About

Main research area:

Rational design of novel porphyrin-based complexes for multiple purposes.

The group is focused on the development of discerning synthetic protocols for tuning chemical and photophysical properties of the target molecules. The chemistry of these compounds is related/studied by physical-inorganic-organic methodologies advance spectroscopy and electrochemistry.

Our recent attention is on alternative energy and solar fuels. Therefore, we develop new chromophores for dye sensitized solar cells, we design new catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction, for CO2 reduction to useful molecules and for water oxidation.

Metalloporphyrin complexes occur naturally in hemoglobin, myoglobin and cytochromes, their synthetic analogues are mainly studied in our team. These compounds are widely used as chromophores, as catalysts, in new materials, and as potential therapeutic agents.

All the above applications are possible because the porphyrin ligand imparts interesting and unusual properties to the chemistry of the central atom. They can be easily synthetically modified in order to prepare various compounds with certain properties.

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Techniques involved: inorganic & organic synthesis, coordination chemistry, structural and thermodynamic characterization of complexes, molecular design, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR), mass spectrometry, X-ray crystallography, Ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), Gas Chromatography, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Maldi-TOF mass spectrometry, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).

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Previous Employment/Occupation:

2019 – 2021 Department of Chemistry, University of Crete – Research Associate (Κ.Α.:10312) (ECO CRETE).

2014 – 2016 Department of Chemistry, University of Crete – Research Associate (Κ.Α.:03746) «Synthesis and studies of Push-Pull type porphyrins: Potential applications in converting solar energy into electricity».

2009 – 2012 Department of Chemistry, University of Crete – Research Associate (Κ.Α.: 02807) «Bio-inspired Solar Energy Utilization (BIOSOLENUTI) 229927». (https://biosolenuti.gr/)

2004 – 2006 Department of Chemistry, University of Crete – Research Associate (Κ.Α.: 01949) «Energy conversion at the molecular level: Model compounds of cytochrome oxidase C for the reduction of molecular O2 to H2O».

2002 – 2004 Department of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, UK, Postdoctoral Researcher.

1999 – 2000 Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, UK, Laboratory Assistant.

06-09/1997 Université de Paris-Sud, Γαλλία – Researcher.

  

Participation in Research Projects:

1997-2021: Participation in 10 research projects funded by EU and National bodies.