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Marco SERRA

Ricercatore t.d. art. 24 c. 3 lett. A
Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche - Sede Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche

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Pubblicazioni

2024 - Nanotubes from Lanthanide-Based Misfit-Layered Compounds: Understanding the Growth, Thermodynamic, and Kinetic Stability Limits [Articolo su rivista]
Sreedhara, M. B.; Khadiev, A.; Zheng, K.; Hettler, S.; Serra, M.; Castelli, I. E.; Arenal, R.; Novikov, D.; Tenne, R.
abstract

Gaining insights into the kinetics and the thermodynamic limits of nanostructures in high-temperature reactions is crucial for controlling their unique morphology, phase, and structure. Nanotubes from lanthanide-based misfit-layered compounds (MLCs) have been known for more than a decade and were successfully produced mostly via a chemical vapor transport protocol. The MLC nanotubes show diverse structural arrangements and lattice disorders, which could have a salient impact on their properties. Though their structure and charge transfer properties are reasonably well understood, a lack of information on their thermodynamic and kinetic stability limits their scalable synthesis and their applicability in modern technologies. In this study, the growth, thermodynamic stability, and decomposition kinetics of lanthanide-based misfit nanotubes of two model compounds, i.e., (LaS)1.14TaS2 and (SmS)1.19TaS2 are elucidated in detail. The nanotubes were carefully analyzed via atomic resolution electron microscopy imaging and synchrotron-based X-ray and electron diffraction techniques, and the information on their morphology, phase, and structures was deduced. The key insights gained would help to establish the parameters to explore their physio-chemical properties further. Furthermore, this study sheds light on the complex issue of the high-temperature stability of nanotubes and nanostructures in general.

2023 - A high-performance "fueled" photodetector based on few-layered 2D ternary chalcogenide NiGa2S4 [Articolo su rivista]
Serra, M; Antonatos, N; Luxa, J; Lajaunie, L; Albero, J; Sabik, A; Linhart, Wm; Garcia, H; Kudrawiec, R; Sedmidubsky, D; Sofer, Z
abstract

2023 - Magnetic Nanocomposites of Coated Ferrites/MOF as Pesticide Adsorbents [Articolo su rivista]
Lazarou, Savvina; Antonoglou, Orestis; Mourdikoudis, Stefanos; Serra, Marco; Sofer, Zdeněk; Dendrinou-Samara, Catherine
abstract

2023 - Photoelectrocatalytic properties of hydroxyalkyl functionalized germananes [Articolo su rivista]
Mosina, K.; Hartman, T.; Serra, M.; Lipilin, F.; Antonatos, N.; Mazanek, V.; Luxa, J.; Regner, J.; Sofer, Z.
abstract

The characteristics of widely explored two-dimensional (2D) layered materials make them promising objects for structural functionalization to adjust their physical and chemical properties. The chemical functionalization of graphene family members has been reported to be useful in catalysis, although the efficiency of organic substitution of germanene, the newborn in the graphene family, remains limited and fairly attracts significant scientific attention. In this study, we explore the photoelectrochemical (PEC) activity of hydroxyalkyl germananes Gen-(CH2)n-OH (n = 2, 6, 10) through PEC-type photodetector experiments, employing excitation wavelengths ranging from 360 to 720 nm. Our findings reveal that organic substitution induces the opening of the germanane band gap, leading to a significant widening up to 2.38 eV and enhanced charge transfer kinetics under visible light irradiation.

2023 - Ti3AlC2 MAX phase conversion to a novel 2D titanium carbo-oxide by an eco-friendly and low-cost method: highly selective gas sensing and supercapacitor evaluations [Articolo su rivista]
Lontio Fomekong, Roussin; Azadmanjiri, Jalal; Matsoso, Joyce Boitumelo; Serra, Marco; Akir, Sana; Dekanovsky, Lukáš; Luxa, Jan; Vejmelková, Eva; Sofer, Zdeněk
abstract

