Discovering the Materials of Tomorrow | Webinar 9 – Scientific Insights for Metal Halide Perovskites and Next-Generation Batteries at Università di Bologna

Join us for the ninth webinar in our Discovering the Materials of Tomorrow series, delving into materials research and technologies at Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna with Associate Professor Daniele Cortecchia and postdoctoral researcher Giampaolo Lacarbonara. These esteemed researchers will guide us through the latest research on Metal Halide Perovskite Semiconductors and Sustainable Pathways to Next-Generation Batteries.

Associate Professor Daniele Cortecchia will give us a presentation on “Structural and optoelectronic properties correlations in metal halide perovskites”, which are considered promising materials for photovoltaics, photonics, light-emitting devices, and lasers. He will focus on how layered perovskites enhance luminescence efficiency, environmental stability, and ionic diffusion prevention while offering flexibility in lead-free compositions.

Postdoctoral researcher Giampaolo Lacarbonara will discuss the growing need for efficient and sustainable energy storage in his presentation, “Sustainable Pathways to Next-Generation Batteries", emphasising that next-generation batteries must achieve higher energy density, longer lifespan, lower costs, and utilise environmentally friendly materials and processes. In his presentation, Dr. Lacarbonara will outline two complementary strategies for sustainable battery technologies.

• Associate Professor Daniele Cortecchia

Cortecchia obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees in industrial chemistry from Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna in 2012, followed by a Ph.D. from the Interdisciplinary Graduate School at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore in 2018. In 2017, he joined the Centre for Nano Science and Technology at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT-CNST) in Milan, working under Dr. Annamaria Petrozza. During this time, he received a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Seal of Excellence Fellowship (2018–2020) and later an MSCA Individual Fellowship (2020–2022). He returned to the Università di Bologna in 2022 as a Senior Assistant Professor and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2025. Currently, he leads the ERC Starting Grant project SUPER (SUpramolecularly engineered functional PERovskite quantum wells), focusing his research on metal halide perovskite semiconductors, particularly their self-assembly and supramolecular organisation.

• Dr. Giampaolo Lacarbonara

Lacarbonara is a postdoctoral researcher from the the Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician” at Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna. His research focuses on advanced electrochemical energy storage systems, spanning lithium metal and solid-state batteries to copper-based redox flow batteries. He has developed in situ and operando methodologies to probe electrode–electrolyte interfaces, contributing to a deeper understanding of interphase dynamics and stability. His recent work includes the stabilisation of lithium metal anodes through electrolyte engineering, the design of sustainable polymeric separators from renewable sources, and the operando study of redox species in flow batteries. Dr. Lacarbonara is author of 15+ peer-reviewed papers, co-inventor of a patent on sustainable separators, and an active collaborator in national and European projects on next-generation and sustainable battery technologies.

Discover Una Europa's Future Materials and Technologies Focus Area with the 'Discovering the Materials of Tomorrow' Webinar Series

Standing at the intersection of science, technology and innovation, Una Europa's Future Materials and Technologies Focus Area presents a webinar series dedicated to exploring solutions to global challenges through a multidisciplinary lens. The series will tackle issues including energy, the environment, and medical global challenges, bridging the gap between science, and society.

These interactive webinars provide a platform for participants to engage with experts from across Una Europa’s 11 partner universities, together delving into the latest research findings and asking necessary questions. The series encourages the exchange of ideas and the cultivation of novel approaches to tackle complex problems.

Embracing open knowledge sharing and adapting to emerging technologies are fundamental aspects driving these webinars. As a participant, you have the chance to be part of discussions on novel developments in Future Materials and Technologies, contributing to a collective pool of knowledge across diverse disciplines.