Mineralogy, crystallography and innovative materials

The interdisciplinary research activity is aimed at revealing the intimate structure of natural and synthetic solids at various scales, to study phenomena on Earth, and to develop cutting-edge materials with unique and specific properties and applications, respecting our planet.

It covers the fields of mineralogy, crystallography, crystal physics, crystal chemistry, physical, crystallographic and crystal-chemical characterization of minerals and analogues of synthesis, thermodynamics of the mineral phase, science and technology of mineral materials, from both an experimental and theoretical point of view. The research also concerns the study of mineral surfaces, the interaction between organic/biological matter and mineral surfaces, phyllosilicates, clay minerals and clays.

For these purposes, specific investigation methodologies are developed and used, such as scanning probe microscopy (SPM, AFM, etc.), quantum mechanics (QM), electron microscopy (SEM, ESEM, TEM), electron diffraction (ED), X-ray microanalysis (Si-Li, SDD), Monte Carlo simulations for SEM-EDS microanalysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis, infrared and UV spectroscopy, finite element analysis (MEMS, and electromechanics).