photocatalytic Performance 💡
6️⃣ Fabrication of Nano-In₂O₃ Phase Junction for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance 🌱
7️⃣ Pulse Electrolysis Technique for Preparation of Bimetal Tin-Containing Electrocatalytic Materials ⚙️
8️⃣ Investigation of Ambient Temperature Influence on PEMFC Characteristics: From Single Cell to Stack 🔋
9️⃣ Electrochemical Dispersion Technique for Sn-Doped Pt Particles as Electrocatalysts 🚀
🔟 Comparison of Bottom-Up & Top-Down Approaches to Pt/C Electrocatalyst Synthesis 🏭

Weiquan Cai | Chemistry and Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

Posted on 16/08/202416/08/2024 by ScienceFather

Weiquan Cai | Chemistry and Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

Prof Weiquan Cai, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangzhou University, China

Prof. Weiquan Cai: A Leading Contender for the Best Researcher Award.

Publication profile

google scholar

Academic and Professional Background

Prof. Weiquan Cai is a Distinguished Professor and Academic Leader at Guangzhou University, holding this position since 2017. He earned his BS in Chemical Technology from Wuhan Institute of Technology in 1995, an MS in Environmental Engineering from China University of Petroleum in 2002, and a PhD in Chemical Technology from the Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2005. His postdoctoral research focused on Material Chemistry and Physics at Wuhan University of Technology, and he was a visiting scholar at Kent State University (2009-2010). In 2012, he joined Wuhan University of Technology as a professor in the School of Chemical Engineering.

Research and Innovations

Prof. Cai has led over 30 research projects funded by various government bodies and enterprises, including five from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and four from Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Plan. His research includes notable industrial applications, such as a high-efficiency grease cleaning agent. He has published over 200 papers, with around 165 indexed by SCI, including nine Highly Cited Papers. His work has earned significant citations and includes over 115 national invention patents, with 60 granted. His research has led to advancements in materials and chemical engineering, evidenced by his recent publications in prominent journals like Fuel and Chemical Engineering Journal.

Books Published (ISBN)

Prof. Cai co-authored “Chemical Engineering Principles Experiment” (ISBN: 978-7-5629-3466-0), published by Wuhan University of Technology Press in 2011, alongside Guangxu Zhang and Xuanjun Wu.

Patents Published/Under Process

He holds more than 115 national invention patents, with 60 authorized, including one USA invention patent.

Recent Journal Publications

Sorptive-enhanced biogas steam reforming over Pb-modified Ni-CaO bifunctional catalysts (Fuel, 2024). Immobilization of Ni on MOF-derived CeO2 for low-temperature dry reforming of methane (Fuel, 2024). Preparation of poly (vinyl alcohol)/polydopamine/tannin acid coupling of heterogeneous advanced oxidation processes and photocatalysis (Chemical Engineering Journal, 2024).

Publication top notes

Coupling of heterogeneous advanced oxidation processes and photocatalysis in efficient degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride by Fe-based MOFs: Synergistic effect and …

Synthesis of hierarchical Ni (OH) 2 and NiO nanosheets and their adsorption kinetics and isotherms to Congo red in water

Facile synthesis of ordered mesoporous alumina and alumina-supported metal oxides with tailored adsorption and framework properties

Template-free synthesis of hierarchical spindle-like γ-Al 2 O 3 materials and their adsorption affinity towards organic and inorganic pollutants in water

Engineering Bismuth–Tin Interface in Bimetallic Aerogel with a 3D Porous Structure for Highly Selective Electrocatalytic CO₂ Reduction to HCOOH

Synthesis of boehmite hollow core/shell and hollow microspheres via sodium tartrate-mediated phase transformation and their enhanced adsorption performance in water treatment

Preparation of amino-functionalized magnetic biochar with excellent adsorption performance for Cr (VI) by a mild one-step hydrothermal method from peanut hull

Rapid degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride by heterogeneous photocatalysis coupling persulfate oxidation with MIL-53 (Fe) under visible light irradiation

Preparation and properties of quaternary ammonium chitosan-g-poly (acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) superabsorbent hydrogels

Maria Luisa Astolfi | Chemistry and Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

Posted on 16/08/202416/08/2024 by ScienceFather

Maria Luisa Astolfi | Chemistry and Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

Dr Maria Luisa Astolfi, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

Publication profile

google scholar

Education

In 2005, the individual graduated from Sapienza University of Rome with a Master’s degree in Chemistry, focusing on a thesis titled “New analytical procedure for the chemical characterization of suspended particulate matter in the atmosphere,” under the guidance of Prof. Enrico Cardarelli and Dr. Cinzia Perrino. They further pursued a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry of Real Systems at the same institution from 2005 to 2008, culminating in 2009 with a thesis on “Chemical characterization of suspended particulate matter in the atmosphere: analytical problems and studies for the identification of emission sources,” supervised by Prof. Silvia Canepari.

Appointments

Currently, from October 2020 to September 2025, they serve as an Assistant Professor RTD-A at the Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome. In addition, they hold several academic appointments, including being a substitute member of the exam committee for the Ph.D. course in Chemical Sciences at Sapienza University for the 40th cycle, and serving on various committees for research and contractual assignments at the university.

Editorial Activity

They have held several editorial roles, including serving as an invited guest editor for “Advances in Analytical Strategies to Study Cultural Heritage Samples, 2nd Edition” in Molecules, and guest editor for several special issues in journals like Frontiers in Analytical Science and Analytica, focusing on topics like contaminants in environmental matrices and green analytical methods.

