Vincenzo Palermo

Vincenzo Palermo serves as Director of the Institute for Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity (ISOF) at Italy's National Research Council (CNR) and holds an Adjunct Associate Professor position at Chalmers University of Technology. His research pioneers graphene oxide-polymer composites for aerospace, environmental, and biomedical applications, evidenced by >190 publications (>8,000 citations, h-index 52) and collaborations with industrial giants including Airbus, BASF, and STMicroelectronics.

His primary research focus integrates nanotechnology and supramolecular chemistry to engineer advanced water purification systems. Key innovations include tunable graphene oxide composites that remove pesticides, PFAS, and pharmaceuticals through selective intercalation and π-π stacking. His work bridges atomic-scale characterization with full-scale filter production, emphasizing industrial scalability via microwave processing and extrusion techniques.

Analysis of his 2017-2023 publications reveals dominant trends in graphene oxide functionalization (particularly amino acid modifications), hollow fiber membrane development, and hybrid adsorption-ultrafiltration systems. These studies consistently demonstrate superior contaminant removal versus activated carbon, driving real-world implementation in Po River purification plants and commercial filter production.

Major recognitions include:

• FEMS Lecturer Award for Excellence
• Italian Society of Chemistry (SCI) Research Award
• Italian Book Association Science Dissemination Award

As former Graphene Flagship vice-director and work package leader for Dissemination/Composites, Palermo secured substantial EU research funding and facilitated industry-academia partnerships. While student mentorship details are unlisted, his leadership in large-scale projects indicates extensive team supervision. Current efforts focus on scaling graphene-enhanced filters through CNR's ISOF laboratory, with active testing in Italian water treatment facilities and industrial pilot plants.