Gianfranco Pacchioni is a distinguished scholar and leader in the field of materials chemistry with profound contributions to theoretical and computational approaches. He currently serves as Full Professor of Materials Chemistry at the University of Milano Bicocca where he has held significant leadership roles including Vice Rector for Research from 2013 to 2019 and Director of the Department of Materials Science from 2003 to 2009. His academic journey began with a Chemistry degree from the University of Milan in 1978 followed by a PhD in Chemical Sciences from Freie Universität Berlin in 1984. Prior to his current position, he advanced through the academic ranks at the University of Milan as Assistant Professor from 1984 to 1987 and Associate Professor of Inorganic Chemistry from 1987 to 1996 before becoming Associate Professor of Solid State Chemistry at the newly established University of Milano Bicocca in 1997.
Professor Pacchioni's groundbreaking research focuses on the quantum theory of matter with particular emphasis on inorganic materials, their surfaces, metal clusters, nanoparticles, and applications in catalysis and photocatalysis. His extensive body of work comprises over 500 scientific publications with more than 15,000 citations and an impressive h-index of 66, demonstrating his significant impact on the chemical sciences community. He has pioneered computational approaches to understanding complex material systems, particularly in the areas of oxide materials and supported nanoparticles where his theoretical insights have provided fundamental understanding of catalytic mechanisms. His research has been instrumental in advancing sustainable chemical solutions, particularly through his work on solar energy conversion and photocatalytic processes that address environmental challenges.
Beyond his research accomplishments, Professor Pacchioni has played a pivotal role in shaping the scientific community through numerous leadership positions including Director of the MIB-SOLAR Center for Solar Energy Research at the University of Milano Bicocca and Program Chair for the influential Solar Driven Chemistry conference in 2018. He has served on the editorial boards of prestigious journals such as Theoretical Chemistry Accounts for over a decade and as Director of the journal ChemCatChem, helping to guide publication standards in computational chemistry. His exceptional contributions have been recognized through election as Fellow of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Academia Europaea, and the European Academy of Sciences, among other distinguished honors. Currently, he continues to lead cutting-edge research initiatives that bridge theoretical chemistry with practical applications in sustainable energy, maintaining his position at the forefront of materials chemistry research while mentoring the next generation of scientists.