Teaching Experience

Since 2020, they have been teaching various courses at Sapienza University of Rome, including “Equilibri Chimici e Tecniche Strumentali di Analisi” and “Chimica Analitica III,” contributing significantly to the curriculum in the Department of Chemistry. They were also an invited teacher in 2021 for a specialized course on monitoring and source identification methods for atmospheric particulate matter.

Research Centre Affiliations and Society Memberships

They have been affiliated with the Research Centre for Applied Sciences for the Protection of the Environment and Cultural Heritage (CIABC) at Sapienza University of Rome since June 2021. They are also a member of the Italian Chemical Society and the Italian Aerosol Society since 2020.

Research Activities

Their research primarily focuses on developing and optimizing analytical methods for the elemental analysis of complex matrices, including environmental, biological, and food samples. They emphasize the importance of efficient sample preparation methods and apply these analytical techniques to environmental monitoring and biomonitoring, particularly assessing the impact of chemical contaminants on human health and environmental quality.

Summary of Scientific Achievements

The individual has a substantial body of work, with 85 publications, including 78 articles, a review, four conference papers, a book chapter, and an editorial. Their work has spanned from 2006 to 2024, and they have also contributed to patents, proceedings, and books.

Publication top notes

Agro-industrial wastes as potential carriers for enzyme immobilization: A review

Characterisation of the traffic sources of PM through size-segregated sampling, sequential leaching and ICP analysis

Comparative elemental analysis of dairy milk and plant-based milk alternatives

Seasonal variations in the chemical composition of particulate matter: a case study in the Po Valley. Part II: concentration and solubility of micro-and trace-elements

Enhancement of source traceability of atmospheric PM by elemental chemical fractionation

Determination of soluble ions and elements in ambient air suspended particulate matter: inter-technique comparison of XRF, IC and ICP for sample-by-sample quality control

Characterization of Italian multifloral honeys on the basis of their mineral content and some typical quality parameters

A prophylactic multi-strain probiotic treatment to reduce the absorption of toxic elements: In-vitro study and biomonitoring of breast milk and infant stools

Efficiency evaluation of food waste materials for the removal of metals and metalloids from complex multi-element solutions

Optimization and validation of a fast digestion method for the determination of major and trace elements in breast milk by ICP-MS

Tamara Erceg | Chemistry and Materials Science | Hypothesis Achievement Award

Posted on 29/07/202429/07/2024 by ScienceFather

Tamara Erceg | Chemistry and Materials Science | Hypothesis Achievement Award

Dr Tamara Erceg, Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, Serbia

Dr. Tamara Erceg is a Research Associate at the Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, with a Ph.D. in Polymer Science. Her research focuses on polymer materials, including their design, synthesis, and recycling, emphasizing green chemistry and biodegradable packaging. Dr. Erceg is involved in educational activities, teaching courses in synthetic polymer chemistry and polymer processing. She has published extensively on biobased materials and active packaging, contributing to high-impact journals. Additionally, she reviews papers for top-tier journals and is engaged in various academic and scientific committees. 🌿🔬📚

Publication profile

Scopus

Education

Dr. Tamara Erceg holds a Ph.D. in Polymer Science from the University of Novi Sad, completed in 2019 with an impressive average grade of 10.00. Their doctoral thesis focused on “Structuring of Polymer Networks Based on Acrylamide and Acrylic Acid.” Prior to this, Dr. [Name] earned both an MSc and a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Engineering from the same university, graduating with an average of 9.70. Their Master’s thesis explored “The Properties of Water-in-Oil Emulsions Stabilized by Polyglycerol Polyester Emulsifiers.” 🧪🎓

Experience

Since 2013, Tamara Erceg has been delivering private lectures on Probability and Statistics, and Chemistry 📚. Since 2016, they have been actively involved in educational and pedagogical work at the Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad 🎓. Their responsibilities include conducting and preparing laboratory and computational exercises for Materials Engineering courses such as Synthetic Polymer Chemistry, Plastic Processing Technology, and Recycling of Polymer Materials 🧪🔬. They also contribute to research funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia 🌟🔍. [Name] is dedicated to advancing both teaching and research in the field.

Projects

From 2010 to 2019, the user contributed to nanocomposites and functional materials research funded by the Serbian Ministry of Education. They have since engaged in diverse projects, including biodegradable materials, diagnostic probes, and bioeconomy applications. Notable roles include managing the “E-NOSE” Horizon Europe project (2023) and leading the “BugControl” initiative (2024). Other projects involve optimization of food carbohydrates, waste valorization, and advanced hydrogels for agriculture. They have also collaborated internationally on quantum correlations and wearable smart patches. Their work spans significant research funding and innovative developments. 🌍🔬📈🌱🧪

Research focus

Based on the provided research publications, the individual’s research focus seems to center on sustainable and eco-friendly materials in food and packaging industries. Their work includes developing biodegradable films, active coatings, and nanotechnology-based coatings, which aim to enhance food preservation and packaging efficiency. They also explore the incorporation of natural substances like essential oils and plant-based extracts for improving product stability and shelf life. The research emphasizes using biopolymers and plant-derived materials to create environmentally friendly and functional products. 🌱📦🔬

Publication top notes

Updating the Status quo on the Eco-Friendly Approach for Antioxidants Recovered from Plant Matrices Using Cloud Point Extraction

Preparation and characterization of biodegradable cellulose acetate-based films with novel plasticizer obtained by polyethylene terephthalate glycolysis intended for active packaging

Fortification of chocolate with microencapsulated fish oil: Effect of protein wall material on physicochemical properties of microcapsules and chocolate matrix

A comprehensive approach to chitosan-gelatine edible coating with β-cyclodextrin/lemongrass essential oil inclusion complex — Characterization and food application