Gianfranco Pacchioni

Gianfranco Pacchioni is Full Professor at the Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca. He serves as Vice-Director of his Department and Director of the Solar Energy Research Center. His career spans institutions in Germany (Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Freie Universität Berlin), Spain (University of Barcelona), France (University of Paris VI), and the US (IBM Almaden Research Center).

• PhD in Physical Chemistry from Freie Universität Berlin (1984)
• Laurea in Chemistry from University of Milano (1978)

His research focuses on the electronic structure of oxides and supported metal clusters for applications in surface chemistry, catalysis, photocatalysis, and energy production. He investigates defects in oxides, diffusion/nucleation processes, and oxide ultrathin films using theoretical methods.

Key publication trends include oxide-metal interfaces, cluster stability, and charge transfer mechanisms, with applications in heterogeneous catalysis and nanomaterials for energy.

• Alexander von Humboldt Fellow (1993)
• Nasini Medal (1994)
• Federchimica Prize (1996)
• Humboldt Research Award (2005)
• European Academy of Sciences Member (2009)

Pacchioni has led significant initiatives including the COST Action on 'Inorganic Oxide Surfaces' and chairs the European Research Council's Panel PE5 for Advanced Grants. He coordinates the PhD program in Nanostructures and Nanotechnology.