Curriculum

Personal Information

First name: Barbara

Family name: Fabbri

Date of birth: 26-10-1986
Place of birth: FERRARA (FE)

Current job position: University of Ferrara, Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, PostDoc

Scientific sector: FIS/01

Research field: Indoor monitoring of polluting gaseous molecules by semiconductors-based sensors

Supervisor: Prof. Vincenzo Guidi

Duration: 12 months

Start of the contract: 01/03/2015

Post-academic education: University of Ferrara, PhD School in Science and Technologies, PhD in Physics, XXVII cicle - Year 2012/2014

Student grant (supported by Spinner, Regione Emilia-Romagna) in “Nanoscience: materials and emerging strategies for sustainable technologies” Coordinator Prof. Elisa Molinari (University of Modena and Reggio)

Research project: “Nanophase systems deposited by hybrid technology in micromachining platforms”: the study concerns innovative materials, both for films and for substrates, used in gas sensors design.

First tutor: Prof. Vincenzo Guidi

Second tutor: Dr. Cesare Malagù

Final grade: Excellent

Date of graduation: 02-03-2015

Starting year: 2012

Official length of the course: 3 years

Thesis language: English

Thesis title: Eni Carbon Silicates as crystalline and mesoporous hybrids for gas sensing

Academic education

- University of Ferrara

IUSS – Doctorate

Scientific Cultural Master in Physics

Grade: 30/30

Corresponding to Academic Master of second level, 60 credits.

Date of graduation: 26-11-2012

- University of Ferrara

Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences
20/S - Class of Master’s Degree in Physics
Master's Degree in Physics
Curriculum PHYSICS OF BIOSYSTEMS

Final grade: 106/110

Date of graduation: 11-03-2011
Starting year: 2008
Official length of the course: 2 years
Thesis language: English
Thesis title: PIN diode system for flux measurement of a Thomson source
Supervisor: Prof. Gambaccini Mauro

Experimental calibration at LARIX B Laboratory, Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, of a detector for quasi-monochromatic x-ray produced by Compton inverse interaction (BEATS experiment, National Laboratory of Frascati, Italy).

- University of Ferrara

Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences

25 - Class of Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Technologies and Sciences

Bachelor's Degree in Physics and Astrophysics

Final grade: 101/110

Date of graduation: 10-10-2008
Starting year: 2005
Official length of the course: 3 years
Thesis language: Italian
Thesis title: Misura indiretta dell'alta tensione (kV) e della corrente anodica (mA) di un tubo a raggi x
Supervisor: Prof. Gambaccini Mauro

Experimental study of the main quantities involved in a x-ray tube operation.

Pre-academic education: High school diploma: Classical A levels

Educational Institute: Liceo Classico L. Ariosto (Ferrara)

Year of final exam: 2005
Final Grade: 83/100

Language

English: B1

Certificate:

PET (obtained on: 08/06/2013)

Publications and Patents

Journals

[J01] V. Guidi, M.C. Carotta, B. Fabbri, S. Gherardi, A. Giberti, C. Malagù, Array of sensors for detection of gaseous malodors in organic decomposition products, Sensors and Actuators B 174 (2012) 349–354

[J02] A. Giberti, M.C. Carotta, B. Fabbri, S. Gherardi, V. Guidi, C. Malagù, High-sensitivity detection of acetaldehyde, Sensors and Actuators B 174 (2012) 402–405

[J03] B. Fabbri, S. Gherardi, A. Giberti, V. Guidi, C. Malagù, Sensing of gaseous malodors characteristic of landfills and waste treatment plants, JOURNAL OF SENSORS AND SENSOR SYSTEMS 3 (2014) 61–67

[J04] A. Giberti, B. Fabbri, A. Gaiardo, V. Guidi, C. Malagù, Resonant photoactivation of cadmium sulfide and its effect on the surface chemical activity, Applied Physics Letters 104 (2014) 222102

