Organizing Committee Member
Margherita Venturi
Professor
University of bologna
Italy
Biography
From 1972 to 1991 her main research activity was focused on the field of Radiation Chemistry. In particular, she studied, by means of pulsed and continuous radiolytic techniques, the electron-transfer processes involved in model systems for the conversion of solar energy to chemical energy. In 1992 she moved to the group of Prof. Balzani at the Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician" of the University of Bologna, where she is still working. Her present research activity is dedicated to the design, construction, and characterization of molecular-level devices and machines in the frame of the bottom-up approach to nanotechnology. An innovative aspect of this research is the idea that the concept of macroscopic device and machine can be extended to the molecular level, and that it is possible to design multicomponent systems capable of performing specific functions upon stimulation with external energy inputs. Up to now the studies in this research field succeeded in constructing (i) a number of systems for information processing such as wires, switches, antennas, batteries, logic gates, and (ii) a variety of systems that, powered by chemical energy, electrochemical energy, or light, exhibit machine-like behaviour such as piston-cylinder systems, shuttles, and rotary rings. Very recently a light powered nanomotor has been obtained which has been highlighted in several scientific journals
Research Area
nanotechnology. Inorganic Chemistry , cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemistry.