CV ENG
Francesco Di Franco was born on 27 November 1985. He is Associate Professor with the Department of Engineering at Università degli Studi di Palermo (Palermo, Italy). He got the PhD in Chemical and Materials Engineering in 2014 from Università degli Studi di Palermo, then from 2014 to 2016 he has been post doctoral researcher in the same University. From September 2016 to July 2017, he was post doctoral researcher at Institut de Recherche de Chimie, Paris, Chimie ParisTech, Physico-Chimie des surfaces Lab, IRCP, Paris, France.
His research topics are: Electrochemical Surface Treatments (Anodizing, Electrodeposition, Electropolymerization), Corrosion and protection of metals and alloys, Electrochemical and Photoelectrochemical processes, Membranes fabrication for PEM Fuel Cells.
He is member of International Society of Electrochemistry (ISE), Italian Chemical Society-Electrochemistry Division.
EDUCATION
Jan. 2011 – Dec. 2013
Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
PhD in Chemical and Materials Engineering (curriculum Electrochemical Engineering).
PhD Thesis: Electrochemical Fabrication of Metal/Oxide/Conducting Polymer Junctions for electronic devices (Tutors: Prof. Dr. M. Santamaria and Prof. F. Di Quarto).
During the PhD, he spent two months as Visiting PhD Student in the Zentrum für Elektrochemie of Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Bochum, Germany) under supervision of Dr. Fabio La Mantia.
Sept. 2006 – Nov. 2009
Master Degree in Chemical Engineering with marks 110/110 cum laude and award for thesis work, released from Chemical Engineering Degree.
Master Thesis: Electrochemical Fabrication of metal/oxide/conducting polymer junctions.
(Supervisors: Prof. Dr. F. Di Quarto and Dr. M. Santamaria).
Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
WORK EXPERIENCE
Jan. 2024 – present
Università degli Studi di Palermo, Department of Engineering, Palermo, Italy
Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering (Applied Physical Chemistry, Scientific Sector ICHI-01/A)
Jan. 2021 – Jan. 2024
Università degli Studi di Palermo, Department of Engineering, Palermo, Italy
Assistant Professor, RTD-B, in Applied Physical Chemistry (Scientific Sector ING-IND/23)
Dec. 2017 – Dec. 2020
Università degli Studi di Palermo, Department of Engineering, Palermo, Italy
Research fellow, RTD-A, in Applied Physical Chemistry (Scientific Sector ING-IND/23)
Sept. 2016 – July 2017
Institut de Recherche de Chimie, Paris, Chimie ParisTech, Physico-Chimie des surfaces Lab, IRCP, Paris, France
Post-Doctoral Researcher, Research project “Physico-chemical characterization of passive films by Photocurrent Spectroscopy”
July 2015 – July 2016
Università degli Studi di Palermo, Civil, Environmental, Aerospace, Materials Engineering Department (DICAM), Palermo, Italy
Post-Doctoral Researcher, Research Grant by Hoffmann-Roche on “Physicochemical characterization by in situ techniques (PCS, EIS, DA) of passive films and corrosion layers on 316L SS and related metals formed in different conditions”.
Feb. 2014 – Feb. 2015
Università degli Studi di Palermo, Civil, Environmental, Aerospace, Materials Engineering Department (DICAM), Palermo, Italy
Post-Doctoral Researcher, Research Project “Electrochemical Fabrication of metal/oxide/conducting polymer junctions for electronic devices”.
Jan. 2010 – Dec. 2010
Università degli Studi di Palermo, Chemical Engineering Department, Palermo, Italy
Graduated Scholar, Research activity on “Physico-chemical characterization of anodic films, grown on valve metals and valve metals alloys, by non-destructive methods based on a.c. electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and photocurrent spectroscopy”.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Sep 2021– present, Chemical Engineering Master’s Degree, Palermo, Italy
Lecturer for course in Physical Chemistry of dispersed systems.