[J05] C. Malagu', B. Fabbri, S. Gherardi, A. Giberti, V. Guidi, N. Landini, G. Zonta, Chemoresistive gas sensors for detection of colorectal cancer biomarkers, Sensors 14 (2014) 18982–18992

[J06] A. Giberti, D. Casotti, G. Cruciani, B. Fabbri, A. Gaiardo, V. Guidi, C. Malagù, G. Zonta, S. Gherardi, Electrical conductivity of CdS films for gas sensing: Selectivity properties to alcoholic chains, Sensors and Actuators B 207 (2014) 504–510

[J07] G. Zonta, G. Anania, B. Fabbri, A. Gaiardo, S. Gherardi, A. Giberti, V. Guidi, N. Landini, C. Malagu', Detection of colorectal cancer biomarkers in the presence of interfering gases, Sensors and Actuators B 218 (2015) 289–295

[J08] B. Fabbri, A. Gaiardo, A. Giberti, V. Guid, C. Malagù, A. Martuci, M. Sturaro, G. Zonta, S. Gherardi, Chemoresistive properties of photo-activated thin and thick ZnO films, Sensors and Actuators B 222 (2016) 1251–1256

[J09] A. Giberti, A. Gaiardo, B. Fabbri, S. Gherardi, V. Guidi, C. Malagù, P. Bellutti, G. Zonta, D. Casotti, G. Cruciani,  Tin (IV) sulfide nanorods as new gas sensing material, Sensors and Actuators B 223 (2016) 827-833

[J10] A. Gaiardo, B. Fabbri, V. Guidi, P. Bellutti, A. Giberti, S. Gherardi, L. Vanzetti, C. Malagù, G. Zonta, Metal sulfides as sensing materials for chemoresistive gas sensors, submitted to Sensors.

Proceedings

[P01] B. Fabbri, A. Giberti, V. Guidi, C. Malagù, Sensing of typical gaseous malodors in organic decomposition products, IMCS 2012 – The 14th International Meeting on Chemical Sensors, Nuremberg (Germany), May 20-23 2012, Proceeding DOI 10.5162/IMCS2012/P2.1.4 1339–1342, poster

[P02] B. Fabbri, S. Gherardi, A. Giberti, V. Guidi, C. Malagù, Sensing of gaseous malodors in landfills and waste treatment plants, AMA Conference 2013 – Sensor, Nuremberg (Germany), May 14-16 2013, Proceeding DOI 10.5162/sensor2013/E7.3, oral presentation (B. Fabbri)

[P03] B. Fabbri, A. Gaiardo, A. Giberti, V. Guidi, C. Malagù, A. Martucci, M. Sturaro, Electrical, optical and sensing properties of photo-activated ZnO thin films, Eurosensors 2014, Brescia (Italy), September 7-10 2014, Procedia Engineering 87 (2014) 148–151, poster

[P04] B. Fabbri, A. Gaiardo, V. Guidi, C. Malagù, A. Giberti, Photo-activation of cadmium sulfide films for gas sensing, Eurosensors 2014, Brescia (Italy), September 7-10 2014, Procedia Engineering 87 (2014) 140–143, poster

[P05] G. Zonta, B. Fabbri, A. Giberti, V. Guidi, C. Malagù, Detection of colorectal biomarkers in the presence of interfering gases, Eurosensors 2014, Brescia (Italy), September 7-10 2014, Procedia Engineering 87 (2014) 596–599, poster

[P06] A. Gaiardo, A. Giberti, V Guidi, P. Bellutti, C. Malagù, B. Fabbri, G. Zonta, S. Gherardi, Tin (IV) sulfide chemoresistivity: a possible new gas sensing material, XVIII AISEM Conference 2015,  Trento (Italy), February 3-5 2015, Proceeding DOI 10.1109/AISEM.2015.7066860, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, poster

