Fundamental investigation of industrially important polymerization processes.

Innovative Polymer Chemistry, polymeric ionic liquids, organic catalysis, polymers for Energy and Environment.

His current research interests are focused on the following topics: polymer reaction engineering aspects of polymerization in dispersed media (e.g., kinetics, modeling, high solids content formulations), waterborne polymer/inorganic hybrid nanocomposites for anticorrosion coatings, polymerization of water soluble monomers as additives for concrete, renewable resource monomers and their application for the production of novel adhesives and coatings, and electrospinning of polymer latexes.

Currently he is focused on the preparation of new materials for their incorporation in perovskite-based solar devices.

Tunable membranes and stimuli-responsive membranes, mass transport and interfacial phenomena in membrane separation processes, biomolecular recognition in non-conventional solvents.

His fields of interests include: polymer solution rheology, structured fluids, morphology, nucleation, crystallization and crystallization kinetics of semi-crystalline materials and of multiphasic materials (in particular polymer blends, block copolymers, biopolymers and nano-composites).

Biodegradable polymers, polylactides, micro/nano structural analysis, crystallinity, polymer composites, polymer blends, mechanical properties, thermoplastic processes, regenerative medicine.

Computational studies of chemical and biological systems in condensed phases, under confinements, and at interfaces. In addition, conformations and free energies of synthetic and biological macromolecules, such as DNA-protein recognition and ligand-receptor binding.

Production of waterborne polymer/polymer and polymer/inorganic nanocomposite dispersion & molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for biotechnological applications.

Photopolymerization

Sustainable polymerization, organocatalysis, polymers for nanomedicine

Theoretical and experimental study of polymer blends, their interactions and interphases; thermal properties, morphology, nucleation, crystallization and crystallization kinetics of semi-crystalline materials and of multiphasic materials (in particular polymer blends, block copolymers, biopolymers and nano-composites)

Her fields of interest include also the preparation and characterization of polymer based nanocomposites for controlled drug release.

Poly (vinyl alcohol), chitosan, graft copolymers, polymer miscibility, hydrogels.

Polymer/polymer complexes, polymer blends, specific interactions, structural analysis of crystalline polymers by FTIR, molecular modeling, synthesis, graft copolymers.

Focused on new techniques for producing polymeric particles with controllable microstructure and morphology

Porous scaffolds, polymer composites, bioglass, surface functionalization by plasma, protein grafting, electrospinning, tissue engineering.

Biodegradable polyesters, polylactides, stereocomplexation, miscibility, specific interactions, crystallinity, molecular fragility, composites, radiopacity, polydopamine, mechanical properties, biodegradation, thermoplastic transformation procedures, high temperature thermoplastics (HTTP).

Fundamental aspects of functional polymers: structural and phase behavior of organic semiconductors, crystallization, liquid crystals, soft-photonics, low dimensionality (confinement) effects on polymer materials.

Simulation at the quantum scale of structural properties, reactivity and design of polymers and catalysts.

Complex polymer systems, structural analysis, atomic force microscopy, thermal characterization, rheology, 3D printing.

Synthesis of hybrid nanocomposites of cerium oxide/acrylates with improved UV absorption properties.

The fundamental investigation of waterborne polymers with special attention to the influence of functional polymeric emulsifiers on film formation and properties.