Stefan NEATU

Dr. Stefan NEATU is a Scientific Researcher I at the National Institute of Materials Physics in Magurele, Romania, where he leads research in heterogeneous catalysis and photocatalysis. His work focuses on developing advanced catalytic materials for environmental and energy applications, with particular emphasis on chemical warfare agent decontamination and hydrogen production.

Dr. NEATU earned his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Bucharest in 2010, following a Master's degree in Catalysis and Catalytic Processes (2005) and a Graduate degree in Chemistry (2003), also from the University of Bucharest. His academic journey was enhanced by prestigious fellowships including a Marie Curie IEF postdoctoral fellowship at the Technical University of Valencia and multiple NATO fellowships in Spain, Canada, and Italy.

His research interests center around heterogeneous photocatalysis and catalysis, with expertise spanning materials characterization techniques including PXRD, SEM, FTIR, UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and chromatographic methods. Dr. NEATU's work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between chemistry, materials science, and environmental engineering, with significant contributions to catalyst design for sustainable chemical processes.

Dr. NEATU's publication record shows consistent focus on developing novel catalytic materials including MXenes, MAX phases, and titanium dioxide systems. His recent work explores structure-property relationships in mixed oxide catalysts, defect engineering for enhanced photocatalytic performance, and sustainable approaches to chemical synthesis from renewable feedstocks.

• The "Nicolae Teclu" prize awarded by the Romanian Academy in 2020
• Gold medal at EuroInvent 2017 for catalytic systems for chemical warfare agent decontamination
• Silver and Gold medals at EuroInvent 2021 for selective oxidation processes and photocatalytic water reduction

Dr. NEATU leads the Laboratory of Catalytic Materials and Catalysis at NIMP, where he manages multiple research projects including "MXene-semiconductor composites for hydrogen production" (2022-2024). His laboratory serves as a hub for advanced materials characterization and catalyst development, supporting both fundamental research and practical applications in environmental remediation and clean energy technologies.