Claudio Gerbaldi

Senior Post Doc

IIT@POLITO

Phone +39 011 090 3402

Fax +39 011 090 3401

Bio

Born in Torino – Italy, on 26 August 1976.

2002 - Laurea Degree in Chemistry from the University of Torino, discussing a thesis on the characterization of Pd-supported silica-based catalysts for the production of Fine Chemicals.

2002 - Qualifying examination for Chemist practice.

During 2003, Visiting Researcher c/o University of Rome "La Sapienza" in the Prof. B. Scrosati LABFC (Laboratory for Advanced Batteries and Fuel Cells).

During 2004, Visiting Researcher Stage c/o Institut de Recherce sur la Catalyse (IRC-CNRS) in the Prof. A. Tuel laboratories, Lyon (FRANCE).

2006 - Ph.D. in Materials Science and Technology (cycle XVIII) at Politecnico di Torino, Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering. Main goal was the development of a new, easy and low-cost mild hydrothermal synthesis for the preparation of carbon-coated nanostructured LiFePO₄ to be used as positive electrode in lithium-based batteries for automotive applications (International Patent Application PCT/EP2009/008016, “Hydrothermal process for the production of LiFePO₄ powders”, Rockwood SpA & Politecnico di Torino).

2006 – 2009 Post Doctoral Researcher at Politecnico di Torino.

Since January 2010, Senior Post-Doc position at Italian Institute of Technology – IIT@POLITO, Center for Space Human Robotics.

Since 2002 member of Italian Chemical Society - Electrochemistry Division (No. 14201).

Dr. Gerbaldi is author/co-author of 18 scientific articles published in ISI international journals with referee and about 45 National/International conference communications. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the Global Journal of Physical Chemistry, Simplex Academic Publisher. He is a Referee for International journals such as Electrochimica Acta, J. Materials Science, J. Power Sources, European Polymer Journal, J. Solid State Electrochemistry, J. Alloys and Compounds, J. Inorganic Materials, Materials Science and Engineering B.

The research activity carried over the years has been dealing with:

Characterisation of Pd catalyst supported on amorphous silica, using probe molecules, FT-IR and UV-VIS spectroscopy and HR-TEM. Synthesis and electrochemical studies of Pt-supported mesoporous carbons for application as ORR electrodes in Fuel Cells. Synthesis, structural-morphological (XRD with Rietveld refinement, N₂ physisorption analysis, TGA-DTA, Raman, SEM, TEM) and electrochemical characterisation (e.g., potentiostatic I galvanostatic I voltammetric I impedance analyzer) of both cathode and anode nanostructured materials for application in Li-based batteries. Synthesis by free-radical photo-polymerisation (UV-curing) technique of different polymer membranes (e.g., all solid-state, gels, ionic liquid containing, etc...) to be used as electrolytes in Li-based batteries. Preparation of electrodes and polymer electrolyte membranes composites for Li-based batteries and assembling of both lithium and Li-ion cells in the inert atmosphere of an Ar-filled Glove-Box.

Awards and Honors

May 2007 “UniCredit Award” for Innovation in the Research, promoted by UniCredit with Unione Industriale di Torino, il Politecnico e Università degli Studi di Torino, il Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche e l'Università del Piemonte Orientale for its Ph.D. Thesis: "Mesoporous Materials and Nanostructured LiFePO₄ as Cathodes for Secondary Li-ion Batteries: Synthesis and Characterisation".

The paper presented at the International Conference on Advances in Polymer Science & Technology (POLY-2008), New Delhi (INDIA) was adjudged the best paper by the Asian Polymer Association.

Other Publications

1. C. Gerbaldi, S. Bodoardo, S. Fiorilli, M. Piana, N. Penazzi, “Characterization of Mn species in mesoporous systems: an electrochemical study”.

Electrochimica Acta 50 (2005) 5539-5545.

2. G. Meligrana, C. Gerbaldi, A. Tuel, S. Bodoardo, N. Penazzi, “Hydrothermal synthesis of high surface LiFePO₄ powders as cathode for Li-ion cells”

Journal of Power Sources 160 (2006) 516-522.

3. C. Gerbaldi, G. Meligrana, S. Bodoardo, A. Tuel, N. Penazzi, ”FePO₄ nanoparticles supported on mesoporous SBA-15: Interesting cathode materials for Li-ion cells”.

Journal of Power Sources 174 (2007) 501-507.

