CNR - ISM Istituto di Struttura della Materia

What happens when a single molecule meets a single atom?

That's the question at the heart of the ASTRAL project — a FIS 3 Consolidator Grant by MUR awarded to Marco Di Giovannantonio at CNR - ISM Istituto di Struttura della Materia .

Led by Marco Di Giovannantonio (head of the ONSET Lab), the project designs atomically precise platforms where isolated metal atoms act as perfectly defined active sites. The key insight? Asymmetry matters. Deliberately asymmetric atomic environments — with subtle imbalances in structure and electronic distribution — shape how molecules are detected, stabilized, and chemically activated.

Using cutting-edge microscopy and spectroscopy, the ONSET Lab team aims at monitoring these processes step by step: from the very first molecular contact to the final chemical transformation.

Fundamental science today. Next-generation catalysts tomorrow.

More info: https://l.cnr.it/progism5b



CNR Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche

Solar cells that get more efficient as they heat up. A diamond harder than diamond itself. This is not science fiction — it is the research of CNR - ISM Istituto di Struttura della Materia, presented in two interviews on Smart City, Radio 24.
Daniele M. Trucchi, senior researcher at CNR - ISM Istituto di Struttura della Materia and head of Diathema Lab, introduced the first Black Diamond photovoltaic cells. He explained also the first laboratory synthesis obtained in China of hexagonal diamond, a carbon allotrope approximately 60% harder than natural diamond.
Two results opening new frontiers for energy and extreme-environment industrial technologies.

More info: https://l.cnr.it/intervism2

🔬 Biophysics@Rome 2026 is underway from May 13–15 under the theme “Building Bridges Across Disciplines.”

Researchers and innovators are gathering at the new conference hall of the CNR Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche ArToV Research Area to discuss the future of biophysics through an interdisciplinary perspective.

This year’s edition features innovative methodologies, the METABrain satellite event, and a special day dedicated to the memory of Lorenzo Stella.

An important opportunity for the scientific community to connect biology, physics, and technology while shaping the future of research.

🌐 Discover the full program at: biophysicsatrome.org

Biophysics at Rome
Università di Roma Tor Vergata

On Tuesday, May 19, at 11:00 a.m. in the IRSA Seminar Room – Research Area – CNR Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche of Montelibretti, MDPI, a pioneering Open Access publishing house, will present the following seminars:

“Ethics and Artificial Intelligence in Scholarly Publishing” – Milica Nikolic
“Writing Scientific Papers – Publisher’s Tips and Guidelines for Authors” – Filip Kostic

The event will also be available online

More information can be found at https://l.cnr.it/seminarism5
🗓️ Save the Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
⌚ Time to Tune In: 11.00 AM (CEST)

The CLEAN-LS²C project, proposed by CNR - ISM Istituto di Struttura della Materia researcher Venanzio Raglione, has been funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry under the Sustainable Laboratories Grant call.
The project works on two levels:
📋 Defining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for more efficient and responsible laboratory resource management
⚗️ Developing sustainable synthetic approaches through model carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions (aldol, Sonogashira, Suzuki-Miyaura)
Results will be made available on open access databases for the benefit of the scientific community.
More info: https://l.cnr.it/progism4

CNR Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche

Every year, 70–80% of industrial wastewater is discharged into the environment without any treatment. That's an enormous figure — and it needs to change.

The MAINSTREAM project was created precisely to address this: promoting a circular and sustainable use of water in the industrial sector, through innovative monitoring and treatment technologies.

MAINSTREAM was selected from 116 applications under the European Water4All 2024 "Water for Circular Economy" call. The project is coordinated by CNR - ISM Istituto di Struttura della Materia by CNR Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Italy), together with Uppsala University (Sweden), Ro Technology srl (Italy), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Oficial) (Spain), EARGE Engineering (Turkey), Öko-Institut eV (Germany) and Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi (Turkey).

At the heart of the project are eco-compatible electrochemical sensors, developed by CNR-ISM using green chemistry approaches, capable of monitoring industrial water pollutants in real time.

Because water is not an infinite resource. It's time we treated it that way.

More info: https://l.cnr.it/progism3