Sep. 2021 – present, Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree, Palermo, Italy
Lecturer for course in Corrosion and protection of metals.
Feb. 2023 – present, Electrical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree, Palermo, Italy
Lecturer for course in Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion Systems.
Feb. 2021 – Sep.2021, Electrical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree, Palermo, Italy
Lecturer for course in Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion Systems.
Sept. 2018 – Sep.2021, Aerospace Engineering Master’s Degree, Palermo, Italy
Lecturer for course in Corrosion and protection of metals.
Feb. 2012 – present, Teaching assistant for course in Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage, Applied Electrochemistry, Photoelectrochemistry, Corrosion and protection of metals.
SCIENTIFIC OUTPUT
Co-author of 84 scientific papers in International Journal (on Scopus or ISI Web of Knowledge)
Co-author of 5 Chapters on International Books.
Co-author of 101 Communications in International and National Conferences.
Presenting Author of 17 Oral Communications (3 Invited Lecture) in International Conferences.
Presenting Author of 14 Oral Communications (1 Plenary Lecture and 4 Invited Lectures) in National Conferences.
Presenting Author of 4 Invited Tutorial Lecture
AWARDS
2010, Division of Electrochemistry, Italian Chemical Society, Award for Master thesis sponsored by Saipem Spa (Eni Group): Electrochemical Fabrication of metal/oxide/conducting polymer junctions.
2014, Division of Electrochemistry, Italian Chemical Society, Award for PhD thesis sponsored by De Nora Foundation: Electrochemical Fabrication of Metal/Oxide/Conducting Polymer Junctions for electronic devices.
2019, International Society of Electrochemistry, ISE Travel Award for Young Electrochemistry.
2021, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Premio Roberto Piontelli “per contributi scientifici o tecnologici nel settore della corrosione o dell'energetica elettrochimica o della chimico-fisica dei processi che avvengono agli elettrodi”.
SELECTED SYNERGISTIC ACTIVITIES
Reviewer for Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Electrochimica Acta, Corrosion Science, Metals, Coatings, ACS Omega, Energies, RSC Advances, Food Control, Materials Chemistry and Physics, Thin Solid Films, Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, Metallurgia Italiana, Surface and Coating Technology.
Guest Editor of a special issue of Coatings on "Anodizing Processes for the Production of Advanced Functional Coatings".
Member of the scientific committee of "XXXIX Meeting of the Electrochemistry Group of the Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry and 3rd E3 Mediterranean Symposium: Electrochemistry for Environment and Energy" 2 July – 5 July 2018, Madrid, Spain.
Member of the organizing committee INTERNATIONAL SPRING SCHOOL OF ELECTROCHEMISTRY (ISSE 2019) 19th - 23rd May 2019, Castellammare del Golfo (TP).
Member of the organizing committee “Giornate Nazionali della Corrosione” che si sono svolte dal 3 al 5 Luglio 2019 a Palermo (Italia).
Member of the organizing committee of the Symposium 11 “Corrosion and corrosion protection strategies”, 71st ISE (International Society of Electrochemistry) Annual Meeting, 30 August-4 September 2020, Belgrado, Serbia.
Membership: International Society of Electrochemistry, The Electrochemical Society, Italian Chemical Society, GRICU (Gruppo di Ingegneria Chimica dell’Università).
In 2010 passed the government exam and licensed as a profession engineer, and enrolled as a member of the Italian Engineering Society, Industrial Engineering section.
PATENT
- Metodo per il trattamento superficiale di leghe di magnesio per applicazioni biomedicali, domanda di Brevetto n. 102019000023586 depositata il 11/12/2019. Il brevetto è stato concesso in data 01.12.2021.
- Un procedimento per il trattamento di acciaio zincato, domanda di Brevetto n. 102019000023661 depositata il 11/12/2019. Il brevetto è stato concesso in data 06.12.2021.
