18/11/2024
Matteo Capone, a postdoctoral researcher at Institute of nanoscience of Cnr in Modena (Cnr-Nano), has been awarded the Premio Primo Levi 2024 during the Merck Young Chemists’ Symposium held from 13 to 15 of November in Rimini. This national award, presented by the Italian Chemical Society, recognizes the excellence and impact of research conducted by scientists under the age of 35.
Capone received the prize for a groundbreaking study, conducted during his PhD at the University of L’Aquila, titled "The electron-proton bottleneck of photosynthetic oxygen evolution" published in the journal Nature in 2023, where he explored the molecular details of the light-driven water oxidation reaction catalyzed by Photosystem II. This is a key process in photosynthesis that converts light energy into chemical energy but several details remain elusive due to its complexity. Using time-resolved infrared spectroscopy and quantum/classical molecular dynamics simulations, Matteo Capone described the critical role of hydrogen bond networks and proton pathways in the reaction’s rate-limiting step. These findings provide new scientific bases for advancing artificial photosynthesis for sustainable energy solutions.
Currently Matteo Capone continues his research in computational chemistry at Cnr-Nano in Modena as a postdoctoral fellow, where he works on the EnvELOP project led by Dr. Laura Zanetti Polzi. He focuses on studying rhodopsins—a family of proteins pivotal for optogenetics—through multiscale simulations. His research aims to uncover how protein dynamics and hydrogen bond heterogeneity influence kinetic rates and vibrational spectra.
In addition to his scientific endeavors, Capone is passionate about science communication. As the founder of the outreach project Il Chimico sulla Tavola, he uses social media and live events to engage the public in the beauty of everyday chemistry, challenging misconceptions about "natural" versus "artificial" substances.
Per informazioni:
Maddalena Scandola
Cnr-Nano
comunicazione@nano.cnr.it
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