Clotilde Cucinotta

Dr. Clotilde Cucinotta is an EPSRC Fellow in the Department of Chemistry at Imperial College London, where she has led independent research since 2018. Her work focuses on computational modeling of solid-liquid interfaces, electron transport phenomena, and energy conversion systems using advanced molecular dynamics and first-principles methods.

Her educational background includes:

• Master's in Condensed Matter Physics, University of Messina (Italy)
• PhD from University of Modena and INFM-CNR-S3 excellence centre (Italy)

Dr. Cucinotta's research integrates computational chemistry and materials science to investigate interfacial processes critical for energy technologies. She specializes in modeling electrified interfaces under operational conditions, with emphasis on platinum-water systems, 2D material reactivity, and electrochemical energy conversion. Her methodologies bridge quantum mechanical simulations with macroscopic electrochemical behavior, enabling predictive design of catalysts and energy storage materials. Current projects address CO₂ conversion, battery electrode interfaces, and corrosion mechanisms through atomistic simulations.

Analysis of her 2021-2025 publications reveals consistent focus on solid-liquid electrochemical interfaces, particularly platinum-water systems under bias. Her work demonstrates methodological innovation in simulating potential-controlled interfaces while advancing fundamental understanding of capacitive response, wettability, and reaction mechanisms. Key thematic areas include electrocatalysis for sustainable fuels, nanoscale battery materials, and computational tools for realistic interface modeling.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Prestigious EPSRC Fellowship supporting her independent research program

Funded by her EPSRC Fellowship, Dr. Cucinotta leads a computational research group developing novel simulation frameworks for electrochemical interfaces. She mentors early-career researchers in computational chemistry and maintains collaborations with experimental groups at Trinity College Dublin and ETH Zurich. Her grant portfolio centers on fundamental interface science with applications in energy conversion and storage.

Her research is conducted within Imperial College London's Department of Chemistry, utilizing high-performance computing infrastructure for large-scale molecular dynamics and quantum simulations. The computational laboratory focuses on developing open-boundary methods for realistic electrochemical interface modeling under operational conditions.