- Processo per la preparazione di rivestimenti anticorrosione su leghe di alluminio, Domanda di Brevetto n. 102020000023767 depositata il 08/10/2020.
RESEARCH PROJECT
- "Physico-chemical characterization by in situ techniques (PCS, DA, EIS) of passive films and corrosion layers on 316L SS and related metals formed in different conditions", finanziato da Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Penzberg / Germany, 01-07-2014 - 30-08-2015 (partecipa in qualità di Collaboratore), (DICAM), Università degli Studi di Palermo.
- TecHnology And materials for safe Low consumption And low life cycle cost veSSels And crafts THALASSA, PON Ricerca e Innovazione 2014-2020 – Area di specializzazione: Blue Growth, 01/09/2018-01/03/2021 (partecipa in qualità di Collaboratore), Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo.
- “Indagini sulla causa della perforazione di tubazioni in AISI 316L nell’impianto antincendio del pontile NATO di Augusta”, Contratto Conto Terzi tra Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, Aerospaziale e dei Materiali (DICAM) e Cooperativa Muratori e Cementisti, Novembre-Dicembre 2018 (partecipa in qualità di Collaboratore), Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, Aerospaziale e dei Materiali (DICAM), Università degli Studi di Palermo.
- “VERIFICA DELLE CONDIZIONI DI PASSIVITÀ DELL’ACCIAIO IN CONDIZIONI DI PROTEZIONE CATODICA”, finanziato da APCE ( Associazione per la Protezione dalle Corrosioni Elettrolitiche ) Service, 13/05/20-13/05/21 (partecipa in qualità di Collaboratore), Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo.
- “Eliminazione bicromato di sodio e sostituzione con sostanze non soggette ad autorizzazione (all. XIV REACH) per la produzione di clorati, Contratto Conto Terzi tra il Dipartimento di Ingegneria e la Società Chimica Bussi S.p.A., durata 24 mesi, approvato dal Dipartimento di Ingegneria il 09/09/2020, (partecipa in qualità di Collaboratore), Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo.
- “Attività di studio per la caratterizzazione degli ossidi di alluminio con lo scopo di correlare caratteristiche morfologiche, strutturali e composizionali con le proprietà elettriche ed elettroniche degli ossidi stessi”, Convenzione di ricerca tra il Dipartimento di Ingegneria e la società TDK Foil Italy SpA, durata 12 mesi, approvato dal Dipartimento di Ingegneria il 09/09/2020, (partecipa in qualità di Collaboratore), Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo.
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS
- G. Thompson e P. Skeldon, Corrosion and Protection Centre - School of Materials, The University of Manchester (UK).
- H. Habazaki, Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo (Japan).
- P. Marcus, Chimie ParisTech, École nationale supérieure de Chimie de Paris, Paris (France).
- F. La Mantia, Energiespeicher– und Energiewandlersysteme, Universität Bremen (Germany).
- C. M. Rangel, LNEG, Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Unit, Lisboa (Portugal).
- R. Macaluso, M. Mosca, e C. Calì, Thin Films Laboratory, Dipartimento di Energia, Ingegneria dell’Informazione e modelli Matematici (DEIM), UniversitaÌ€ di Palermo (Italy).
- I. Gatto e A. Saccà, CNR ITAE, Institute for Advanced Energy Technologies “N. Giordano”, Messina (Italy).
- J.-L. Reverchon, Thales, Research & Technology, Palaiseau Cedex (France).
- S. Virtanen, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Erlangen (Germany).
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Electrochemical surface treatments (Anodizing, Electrodeposition, Electropolymerization).
- Corrosion and protection of metals and alloys.
- Electrochemical and Photoelectrochemical processes
- Membranes fabrication for PEMFC and DMFC.
link Applied Electrochemistry Lab:
https://sites.google.com/view/app-electrochemistry-lab
link Profilo Google Scholar:
https://scholar.google.it/citations?user=BkqNAtcAAAAJ&hl=it