4. J.R. Nair, C. Gerbaldi, G. Meligrana, R. Bongiovanni, S. Bodoardo, N. Penazzi, P. Reale, V. Gentili, “UV-cured methacrylic membranes as novel gel-polymer electrolyte for Li-ion batteries”.

Journal of Power Sources 178 (2008) 751-757.

5. C. Gerbaldi, J. Nair, C. Bonatto Minella, G. Meligrana, G. Mulas, S. Bodoardo, R. Bongiovanni, N. Penazzi, “Development of gel-polymer electrolytes and nano-structured electrodes for Li-ion polymer batteries”.

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry 38 (2008) 985-992.

6. E.P. Ambrosio, C. Francia, C. Gerbaldi, N. Penazzi, P. Spinelli, M. Manzoli, G. Ghiotti, “Mesoporous carbons as low temperature fuel cell platinum catalyst supports”.

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry 38 (2008) 1019-1027.

7. E.P. Ambrosio, M.A. Dumitrescu, C. Francia, C. Gerbaldi, P. Spinelli, “Ordered Mesoporous Carbons as Catalyst Support for PEM Fuel Cells”.

Fuel Cells 9(3) (2009) 197-200.

8. E. Quartarone, P. Mustarelli, A. Carollo, S. Grandi, A. Magistris, C. Gerbaldi, “PBI Composite and Nanocomposite Membranes for PEMFCs: The Role of the Filler”.

Fuel Cells 9(3) (2009) 231-236.

9. N. Penazzi, S. Bodoardo, R. Bongiovanni, C. Gerbaldi, G. Meligrana, G. Mulas, J. Nair, “Nanostructured Electrodes and Gel-Polymer Electrolyte for an Improved Li-ion Battery”.

Fuel Cells 9(3) (2009) 273-276.

10. E. Quartarone, A. Magistris, P. Mustarelli, S. Grandi, A. Carollo, G.Z. Zukowska, J.E. Garbarczyk, J.L. Nowinski, C. Gerbaldi, S. Bodoardo, “Pyridine-based PBI Composite Membranes for PEMFCs”.

Fuel Cells 9(4) (2009) 349-355.

11. C. Gerbaldi, J.R. Nair, G. Meligrana, R. Bongiovanni, S. Bodoardo, N. Penazzi, “Highly ionic conducting methacrylic-based gel-polymer electrolytes by UV-curing technique”.

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry 39 (2009) 2199-2207.

12. G. Mulas, S. Enzo, C. Bonatto Minella, E. Arca, C. Gerbaldi, N. Penazzi, S. Bodoardo, J. Hassoun S. Panero, “Mechanochemical synthesis and electrochemical properties of nanostructured electrode materials for Li ion batteries”.

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry 13 (2009) 239-243.

13. G. Martra, L. Bertinetti, C. Gerbaldi, R. Maggi, G. Sartori, S. Coluccia, “Pd/SiO₂ as heterogeneous catalyst for the Heck reaction: evidence for a sensitivity to the surface structure of supported particles”.

Catalysis Letters 132 (2009) 50-57.

14. J.R. Nair, C. Gerbaldi, A. Chiappone, E. Zeno, R. Bongiovanni, S. Bodoardo, N. Penazzi, “UV-cured polymer electrolyte membranes for Li-cells: improved mechanical properties by a novel cellulose reinforcement”.

Electrochemistry Communications 11 (2009) 1796-1798.

15. S. Bodoardo, C. Gerbaldi, G. Meligrana, A. Tuel, S. Enzo, N. Penazzi, “Optimisation of some parameters for the preparation of nanostructured LifePO₄/C cathode”.

Ionics 15 (2009) 19-26.

16. C. Gerbaldi, J.R. Nair, Ahmad Shahzada, G. Meligrana, R. Bongiovanni, S. Bodoardo, N. Penazzi, “UV-cured polymer electrolytes encompassing hydrophobic room temperature ionic liquid for lithium batteries”.

Journal of Power Sources 195 (2010) 1706-1713.

17. S. Ferrari, E. Quartarone, P. Mustarelli, A. Magistris, M. Fagnoni, A. Albini, C. Gerbaldi, A. Spinella, “Li⁺ conducting PVdF-HFP composite gel electrolytes based on N-methoxyethyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)-imide ionic liquid”.

Journal of Power Sources 195 (2010) 559-566.

18. C. Gerbaldi, J.R. Nair, G. Meligrana, R. Bongiovanni, S. Bodoardo, N. Penazzi, “UV-curable siloxane-acrylate gel-copolymer electrolytes for lithium-based battery applications”.

Electrochimica Acta 55 (2010) 1460-1467.