Nationality Italy Institution SOLEIL | Institutions SOLEIL | |
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Alma mater Sapienza University of Rome Fields Physical chemistry, Synchrotron light source | ||
Andrea Zitolo (born 1980, Pescina) is an Italian scientist specialized in physical chemistry and material science.
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Life and career
Zitolo, who was born in the Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, grew up in Ladispoli, a city that is currently part of the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital. After his diploma at the Liceo Scientifico Sandro Pertini, he started his studies at Sapienza University of Rome. He graduated in chemistry with a specialization in Physical Chemistry and top marks (110 cum laude/110). At the same University, he obtained his PhD in Chemical Sciences with a thesis on “Structural investigation of lanthanoid coordination: a combined XAS and Molecular Dynamics study” and he started his career as researcher. Years after, he moved to Paris, to work at the Synchrotron Soleil where he is currently employed as scientist. Italian press said he moved to France "in order to revolution the world of low-cost energy".
Although his works are mostly published in English, he is fluent in Italian, French and English.
On 2016, among other Italian celebrities, he served as Testimonial for the World Water Day campaign of the Green Cross.
Recent scientific works
On 2015, his discoveries on material science have been published on Nature Materials. Particularly, Zitolo, through his collaboration with the University of Montpellier II, improved global knowledge on fuel cells and oxygen reduction ("the structure of potential catalysts’ active sites revealed").
Currently, his research interest focuses on the application of x ray absorption spectroscopy in understanding the structure and properties of PEM fuel cell catalysts.
After his works on the possibility of obtaining energy from hydrogen through non-precious catalysts, he declared during an interview to Radio24 that he is confident to have these products on the market in the next few years.