National Institute Of Materials Physics - Romania

Catalytic Materials and Catalysis

The Catalytic Materials and Catalysis Laboratory has 6 permanent researchers: 2 CS1 (Dr. Mihaela Florea and Dr. Florentina Neațu), 1 CS2 (Dr. Ștefan Neațu), 1 CS3 (Dr. Mihaela M. Trandafir) and 2 ACS (Dr. Anca Mirea, Dr. Iuliana-Maria Chirică) and two postdocs (Dr. Mahesh Nair and Dr. Toton Haldar).

MATCA's research concerns the development of new catalytic materials and their potential uses in energy, environmental and climate change applications.

Topics addressed in MATCA group:  

  • Design of catalytic and photocatalytic materials (preparation and characterisation);
  • Catalysis: use of synthesised materials in various catalytic processes: oxidation reactions, hydrogenation reactions, synthesis of polymers from renewable/alternative resources, depolymerisation of plastics, reduction of volatile organic compounds;
  • Photocatalysis: photocatalytic conversion of CO2 and artificial photosynthesis; water splitting;
  • Energy: synthesis of materials used as electrocatalysts in fuel cells;
  • MAX phase/MXene - preparation, caracterization andapplications in catalysis

Latest Publications

Bioinspired gold-titanium dioxide nanoparticles for infection control and wound healing enhancement
Authors: Voicu, SN; Marinas, IC; Stoian, M; Kuncser, A; Neatu, F; Florea, M; Tudose, M; Gaboreanu, MD; Chifiriuc, MC

Published: NOV 20 2025, COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS, 725, 137632, DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2025.137632

Efficient and reusable 3D TiO2@PDMS sponge composites for solar driven photocatalytic degradation of water pollutants
Authors: Enculescu, M; Beregoi, M; Bunea, MC; Trandafir, MM; Enculescu, I

Published: SEP 2025, RESULTS IN ENGINEERING, 27, 107083, DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.2025.107083

New Antimicrobial Gels Based on Clove Essential Oil-Cyclodextrin Complex and Plant Extracts for Topical Use
Authors: Stancu, AI; Ditu, LM; Oprea, E; Ficai, A; Badea, IA; Buleandra, M; Brîncoveanu, O; Mirea, AG; Voicu, SN; Musuc, AM; Aricov, L; Culita, DC; Mititelu, M

Published: AUG 18 2025, GELS, 11, 653, DOI: 10.3390/gels11080653

Structural Analysis of Colloidal Titania-Based Ribbons and Their Self-Assembly upon Drying
Authors: Boukhris, S; Iacoban, AC; Ibrahim, M; Badr, H; Kuncser, AC; Neatu, S; Neatu, F; Barsoum, MW; Florea, M; Constantin, D

Published: AUG 2025, SMALL STRUCTURES, 6, DOI: 10.1002/sstr.202500017

Expanding the processing space of quantum confined, one-dimensional titania-based lepidocrocite nanofilaments
Authors: Ibrahim, MA; Walter, AD; Badr, HO; Schwenk, GR; Ibrahim, AMH; Morris, VR; Boukhris, S; Florea, M; Constantin, D; Barsoum, MW

Published: JUL 2 2025, MATTER, 8, 102260, DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2025.102260

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