Sol-Gel Synthesis Strategies for Tailored Catalytic Materials

Introduction.- Tradition Sol-gel: The Chemistry of Alkoxides.- From (Sub)Colloidal Growth to the Gel Structure.- From Wet Gel to the Final Product: Draw Your Way.- Evolution of the Sol-gel Chemistry.- Synthetic Strategies for Metal and Metal Oxide (Supported) Catalysts: Case Studies.

Serena Esposito is an Associate Professor at the Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino (Italy). Graduated magna cum laude in Chemistry at the University of Naples Federico II on July 19th 1996. The thesis was carried out in collaboration with the University of East Anglia, Norwich (UK). Received the PhD degree in Materials Engineering from the University of Naples Federico II, on February 2001, with a dissertation on "Preparation of inorganic thin films for humidity sensors using sol-gel". As part of the PhD, she spent a period of two months at the University of East Anglia, Norwich (UK), working with Prof. Nigel Clayden on the Magic Angle Spinning Solid State NMR (MAS NMR) technique applied to mixed oxide systems. Post-doc research assistant in the subject area: "Thin films for inorganic humidity sensors from sol-gel systems" at the Department of Materials Engineering and Production of the University of Naples "Federico II" from 1/3/2000 to 31/10/2001.
Already during PhD studies, but particularly in the following years of Post-Doctoral fellowship, she contributes to the growth of a research group in the field of Sol-Gel chemistry at the Department of Materials Engineering and Production of the University of Naples "Federico II". She has coordinated the activities of the research area "Thin-film by sol-gel system" and she has actively participated in the implementation of the research laboratory for what concerns the preparation and characterization of thin film by dip coating technique. The research activity was further developed thanks to a project concerning the use of the MAS-NMR tools to study the proton conduction mechanism, awarded in the framework of the program of "Teachers and Researchers' Mobility". The project was developed at the University of East Anglia, Norwich (UK) under the coordination of Prof. N. Clayden.  Such researches supported her academic career which evolved through the rolesof assistant professor at the