[P07] B. Fabbri, V. Boldrini, G. Calabrese, A. Gaiardo, A. Giberti, V Guidi, C. Malagù, F. Spizzo, G. Zonta, S. Gherardi, Mesoporous silicon gas sensor: design, fabrication and conduction model,  XVIII AISEM Conference 2015,  Trento (Italy), February 3-5 2015, Proceeding DOI 10.1109/AISEM.2015.7066765, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, poster

[P08] V. Guidi, B. Fabbri, A. Gaiardo, S. Gherardi, A. Giberti, C. Malagù, G. Zonta, P. Bellutti, Metal sulfides as solution to in-out oxygen exchange in gas sensing, Eurosensors 2015, Freiburg (Germany), September 6-9 2015, Procedia Engineering 102 (2015) 138–141, keynote presentation (V. Guidi)

Abstracts

[A01] B. Fabbri, S. Gherardi, A. Giberti, V. Guidi, C. Malagù, Sensing of gaseous malodors in landfills and waste treatment plants, Book of abstract AISEM 2013, Brescia, February 5-7 2013, oral presentation (B. Fabbri)

[A02] V. Guidi, B. Fabbri, A. Giberti, C. Malagù, M. C. Carotta, S. Gherardi, Sensing of gaseous malodors characteristic of landfills and waste treatment plants, 5th GOSPEL Workshop, Oita, Japan, May 26-29 2013, oral presentation (V. Guidi)

[A03] C. Malagù, M.C. Carotta, B. Fabbri, S. Gherardi, A. Giberti, Thick film technology for chemical sensor, FisMat 2013, Milano (Italy), September 9-13 2013, Book of abstract #382, oral presentation (V. Guidi)

[A04] A. Giberti, C. Malagù, B. Fabbri, V.Guidi, E. Della Gaspera, A. Martucci, Electro-optical characterizations of zinc oxide nanoparticles: an evidence for light-assisted desorption of oxygen, The 15th International Meeting on Chemical Sensors, Buenos Aires (Argentina), March 16-19 2014, Book of Abstract IMCS 2014, oral presentation (A. Giberti)

[A05] B. Fabbri, S. Gherardi, A. Giberti, V. Guidi, C. Malagù, G. Zonta, Chemoresistive gas sensors for detection of colorectal cancer biomarkers, The 15th International Meeting on Chemical Sensors, Buenos Aires (Argentina), March 16-19 2014 Book of Abstract IMCS 2014, poster

[A06]  B. Fabbri, V. Boldrini, G. Calabrese, A. Gaiardo, A. Giberti, V Guidi, C. Malagù, F. Spizzo, G. Zonta, S. Gherardi, Mesoporous silicon gas sensor: design, fabbrication and conduction model,  AISEM 2015, Trento (Italy), February 3-5 2015, poster

[A07] A. Gaiardo, A. Giberti, V Guidi, P. Bellutti, C. Malagù, B. Fabbri, G. Zonta, S. Gherardi, Tin (IV) sulfide chemoresistivity: a possible new gas sensing material, AISEM 2015, Trento (Italy), February 3-5 2015, poster

[A08] A. Gaiardo, A. Giberti, V. Guidi, P. Bellutti, C. Malagù, B. Fabbri, G. Zonta, S. Gherardi, Thermo- and photo-activation of metal sulfides for gas sensing, 6th GOSPEL Workshop: Gas sensors based on semiconducting metal oxides – basic understanding & application fields, Tuebingen (Germany), June 7-9 2015, oral presentation (V. Guidi)

[A09] V. Guidi, B. Fabbri, A. Gaiardo, A. Giberti, C. Malagù, G. Zonta, S. Gherardi, P. Bellutti, L. Lorenzelli, Hybrid technologies for chemoresistive gas sensors, AIMETA2015, Genova (Italy), September 14-17 2015, oral presentation (V. Guidi)

