(updated on August 22, 2025)

Deborah Biggio is a fixed-term researcher (RTD-A) at the Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences (DSCG) of UniCA, in the scientific disciplinary area GSD 03/A1 - Analytical Chemistry (SSD CHEM-01/A), funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), within the project NEST - “Network 4 Energy Sustainable Transition”, topic “2. Future Energy Scenarios - 2.A Green Energies of the Future”, subsidy application code PE00000021.

D. Biggio is a member of the Surface Chemistry, Electrochemistry and Corrosion Analysis Group of the Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences. (website: https://sites.unica.it/superfici/)

MAIN RESEARCH TOPICS AND TECHNIQUES

D. Biggio’s research focuses on the development of analytical methods that combine electrochemical techniques (in-situ analyses) with advanced surface characterization techniques (ex-situ analyses), such as XPS and XAES spectroscopy, to investigate the chemical states of material surfaces before and after exposure to solutions, providing insights into corrosion mechanisms.

She is currently working on the analytical characterization and testing of advanced energy-sustainable materials, such as steels with modified and innovative surface properties that can act hydrogen permeation as barriers. She is also developing analytical strategies for the study of recyclable materials and metal alloys.

EDUCATION AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

• Born in Nuoro on April 21, 1994.
• July 2019 – Graduated in Chemical Sciences (LM-54) from the University of Cagliari with (grade: 110/110 cum laude)
• Sept–Nov 2019 – Scientific assistant at the Laboratory for Surface Science & Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), Switzerland, within the project “Mechanism of reaction of ionic liquids with Si3N4 surface in the presence of mechanical stress: chemical analysis of thin films” (PI: Prof. N.D. Spencer). Her work focused on developing an analytical method using tribological and surface analysis techniques (XPS) to study the effects of mechanical stress and humidity on the composition of thin films formed on Si3N4 surfaces in the presence of anhydrous and non-anhydrous ionic liquids (RH = 45%).
• April 2023 – Awarded a PhD in Chemical Sciences and Technologies from the University of Cagliari, with the additional title of Doctor Europaeus. Her thesis was entitled “Growth, characterization, and functional properties of thin films on metal and ceramic substrates.”

PUBLICATIONS AND CONFERENCES

D. Biggio is co-author of 9 scientific publications, 6 of which as first author (ORCID: 0000-0002-2339-1943; Scopus ID: 57892524700). She has presented her research at both national and international conferences.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

She is the Principal Investigator (PI) of a national Proof of Concept (PoC) research project supporting technological innovation and energy transition, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Mission 4 – Education and Research, Component 2 – From Research to Business, Investment Line 1.5 – Creation and Strengthening of Innovation Ecosystems for Sustainability.  e.INS - Ecosystem of Innovation for Next generation Sardinia (ECS00000038). Spoke Leader: Università degli Studi di Cagliari. CUP F53C22000430001

Project title: IDROSTOP: Development of an analytical method and a double-chamber prototype to study coatings that limit hydrogen permeation in steel in real environments.

MEMBERSHIPS
Since 2019, D. Biggio has been a member of the Italian Chemical Society (SCI) and the Analytical Spectroscopy Group of the Analytical Chemistry Division – Italian Chemical Society.