2022 - Improved Electrochemical Performance of NTs-WS2@C Nanocomposites for Lithium-Ion and Sodium-Ion Batteries [Articolo su rivista]
Wei, Shuangying; Serra, Marco; Mourdikoudis, Stefanos; Zhou, Huaijuan; Wu, Bing; Děkanovský, Lukáš; Šturala, Jiří; Luxa, Jan; Tenne, Reshef; Zak, Alla; Zdeněk Sofer, And
abstract

2022 - Signature of Ultrafast Formation and Annihilation of Polaronic States in a Layered Ferromagnet [Articolo su rivista]
Yin, Tingting; You, Jing-Yang; Huang, Yuqing; Thi Thu Do, Ha; Prosnikov, Mikail A.; Zhao, Weijie; Serra, Marco; Christianen, Peter C. M.; Sofer, Zdenek; Sun, Handong; Ping Feng, Yuan; Xiong, Qihua
abstract

2021 - Chiral Phonons and Giant Magneto-Optical Effect in CrBr3 2D Magnet [Articolo su rivista]
Yin, Tingting; Ajit Ulman, Kanchan; Liu, Sheng; Granados del Águila, Andrés; Huang, Yuqing; Zhang, Lifa; Serra, Marco; Sedmidubsky, David; Sofer, Zdenek; Ying Quek, Su; Xiong, Qihua
abstract

2021 - Layered ZnIn2S4 Single Crystals for Ultrasensitive and Wearable Photodetectors [Articolo su rivista]
Valdman, L; Mazanek, V; Marvan, P; Serra, M; Arenal, R; Sofer, Z
abstract

Zinc indium sulfide belongs to the family of layered ternary chalcogenides. Although ZnIn2S4 has a suitable bandgap in the visible range, its optoelectronic properties are not fully investigated. Most photodetectors based on layered semiconductors suffer from large dark currents, which hamper their performance and energy efficiency. In this work, high quality ZnIn2S4 single crystals are synthesized via chemical vapor transport. The free-standing crystals are approximate to 20 mu m thick and up to 2 cm(2) in area and produce large photocurrents upon UV-vis illumination, while also maintaining extremely low currents in the dark. This allows to fabricate a simple photodetector with ohmic contacts, exhibiting extremely small dark currents down to 10(-12) A. The ON/OFF (light/dark) switching ratio reaches value of 10(6), the highest reported for a layered semiconductor. Furthermore, the photodetector exhibits remarkable responsivity of 173 A W-1 and excellent detectivity of 1.7 x 10(12) Jones. To demonstrate sensitivity and flexibility of the ZnIn2S4 crystals, a wearable device is also fabricated. The wearable is able to record human heart rate and compare it with signal measured by a commercial smartwatch. The results suggest a substantial research potential in further explorations of ZnIn2S4 and other ternary chalcogenides for optoelectronic applications.

2020 - Quaternary LnxLa(1-x)S-TaS2 nanotubes (Ln=Pr, Sm, Ho, and Yb) as a vehicle for improving the yield of misfit nanotubes [Articolo su rivista]
Serra, Marco; Lajaunie, Luc; Sreedhara, Mb; Miroshnikov, Yana; Pinkas, Iddo; Calvino, Jose J.; Enyashin, Andrey N.; Tenne, Reshef
abstract

2020 - YS-TaS2 and YxLa1–xS-TaS2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) Nanotubes: A Family of Misfit Layered Compounds [Articolo su rivista]
Hettler, Simon; Sreedhara, M. B.; Serra, Marco; Sinha, Sudarson S.; Popovitz-Biro, Ronit; Pinkas, Iddo; Enyashin, Andrey N.; Tenne, Reshef; Arenal, Raul
abstract

2019 - An Overview of the Recent Advances in Inorganic Nanotubes [Articolo su rivista]
Serra, Marco; Arenal, Raul; Tenne, Reshef
abstract

2019 - Synthesis and characterization of quaternary La(Sr)S–TaS2 misfit-layered nanotubes [Articolo su rivista]
Serra, Marco; Ashokkumar Anumol, Erumpukuthickal; Stolovas, Dalit; Pinkas, Iddo; Joselevich, Ernesto; Tenne, Reshef; Enyashin, Andrey; Leonard Deepak, Francis
abstract

