Natalia Kantouni is a physicist holding a Master’s degree in Materials Science, with a specialisation in Advanced Functional Materials. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), where she is working on the GRAPHERGIA project. As FORTH acts as the project’s technical and scientific coordinator, Natalia’s involvement is central to the successful implementation of GRAPHERGIA.
Read our interview with her to discover more about her role, challenges, graphene research, and her vision on how 2D materials will impact future energy in Europe!
“My research contributes to sustainable energy solutions by developing advanced materials for self-charging textiles and energy storage. These materials enable technologies that generate and store energy efficiently.” – Natalia Kantouni, Ph.D. at FORTH.
Can you briefly describe your research and how it fits into the overall GRAPHERGIA project? What specific problem are you trying to solve with your work on graphene?
All of my research topics are directly aligned with the ongoing tasks of the project. Currently, I am focused on the laser-assisted synthesis of advanced materials, that can be employed as anodes for Li-ion batteries, while also working on the laser-assisted synthesis of graphene materials. Both areas are connected to the two main pillars of the project: advancing binder-free Li-ion anodes and developing graphene electrodes for their implementation as a conductive layer for triboelectric nanogenerators as well as electrodes in textile-integrated microsupercapacitors.
What are the main challenges you face in working with graphene at a practical level?
Laser-assisted synthesis of graphene materials can be quite challenging because it requires the fine-tuning of many parameters to acquire the right properties for each application. Therefore, careful planning and detailed characterisation are essential to achieve the optimum results.
How do you collaborate with other teams within the GRAPHERGIA project?
Collaboration in this project is key to achieving its goals, since all work packages and tasks are closely interconnected. Close cooperation is essential not only for making progress but also for ensuring the project runs smoothly and delivers strong outcomes. This is made possible thanks to the willingness of the participating teams, who actively contribute by working jointly on shared tasks, exchanging samples, cross-checking results, and providing mutual feedback and insights during our monthly meetings.
How has being part of GRAPHERGIA shaped your academic or career path so far?
Joining GRAPHERGIA has offered me numerous opportunities to evolve and shape my scientific thinking. From my active involvement in meetings and collaborations, where I had the chance to be surrounded by experts in the field as well as young researchers like myself, and to frequently present and discuss my work, to my participation in international conferences, where I could communicate my research, connect with a wide network of scientists, and gain valuable insights. Each experience has significantly contributed to my growth as a young researcher.
How does your research contribute to sustainable energy solutions? What impact could it have on reducing carbon emissions or improving energy efficiency?
My research contributes to sustainable energy solutions by developing advanced materials for self-charging textiles and energy storage. These materials enable technologies that generate and store energy efficiently. Also, all the approaches we propose and pursue are environmentally sustainable by design, leveraging green laser synthesis. Our solutions avoid harmful chemicals and complex, energy-intensive procedures, focusing instead on developing materials and technologies with fewer steps, in line with our sustainability goals.
As GRAPHERGIA is entering its third year of research, are there any early results or breakthroughs you’ve been excited about?
Much effort has been invested by all partners across all tasks, but I am particularly excited about the development of the high-conductivity textiles, with the embedded graphene. Their versatility opens the door to a wide range of applications, including the triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) we are proposing.
How do you see graphene, or more broadly 2D materials, transforming the future of energy in Europe in the next 10–20 years?
The development of advanced 2D materials, including graphene, MXenes, MOFs, etc., is expected to offer significant breakthroughs in the energy sector of Europe in the forthcoming years by resolving major issues. Their enhanced properties in all aspects, including mechanical stability, conductivity, and high surface area, will greatly contribute to energy storage, energy harvesting technologies, and wearable energy systems, possibly altering the energy landscape as we know it -and changing it for the better.
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