Vincenzo Palermo

Vincenzo Palermo is a Research Professor at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, and Research Director at the National Research Council of Italy. He serves as Vice-Director of the Graphene Flagship, a major European research initiative. His work bridges nanotechnology, materials science, and chemistry with applications in mechanical systems, electronics, and energy technologies.

Palermo earned his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry in 2003 from the University of Bologna, following research stints at the University of Utrecht (Netherlands) and the Steacie Institute, National Research Council (Ottawa, Canada). His academic journey has positioned him at the forefront of nanomaterials research, particularly focusing on carbon-based composites and their nanoscale properties.

Palermo's research centers on nanotechnology and supramolecular chemistry to create advanced materials. His work specifically targets the production of carbon-based composite materials and the characterization of their structure and charge transport at the nanoscale. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on graphene-based materials for water purification, energy storage, and environmental applications, with particular attention to the manipulation of graphene oxide and its derivatives for selective ion transport, sensing, and filtration. He has published over 130 scientific articles in international journals with more than 4000 citations and an h-index of 35.

His scientific excellence has been recognized with prestigious awards including the Lecturer Award for Excellence from the Federation of European Materials Societies (FEMS) in 2012, the Research Award from the Italian Society of Chemistry (SCI) in 2013, and research funding from Vetenskapsrådet and the Rune Berhardsson's Graphene fund in 2017.

Beyond his research, Palermo actively contributes to science dissemination, giving seminars to high school students and the general public on the interplay between science and history. He has authored two popular science books on Albert Einstein (2015) and Isaac Newton (2016). His leadership extends to coordinating major European research projects including GOSPEL and GENIUS, and previously serving as leader of the composites work package in the Graphene Flagship from 2013-2017.

Palermo's research group focuses on the development and characterization of graphene-based materials, with particular emphasis on their applications in water purification, energy storage, and environmental remediation. His team collaborates extensively with both academic and industrial partners across Europe, contributing to the advancement of nanomaterials science and its practical applications.