Role

Valerio Ferracci is a Higher Research Scientist in the Gas Metrology and Trace Analysis group. He is currently using cavity ring-down spectroscopy to measure the permeability to water vapour of high-performance barrier layers, the characterisation of which is crucial to the development of technology based on organic semiconductors. Valerio is also involved in the production of trace water vapour gas standards and in the analysis of refinery gas and hyperbaric samples by means of gas chromatography.

Biography

Valerio obtained his MSci degree in Chemistry from University College London (UCL) in 2008, followed by a PhD in Physical Chemistry in 2012, also from UCL. During his doctorate, Valerio focused on studying the kinetics and thermochemistry of atmospherically relevant radical reactions using laser flash photolysis coupled with UV/vis absorption spectroscopy. His research covered a range of bimolecular and termolecular reactions of halogen oxide radicals involved in the depletion of atmospheric ozone. His results on the kinetics of the dimerisation of chlorine monoxide radicals were included in the latest JPL-NASA evaluation of 'Chemical Kinetics and Photochemical Data for Use in Atmospheric Studies'.

Valerio is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Selected publications

• The temperature dependence of the bimolecular channels of the ClO + ClO reaction over the range T = 298-323 K
  V. Ferracci, D. M. Rowley
  International Journal of Chemical Kinetics, 44 (6), 386-397 (2012)
• Kinetic studies on the temperature dependence of the BrO + BrO reaction using laser flash photolysis
  V. Ferracci, K. Hino, D. M. Rowley
  Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 13 (17), 7997-8007 (2011)
• Kinetic and thermochemical studies of the ClO + ClO + M D Cl₂O₂ + M reaction
  V. Ferracci, D. M. Rowley
  Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 12 (37), 11596-11608 (2010)

Contact details

E-mail: valerio.ferracci@npl.co.uk
Tel: 020 8943 6528