07/10/2025, 14:00 at Aula Seminari, Building RM004
The use of a conventional solvent is associated with a huge impact, due to its volatility, toxicity, flammability, and carbon footprint caused by their fossil origin. Thus, it is essential to develop alternative benign solvents capable to replace conventional ones, and also neoteric solvents with undescribed properties. In this context, a vast portfolio of molecular and ionic solvents derived from glycerol has been developed over the last years in our group. Solvents were synthesized in a sustainable way from renewable platform molecules, such as glycidol and epichlorohydrin. Ecotoxicity essays, low volatility and flammability point to their interest as sustainable media. Full characterization of solvents —density, viscosity, electrochemical parameters, polarity, etc.— reveals outstanding ranges of properties values. This allows an à-la-carte design of the solvent for applications in catalysis, electrocatalysis, preparation of recoverable catalysts and nanostructured materials, and solubilization of active molecules.