I undertook my undegraduate course in Chemistry at the University of Parma and I obtained my Bachelor in 2022, under the supervision of Prof. Dalcanale. There, I worked on host-guest interactions, focusing on the study of quinoxaline cavitands for the complexation of perfluorinated micropollutant in aqueous media. In late 2022, I started my Masters degree in Chemistry at the University of Padova, working with self-assembled chromophores. During my master's I was a visiting student at the University of Vienna, where I worked on azaparacyclophanes prepared via catalyst-transfer macrocyclization, under the supervision of Prof. Bonifazi.

I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Materials Science and Technology, and I work on supramolecular polymers for solar fuels production. I am currently a visiting scholar at the group of Prof. E. W. Meijer at TU/e.

My name is Aurora Beltrame, and I was born in 2002. I’m currently a Master’s student in Chemistry at the University of Padua. I’m carrying out my thesis research under the supervision of Prof. Luka Ðorđević. My project focuses on the development and investigation of the photocatalytic activity of a cobalt-based macrocycle. I hold a bachelor’s degree in industrial chemistry from the University of Padua. During my undergraduate studies, I worked on the development of Metal-Organic-Framework for photocatalytic applications within the same research group. In my free time, I enjoy travelling, especially to coastal destinations, as well as reading, listening to music, and spending time with friends over good food and conversation. 

I obtained my M.Sc. in Chemistry (UniPd) in 2023. My thesis dealt with the synthesis of metal complexes and catalytic studies. After graduating, I moved to Technical University of Munich for a six-month period granted by Erasmus+ Traineeship. There, I worked on the synthesis of encapsulating metal complexes in the Pöthig research group. In the end of 2023, I enrolled in the PhD programme in Materials Science and Technology (UniPd). 

My interests are mainly focused on 'life'-like supramolecular systems and materials for conversion, storage and use of solar light. Currently, I am working on transient supramolecular polymers. I am currently a visiting scholar at the group of Prof. A. Walther at University of Mainz.

I earned my M.Sc. degree in Chemistry at the University of Padova in March 2024 with a thesis regarding the application of ultrafast optical spectroscopies for the characterization of materials. After graduating, I was awarded a research fellowship for investigating the photophysical properties of self-assembled organic chromophores. In November 2024 I enrolled in the "Photoinduced Processes and Technologies" PhD Course of National Interest.

My research interests are focused on the preparation of supramolecular aggregates, their photophysics properties and photocatalytic applications.

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In my free time I like to read books and enjoy listening to music. Other than that, I try to balance between passion for sports and love for food.

Ferdinando is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in our group. He obtained his PhD from the University of Nottingham in 2023 under the supervision of David B. Amabilino. His doctoral research focused on the synthesis of donor–acceptor and acceptor–acceptor molecules, as well as their electronic characterization.

In 2023, he joined Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) under the supervision of Yves H. Geerts, where he worked on the synthesis and characterization of chiral and prochiral molecules for the development of systems exhibiting the CISS (Chirality-Induced Spin Selectivity) effect. Since February 2026, he has been a member of our group, where his current research focuses on the synthesis of acceptor-based molecules for the formation of supramolecular aggregates and the stabilization of their radicals.

Outside the lab, Ferdinando enjoys taking long walks, photographing panoramic landscapes, collecting coins, and following motor racing.

I am currently working on donor-acceptor dyes to perform visible-light photocatalysis. 

I obtained my Master’s degree in 2025 at the University of Padova under the supervision of Professor Michele Maggini, working on cubane derivatives for pharmaceutical applications and hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs).
I am currently pursuing a PhD in Materials Science and Technology, with research activities focused on advanced materials for energy storage. My work combines aspects of organic synthesis and materials chemistry, with particular interest in the development of functional systems for next-generation energy-related applications.

In my free time, I enjoy running, cycling, and listening to music.

I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Chemistry from the University of Padova in 2024, with a compilation thesis focused on graphene oxide-polymer composite materials for regenerative medicine applications. I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Industrial Chemistry at the University of Padova and I’m working on donor-acceptor organic dyes for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. In particular, I am investigating new molecular designs to better understand how structural variations affect the photophysical properties and photocatalytic performance of these molecules.

Outside the lab, I enjoy mountain hiking and practicing sports. I am also passionate about Formula One and motorsports in general.

I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in industrial chemistry at the University of Padova. My thesis research focuses on the photocatalytic reduction of acetylene to ethylene through the development of innovative catalytic systems based on Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs). I am investigating MOFs functionalized with non-noble metals as platforms for promoting sustainable photochemical transformations and improving the efficiency of selective acetylene conversion.

Beyond my academic pursuits, I am passionate about competitive sport fishing. Throughout my sporting career, I have earned the title of Italian Individual Champion and achieved several podiums finishes at the World Championships, including two bronze medals, two silver medals, and one gold medal in the team event.

Shiting Luo is a visiting doctoral candidate in Padova, Italy. She studied Chemistry at Anhui University of Technology and obtained her Master of Science degree in 2023. During her master’s studies, her research mainly focused on the design, synthesis, and properties of large organometallic cage compounds based on half-sandwich structures. Since 2023, she has been pursuing a PhD degree at the School of Energy, Power and Mechanical Engineering, North China Electric Power University, majoring in Hydrogen Energy Science and Engineering. Her current research focuses on the application of ruthenium-based composite materials for electrocatalytic hydrogen production via water splitting. In March 2026, she joined the University of Padua, where her research focuses on MOF-based photocatalytic oxidation of glycerol.

Kui Zeng received his PhD (magna cum laude) in Organic Chemistry & Biomaterials in 2022 from the Georg-August University of Göttingen, Germany, under the supervision of Prof. Kai Zhang and Prof. Manuel Alcarazo (second supervisor). His doctoral research focused on developing novel organic catalytic methods using sustainable bioresources, such as sugars and polysaccharides, for the preparation of value-added materials. These discoveries were highlighted by Nature Portfolio and Synfacts. Furthermore, through collaboration with Prof. Thomas Groth at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany, Kui also developed novel glycosaminoglycan-mimetic biomaterial by the modification of polysaccharides for biomedical engineering applications. Following his PhD, he joined the University of Oxford, UK, as a Postdoctoral Researcher, where he focused on the preparation of polymeric sensors for electrochemical targeted anion recognition. Later, during his postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of Arizona, USA, his work mainly focused on developing novel degrader biomaterials for targeted protein degradation via PROTACs and LYTACs. While working in the USA, in 2025, Kui was awarded the Young Researchers 2024 SoE funding as Principal Investigator (NextGeneration EU – PNRR – Italian Ministry of University and Research) to start his research as a Junior Assistant Professor, generously hosted by Prof. Luka Đorđević. In 2026, Kui was further awarded the University of Padova STARS Starting Grant (STARS-StG 2025) as Principal Investigator. Currently, his primary research interests lie at the intersection of organic chemistry, photocatalysis, (poly)saccharides chemistry, frameworks, and glycan-based biomaterials. He has published more than 20 papers on peer review journals with more than 1000 citations, and has an h-index of 13 (Google Scholar). Since 2023, Kui has served as a Youth Editor and Guest Editor for seven international journals published by WILEY and ELSEVIER.