[A10] V. Guidi, A. Gaiardo, P. Bellutti, C. Malagù, B. Fabbri, A. Giberti, G. Zonta, S. Gherardi, N. Landini, ZnO vs ZnO/Au thin films: a comparison of sensing properties in photo-activation mode, Eurosensors 2015, Freiburg (Germany), September 6-9 2019, poster

[A11] A. Gaiardo, A. Giberti, V. Guidi, P. Bellutti, B. Fabbri, C. Malagù, G. Zonta, S. Gherardi, Silicon carbide: an high selectivity functional material for chemoresistive gas sensing field, accepted as poster at Nanotechitaly 2015, Bologna (Italy), November 25-27 2015

Patent

- Malagù C., Gherardi S., Zonta G., Landini N., Giberti A., Fabbri B. Gaiardo A., Anania G., Rispoli G., Scagliarini L., inventors; SCENT S.R.L., assignee. COMBINATION OF NANOSTRUCTURED SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS USED TO DISCRIMINATE HEALTHY CELLS FROM CANCER CELLS. Italy Patent request number 102015000057717. 2015 October 2

Seminars, workshops, schools

-  Seminars

Multiple Scattering Effect on Ultra Relativistic Electron Radiation in Amorphous and Crystalline Media, Serguei Fomin, Physics and Earth Sciences Department, Ferrara, 23/10/2012

• Sustainable Novel Flexible Organic Watts Efficiently Reliable- Sunflower, Tanja Ivanovska, CNR-ISMN, Bologna Physics and Earth Sciences Department, Ferrara, 13/02/2013
• Study and development of novel luminescent solar concentrators, Michele Tonezzer, University of Trento, Physics and Earth Sciences Department, Ferrara, 13/02/2013
• Artificial ferromagnetic nanostructures: an experimental platform for magnonics, Adekunle Adeyeye, University of Singapore, Physics and Earth Sciences Department, Ferrara 13/06/2013

- Courses

From science to market. Impacts of technological transfer on the national economy, Dedicated course for PhD students, Prof. Nazareno Mandolesi, september-october 2012, IUSS-Ferrara

• Semiconductor Physics Laboratory, Course of Master’s Degree in Physics, 2012, University of Ferrara
• Sensors: physics and technology, Course of Master’s Degree in Physics, 2012, University of Ferrara
• Electronic microscopy: theory and applications, Course of Master’s Degree in Physics, 2012, University of Ferrara
• The emissions in atmosphere after reforms, Prof. Bernardino Albertazzi, Milano, 10/07/2012
• Surface physics and nanostructures, Course of Master’s Degree in Physics, 2013, University of Ferrara
• Training course about safe use of pressurized and cryogenic gases, organized by SIAD, Padova 13/02/2014
• Theoretical and practical introduction to the EPR spectroscopy, Prof. Julia Jezierska (Head of the Central Laboratory of Magnaetochemistry, University of Wroclaw), Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ferrara 13-15/05/2014

- Worshops

Theoretical-practical update course on X-ray diffraction on powders in materials sciences and industrial applications, Modena, 19/06/2013

- Schools

• International school of Physics and Technology of Matter, Otranto (Italy), September 15-21 2013
• Block Course Chemical Sensors – Basic, Technology and Applications, Tuebingen (Germany), March 3-14 2014
• Eurosensors school, Brescia (Itay), September 7 2014

- Partecipation to research projects

1) ENI S.p.a.

Via F. Maritano 26, I-20097 San Donato Milanese, MI, Italy,

http://www.eni.com/it_IT/home.html

October 2012 – October 2013: Collaboration between ENI Spa and Department of Physics and Earth Sciences of Ferrara (Sensors group led by Prof. Vincenzo Guidi and Mineralogy group led by Prof. Giuseppe Cruciani)

Objective: Morphological, structural and electrical characterizations of ECS materials

2) SACMI Imola S.C.