2018 - Nanotubes from misfit layered compounds [Articolo su rivista]
Serra, Marco; Tenne, Reshef
abstract

2018 - Nanotubes from the Misfit Compound Alloy LaS-NbxTa(1–x)S2 [Articolo su rivista]
Stolovas, Dalit; Serra, Marco; Popovitz-Biro, Ronit; Pinkas, Iddo; Houben, Lothar; Calvino, José J.; Joselevich, Ernesto; Tenne, Reshef; Arenal, Raul; Lajaunie, Luc
abstract

2018 - Synthesis and Characterization of Nanotubes from Misfit (LnS)(1+y)TaS2 (Ln=Pr, Sm, Gd, Yb) Compounds [Articolo su rivista]
Serra, Marco; Stolovas, Dalit; Houben, Lothar; Popovitz-Biro, Ronit; Iddopinkas, ; Kampmann, Felix; Maultzsch, Janina; Ernestojoselevich, ; Tenne, Reshef
abstract

2016 - Visible light photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production from water–methanol mixtures of open-framework V-doped mixed-valence titanium phosphate Author links open overlay panel [Articolo su rivista]
Serra, Marco; Baldovi, Herme G.; Albarracin, Ferran; Garcia, Hermenegildo
abstract

2015 - Doped Framework Iron Hydroxyl Phosphate as Photocatalyst for Hydrogen Production from Water/Methanol Mixtures [Articolo su rivista]
Serra, Marco; Baldovi, Herme G.; Alvaro, Mercedes; Garcia, Hermenegildo
abstract

2015 - Photocatalytic Activity of Au/TiO2 Photocatalysts for H2 Evolution: Role of the Au Nanoparticles as a Function of the Irradiation Wavelength [Articolo su rivista]
Serra, Marco; Albero, Josep; García, Hermenegildo
abstract

2015 - Photocatalytic hydrogen generation from water-methanol mixtures using "black" anatase obtained by annealing of titanate nanotubes [Articolo su rivista]
Serra, M.; Khan, A.; Asihi, A. M.; Kosa, S. A.; Garcia, H.
abstract

Digestion for an extended period of a commercial nanoparticulated TiO2 sample under strong basic conditions (10M NaOH) leads to the formation of titanate nanotubes with long aspect ratio. The most remarkable observation was the appearance of light-brown colour in the titanate sample that is reflected in the presence for this titanate nanotube sample of a continuous absorption in the visible region decreasing in intensity towards the red. Titanate nanotubes were annealed under hydrogen atmosphere at 350 and 500 degrees C. The last temperature leads to the reconstitution of anatase phase and an increase in the intensity of the black colour. The photocatalytic activity of the set of titanium samples was tested for hydrogen generation from water-methanol mixtures under monochromatic visible light (532 nm) or UV light (355 nm) or under simulated sunlight. It was determined that the most active sample in all conditions was the one that after NaOH digestion was submitted to hydrogen annealing at 500 degrees C. This sample exhibits even higher activity than that observed for "black" titania prepared as previously reported by direct treatment of nanoparticulated TiO2 with H-2 without NaOH digestion. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

2014 - Contrasting photocatalytic activity of commercial TiO2 samples for hydrogen generation [Articolo su rivista]
Montes-Navajas, P.; Serra, M.; Corma, A.; Garcia, H.
abstract

A series of 20 commercial titanium dioxide samples, including Evonik P-25, Millenium, Huntsman, Crenox, Kronnos or Hombikat, have been tested as photocatalysts for hydrogen generation from water or water/methanol mixtures under monochromatic visible light (532 nm) or polychromatic simulated sun light irradiation. Remarkable variations in the photocatalytic activity were found from one sample to other. While the most active sample under monochromatic 532 nm irradiation was Millenium Tiona 595 and the photocatalytic activity ranking follows the order of the red shift of the absorption band onset, the ranking under simulated sun light was different and difficult to rationalize. Under simulated sun light irradiation, the most active samples were Evonik P25 and Dupont Ti-pure. Overall, our study is of interest to illustrate the large variation in the photocatalytic activities for commercial TiO2 samples depending on the photocatalytic reaction and conditions used. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

