Sans Research Group
SUMMARY
My research interests lie in the interface between chemistry and chemical engineering in the area of Sustainable Engineering and Chemistry. My primary research interests are based on the development of innovative catalytic solutions for a variety of processes aiming to tackle the grand challenges that humanity is facing. My research aims to develop Sustainable Manufacturing Processes (SMPs) integrating process intensification, additive manufacturing (3D-printing), heterogeneous (bio)catalysis, real-time analytics and feedback optimisation. This integrative approach will lead to transformative systems for the discovery and processing of new materials, products and chemicals with applications in diverse fields, including waste valorisation and in the fine and pharmaceutical industry. Another area of interest is the development of engineering solutions for the processing of complex chemical systems (e.g. supramolecular chemistry, nanotechnology).
Advanced Molecular and Nanostructured Materials
Development of advanced materials structured across the scales with a primarily focus on chemical catalysis, optoelectornics , energy harvesting and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The materials are structured in a bottom-up fashion, ranging from the molecular, nano and microstructure up to structured solid and active devices manufactured by 3D printing.
Selected publications:
• Nature Communications, 2021, 12, 1-7
• Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2020, 59, 14331-14335
• ACS Catalysis, 2018, 8, 1628-1634
Novel Manufacturing Methods
Exploring the employment of 3D printing to develop active devices with applications in catalysis, reactor engineering, biocatalysis, energy harvesting, etc. Novel materials with molecularly tailored functionalities are synergistically combined with 3D printing to manufacture active and smart devices.
Selected publications:
• Advanced Materials, 2018, 1800159
• ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering,2018 6 (3), 3984-3991
• Lab Chip, 2012, 12, 3267–3271
Advanced Reactor Engineering
Development of integrated and intensified platforms for high added value manufacture under continuous-flow. In-line analytics, including spectroscopic techniques (UV-Vis, NMR, IR, Raman, etc.) are included for rapid an efficient data generation about the processes studied.
Selected publications:
• Reaction Chemistry and Engineering, 2017, 2, 129-136
• Green Chemistry, 2017, 19, 5345-5349
• Nature Chemistry, 2012, 4, 1037–1043
Data Driven Processing
The employment of intelligent algorithms, design of experiments and tailored data acquisition mechanisms enables rapid feedback optimisation, the generation of knowledge from the advanced materials and reactors, and the discovery of new materials and processes.
Selected publications:
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• Nature communications, 2017, 8, 1-8
• Chemical Science, 2015, 6, 1258
• Chem. Soc. Rev., 2016, 45, 2032