Via Selice Provinciale, 17/A C.P. 113 - 40026 Imola (BO) Italy

http://www.sacmi.it/

August 2014 – August 2015: Collaboration between Sacmi and Sensors group of Ferrara

Objective: Reproduction of thick-film sensors based on molybdenum oxide

Educational activities: Tutorship and educational support

1) Educational tutorship of General Physics 2, Degree in Physics, C. Malagù, 2012/2013, 45 hours

2) Educational tutorship of General Physics 2, Degree in Physics, C. Malagù, 2013/2014, 22 hours

3) Educational tutorship of General Physics 2, Degree in Physics, C. Malagù, 2014/2015, 30 hours

4) Educational Support for General Physics 2, Degree in Physics, C. Malagù, 2015/2016, 40 hours

Memeberships

- CNR – INO

Research program: “Nanostructured metal-oxides and other semiconductors for sensing and advanced applications”.

Seat: Ferrara

Period: 01/01/2014 - 31/12/2015

- IDASC – CORBINO

Research program: “Nanostructured metal-oxides and other semiconductors for sensing and advanced applications” in the field « Nanosensors, electron emitters and sources of ionizing gases”.

Seat: Ferrara

Period: 01/01/2013 - 31/12/2013

Compendium of scientific and professional activity

Barbara Fabbri received her PhD in Physics (2012/2014) operating at the Sensors and Semiconductors Laboratory under the supervision of Prof. Vincenzo Guidi. Later, the candidate awarded a PostDoc position and currently she is working on the "Indoor monitoring of polluting gaseous molecules by semiconductors-based sensors". This project, which also involves the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, looks after the monitoring of CO₂ and VOCs in academic classrooms of Ferrara in order to improve indoor air quality of University’s spaces and then the conditions in which students and teachers works.

The research activity planned for the 12-month, period in which the candidate will serve in the Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, is in line with the investigations she conducted during the 3-year PhD. These investigations involved all key aspects regarding the study and implementation of devices to detect gases:

- the use of innovative sensing materials, such as organic-inorganic hybrids and non-oxide semiconductors, but also the deepening about new properties of the well-known metal oxides;

- the study of deposition techniques and the design of alternative substrates with respect to alumina, in order to allow the integration of the sensing devices on technological platforms;

- the study of new applications for gas sensors.

Concerning the first research field, the candidate conducted with significant results an important project in collaboration with Eni Spa. Using nanostructured powders as organic-inorganic functional material, it was possible to deposit films by means of simple technique (drop coating), which resulted electrically active showing a remarkable sensitivity to some target gases with responses characterized by stable, fast, and perfectly reversible signals obtained at room temperature. From the sensing point of view, these results are undoubtedly revolutionary and they are the argument of a contribution that will be shortly submitted to Advanced Materials journal. Furthermore, the possibility of working at room temperature both during the processing and the electrical conductivity measurements, together with the employment of deposition technologies and packaging widely used in industrial processes, makes these materials excellent candidates for the realization of commercial devices.

In parallel, the candidate conducted a study regarding the possible use of other innovative sensing materials, non-oxide semiconductors (CdS, SnS₂), as functional materials in the production of screen-printing pastes. Electrical conductivity measurements highlighted photo-conductivity properties and chemical activity of the surface in these materials but also a good selectivity of the powders to specific gaseous compounds, such as alcohols in the case of CdS. The results of this research led to the publication of three articles [J04], [J06], [J09] and one recently submitted [J10], two proceeding [P04] presented to Eurosensors 2014 as poster and [P08] to Eurosensors 2015 as keynote presentation, respectively, one abstract [A07] presented as posters at AISEM 2015, then published as proceeding to IEEE [P06] and a second abstract presented at the workshop GOSPEL 2015 [A08] as oral presentation.