2014 - Synergy of the combination of titanate nanotubes with titania nanoparticles for the photocatalytic hydrogen generation from water-methanol mixture using simulated sunlight [Articolo su rivista]
Serra, M.; Garcia, H.
abstract

Alkali digestion of titanium nanoparticles leads, after neutralization, to the formation of titanate nanotubes with long aspect ratio. One salient change in the formation of titanate nanotubes is the observation of an extended visible absorption band up to 550 nm, responsible for their brown colour. Combination of titanate nanotubes with commercial titanium dioxide nanoparticles, either Evonik P25 or Millennium PC500, results in an enhanced photocatalytic activity for hydrogen generation from water-methanol mixtures. This synergy between the two titanium semiconductors has an optimum for a certain proportion of the two components and is observed in both the absence and the presence of platinum or gold nanoparticles. The best efficiency under simulated sunlight irradiation was for a combination of 12 wt.% titanate nanotubes containing 0.32 wt.% platinum in 88 wt.% Millennium PC500, where a two-time increase in the hydrogen generation is observed versus the activity of Millennium PC500 containing platinum. This synergy is proposed to derive from the interfacial electron transfer from titanate nanotubes undergoing photoexcitation at wavelengths in which Millennium PC500 does not absorb this form of titania nanoparticles. Our results illustrate how the combination of several titanium semiconductors can result in an enhancement efficiency with respect to their individual components. © 2014 Marco Serra and Hermenegildo Garcia.

2013 - Alginate as Template in the Preparation of Active Titania Photocatalysts [Articolo su rivista]
Buaki-Sogo, M.; Serra, M.; Primo, A.; Alvaro, M.; Garcia, H.
abstract

A simple and reliable procedure to prepare TiO2 and Au/TiO2 samples with high photocatalytic activity for hydrogen generation from water/methanol mixtures is reported, which uses natural alginate as the templating agent. Aqueous solutions of sodium alginate are flocculated as beads by Ti=O2+ ions in the presence or absence of AuCl4-. The resulting alginate beads containing approximately 25wt% of Ti and various Au contents are dehydrated by ethanol washings before drying under supercritical CO2 conditions. The key step in the preparation method is to obtain Au/Ti-containing alginate aerogels of approximately 700m2g-1 Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area. The surface area of the TiO2 and Au/TiO2 samples obtained after calcination of the organic biopolymer at 450°C under air ranges from 187 to 136m2g-1, and the Au content has been varied from 1.3 to 0.05wt% to optimize the photocatalytic activity of the samples. TiO2 forms in the anatase phase according to XRD and Raman spectroscopy. The highest activity Au/TiO2 sample (containing 0.556wt% of Au) prepared by means of the biopolymer templating method was approximately eight times more active for hydrogen generation using a solar simulator than was an analogous Au-containing TiO2 P25 sample prepared by means of the conventional deposition-precipitation method. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

2013 - Influence of the irradiation wavelength on the photocatalytic activity of Au-Pt nanoalloys supported on TiO2 for hydrogen generation from water [Articolo su rivista]
Montes-Navajas, P.; Serra, M.; Garcia, H.
abstract

Seven samples of P25 titania containing Au-Pt nanoalloys at constant total metal loading (0.25% wt), very similar particle size (1.5 nm) and different proportions of Pt (0.0, 22.8, 27.8, 35.0, 50.0, 69.0 and 100.0% wt) have been prepared and characterized. Formation of real nanoalloys was supported by the shifts in the binding energy values of Au and Pt 4f7/2 peaks in XPS. Using 532 nm laser excitation it was observed that the six samples exhibit similar photocatalytic activity for hydrogen generation in the presence of methanol as a sacrificial electron donor. In contrast, in pure water remarkable differences in efficiency for hydrogen generation between the sample containing exclusively Au that was the most active and the others containing Pt were observed. In addition, oxygen evolution was also observed in the absence of methanol under visible light irradiation. Our results illustrate the potential that nanoalloys offer to optimize the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2013.