The Laboratory of Chemical and Photochemical Reactions and Spectrometric Analysis (PHRASA) at the University of Bergamo is constituted by two units, A3 and B5.

Unit B5 deals with organic chemistry and photochemistry, collaborating with several laboratories in Italy and abroad, with the aim of developing useful new molecules, with applications in the fields of optics, optoelectronics and nanomaterials. Besides, it also works in the fields of photochemical mineralization of organic pollutants in wastewater and of synthetic photocatalysis.

Unit A3 is active in the field of structural analysis by X-ray diffraction, with applications in the characterization of several types of organic and inorganic materials such as ceramics for fuel cells or microcrystalline powders.

RESEARCH

Organic chemistry
This laboratory deals with the synthesis of helical aromatic systems containing one or more nitrogen atoms (azahelicenes and their derivatives). The presence of nitrogen atoms allows complexation with metal ions or the formation of quaternary salts, or even direct functionalization of the carbon atoms in the ring. Such molecules can find applications in the nanofunctionalization of several kind of organic or inorganic surfaces, which can be modified to impart them specific physical or optical properties. Some applications concern the fields of OLEDs and non-linear optics. PHRASA collaborates with several research groups with the aim of the determination and optimization of the behaviour and properties of these molecules, and for defining and broadening their fields of application.

Photocatalysis
Titanium dioxide (TiO2), in its different crystalline forms, can find application as photocatalyst both in the degradation of athmospheric pollutants such as NOx and in the mineralization of organic pollutants in wastewater. It can also be employed as photocatalyst for the functionalization of organic substrates in chemical processes characterized by low environmental impact.

X-rays Diffraction Analysis
X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) analysis is a powerful technique for elucidating solid state structures, as well as characterising polycrystalline materials. The XRPD method is well suited for qualitative and quantitative phase analysis, crystallite size determination, and structure determination and refinement. The Laboratory?s staff has collaborated successfully with multinational companies (pharmaceutical and metals industry) and local businesses, although it works primarily for academic research activities.

EDUCATION

The PHRASA laboratory can support experimental projects of undergraduate students of Engineering and of Ph.D. students working in the fields of nanotechnology and environmental chemistry.

SERVICES

The PHRASA laboratory collaborates with industrial partners in the field of photocatalysis; it is open to both collaborations and analytical support activities with industrial partners. It is possible to perform X-ray structural analysis and spectroscopic and chromatographic analyses, as well as preparation and characterization of functional nanomaterials.