Dr Andrea Folli
University Research Fellow in Electrocatalysis
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
My research interests focus on the investigation of structure-activity relationships in photoredox and electrocatalysis.
In our research we use advanced Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and associated hyperfine techniques such as Electron Nuclear Double Resonance (ENDOR), Electron Spin Echo Envelope Modulation (ESEEM) and Hyperfine Sublevel Correlation Spectroscopy (HYSCORE), in combination with a series of electrochemical methods, including but not limited to Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Intensity Modulate Photocurrent/Photovoltage Spectroscopies (IMPS).
Our research goals are aimed at understanding:
- Photocatalysis for environmental remediation and depollution including valorisation of waste into value-added chemicals
- Photo- and electro- catalysis for solar to chemical energy conversion and production of solar fuels via water splitting and CO2 reduction.
- Anodes and cathodes materials for batteries, fuel cells and electrolyzers.
- Catalysts for sustainable synthetic chemistry.
- Reactive radical generation for disinfection and biomedical applications.
Biography
Publications
We are currently unable to retrieve the list of publications. Visit our institutional repository.Teaching
CH2117: Environmental Chemistry
This module discusses the chemistry of the environment, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. Particular attention is devoted to the causes and effects of pollution in the environment, such as smog, acid rain, global warming, ozone depletion, water pollution, and the methods used for pollution control.
Photocatalysis for environmental remediation and depollution including valorisation of waste into value-added chemicals
Since the first reports of photocatalytic water splitting were published in the 1970s, semiconductor photocatalysis has attracted increasing interest for wastewater remediation, removal of air pollutants, self-cleaning surfaces and solar fuels generation. In our lab we adopt a variety of EPR and electrochemical methods to ascertain the nature of paramagnetic states in semiconductor heterogeneous as well as homogeneous photocatalysts, including charge carriers generation, trapping, recombination and transfer, dictating the redox chemistry responsible for macroscopic photocatalytic activity and selectivity
Photo- and electro- catalysis for solar to chemical energy conversion and production of solar fuels via water splitting and CO2 reduction
Establishing an anthropogenic carbon cycle by converting CO2 into fuels and value-added chemicals using solar or other forms of renewables is an attractive means of achieving a carbon-neutral energy outcome, mitigating energy and environmental issues related to CO2 emission, whilst creating a profitable net zero carbon economy. Electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 is a process that helps achieving these goals. Our research aims at understanding the fundamentals of electrocatalysis, including electrical double layers at the interface electrocatalyst(electrode)/electrolyte, interaction of CO2 with electrode surfaces, and the sources of protons underpinning this technology are all subjects of our research endeavour.