Then, the developed research identified new scenarios for sensing materials alternatively to the consolidated metal oxides, which however continue to be extensively studied at the Sensors Laboratory of the University of Ferrara through new synthesis, the use of different deposition techniques and different activation modes. In fact, the most part of oxide semiconductors requires high working temperatures, necessary to make electrically active the material and reversible the response. During the three years of research the candidate has thus deepened the study of well-known materials in the field of gas sensors, such as ZnO, testing and comparing properties and performance of sensing films produced using nanostructured powders obtained with new syntheses, deposited as thin or thick film, thermo- and photo-activated. This study led to the publication of one proceeding [P03] presented as poster at Eurosensors 2014, two abstract [A03] and [A04] presented during FisMat 2013 as an oral presentation and IMCS 2014, respectively, and finally the publication of one article in Sensors and Actuators B [J08]. In addition, the candidate participated in a project that involves the Sensors Laboratory and the company Sacmi Srl (Imola), a leading manufacturer of electronic noses. The project, result of a consolidated collaboration between the two parts, concerns the synthesis, deposition and characterization of solid-state chemoresistive gas sensors based on metal-oxide semiconductors, such as molybdenum oxide.

About the second research field, the candidate has developed a study on the use of porous silicon, produced in the Semiconductors Laboratory (Photovoltaics group), as substrate for the design of chemoresistive gas sensors, in order to limit energy consumption, to increase the absorption zone for the analytes and to improve the performance of the response, such as speed and reversibility. After a thorough study of metals and deposition techniques for the realization of the electrodes the candidate has implemented the porous silicon substrates in TO39 supports, suitable for the experimental setup and electronics of Sensors Laboratory. This study led to the drafting of a Master's thesis in physics (V. Boldrini) and one abstract presented as poster at AISEM 2015 [A07], then published as proceeding to IEEE [P07], and a second abstract [A09] presented at AIMETA 2015.

The third aspect developed during the research concerns the possible applications of sensing products. In particular, the attention has been focused on the design of portable devices for gas monitoring in environmental and medical fields. The activity conducted during the first year of PhD allowed to address two fundamental issues concerning the environmental monitoring of gases: first the detection of pollutants and malodorous, such as ethyl-mercaptan, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, issued after the decomposition of organic compounds. Secondly, the identification of a specific array of sensors for the detection of acetaldehyde, gas of particular interest for the identification and control of volatile organic compounds. Environmental monitoring is one of the most investigated applications by sensors workers, studies conducted by the candidate led to the publication of three articles in [J01], [J02] and [J03]; two proceeding [P01] and [P02] presented respectively at IMCS 2012 as posters and AMA in 2013 as oral exposure. Finally two abstract [A01] and [A02] presented at AISEM 2013 and at the workshop GOSPEL 2013

Recently the research has been oriented on another important application that is attracting the attention of the workers: the monitoring of gaseous emissions associated with biomarkers linked to cardiopulmonary disease and colon cancer. The purpose of Sensors Group is to create a portable sensing device that combines micro-gas chromatography and MOX sensors for screening of dysfunction cardiorespiratory through non-invasive toxicological analysis of the breath, and colon cancer, for which screening currently used in medical diagnosis (colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, occult blood in the stool) are invasive or inaccurate. Some recent studies have shown that the manifestation of the tumor coincides with an alteration of the protein structure of the cell membrane (peroxidation) and a consequent emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Starting from the published studies on the detection of tumor markers in the breath, the Sensors Group has designed a portable device, based on MOX sensors to detect VOCs directly by the emission of feces. This study led to the publication of two articles [J05] and [J07]; a proceeding [P05] presented as poster at Eurosensors 2014; two abstract [A05] and [A08] presented as posters at IMCS 2014 and AISEM 2015, respectively. Another device based on semiconductors sensors was designed in order to discriminate healthy cells from cancer cells. The candidate took part as inventor in the patent fulfillment.

Studies about the materials, components, technologies and applications of gas sensors conducted during the three years of PhD allowed to collect significant results. Regard the research fields discussed before, the candidate took part in all phases of experimental activity: design and construction of the devices, laboratory measurements, processing and interpretation of experimental data. The candidate has actively participated in the drafting of articles, conference contributions and projects.