Research interests
Modeling of graphene and other 2D materials
Graphene-based systems are studied with ab initio and force field based simulations with a focus on controlling and exploiting their properties for advanced applications in high tech and clean energy fields.
Recent applications:
• Defects such as local curvature, structural vacancies and localised states are studied in graphene as a possible means to drive chemical functionalization at the nano-scale
• The interaction between graphene and semi-conductor layered materials such as WS2 is studied both from the electronic point of view (fine tuning of the band gaps) an from the rheologic point of view (superlubric behavrior)
• 3D porous materials based on graphene or other layered systems are studied for their properties as adsorbers of gases or electrolytes
Multi-scale modeling Biomolecular Systems
Minimalist Coarse Grained and meso-scale models for bio-molecules are developed and integrated in multi-scale approaches for the large scale simulation of bio-systems.
Recent applications:
• Development of a multi-scale model for bio-functionalised metal nanoparticles to be used as therapeutic agents in the amyloidosis-related diseases
• Development of bi- and multi-stable coarse grained models for switching proteins
• On the methodological level, strategies to improve the transferability and predictive power of CG models are under development, involving the use of genetic algorithms to optimize the model parameters. Specific software implementing these strategies is developed
SecStAnT
• Application of meso-scale models to the study of the interaction between the spike protein of SARS-CoV2 and the ACE2 receptor.
Biographical sketch
Education
1993: Laurea (Master Degree) in Physics, Università di Pisa, Italy
1993: Diploma di Licenza in Fisica, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa
1997: PhD in Physics, Scuola Normale Superiore
1999: Medical Physics Specialization, Università di Pisa
Career
1997 - 1999: Post-Doc felloship (INFM-SNS, Pisa)
1999 - 2000: Visiting researcher at the University of Nijmegen (NL)
2000 - 2003: Scientist at NEST-INFM, SNS, Pisa
2003 - 2004: Visiting Scholar at the University of California - San Diego
2003 - 2009: Scientist at NEST-CNR-INFM, SNS, Pisa
2010 - 2021: Senior Scientist at NEST-CNR-Istituto Nanoscienze, SNS, Pisa
2021 - present: Research Director at CNR-Istituto Nanoscienze, NEST-SNS, Pisa
Teaching
2018- : Modules of Numerical methods for Physics, MS Degree in Physics, Univ of Pisa
2017- : Module of Structure of Matter, BS Degree in Physics, Univ of Pisa
2009- : Biophysics, MS Degree in Physics, Univ of Pisa
2015-2018 : Computer simulation methods in physics of matter, MS Degree in Physics, Univ of Pisa
2007-2012: Courses of Molecular Biophysics, Introduction to the condensed matter physics for biologists and Computational structural biology for the PhD at SNS
2008: Lessons at the CTBP Summer School in Coarse Grained Physical Modeling of Biological Systems
2006-2007: Course for the PhD in Applied Physics at the University of Pisa
Didactic video on "Graphene for energy storage"
Selected publications
In silico design, building and gas adsorption of nano-porous graphene scaffolds L Bellucci, F Delfino, V Tozzini, Nanotechnology (2021)
Evolutionary Switches Structural Transitions via Coarse-Grained Models F Delfino, Y Porozov, E Stepanov, G Tamazian, V Tozzini
J Comput Biol (2020)
Multiscale modeling of proteins interaction with functionalized nanoparticles G Brancolini, V Tozzini, Curr Opin Coll Int Sci (2019)
Unraveling localized states in quasi free standing monolayer graphene by means of Density Functional Theory T Cavallucci, Y Murata, M Takamura, H Hibino, S Heun, V Tozzini, Carbon (2018)
Multistable Rippling of Graphene on SiC: A Density Functional Theory Study T Cavallucci, V Tozzini, J Phys Chem C (2016)
Graphene, related two-dimensional crystals, and hybrid systems for energy conversion and storage F Bonaccorso, L Colombo, G Yu, M Stoller, V Tozzini, A C Ferrari, R S Ruoff, V Pellegrini, Science (2015)
Diffusion within the Cytoplasm: A Mesoscale Model of Interacting Macromolecules F Trovato, V Tozzini, Biophys J (2014)
SecStAnT: Secondary Structure Analysis Tool for data selection, statistics and models building G Maccari, G L B Spampinato, V Tozzini, Bioinformatics (2014)
A minimalist model of proteins diffusion and interactions: the GFP within the cytoplasm F Trovato, R Nifosì, A Di Fenza, V Tozzini, Macromolecules (2013)
Reversible hydrogen storage by controlled buckling of graphene layers V Tozzini, V Pellegrini, J Phys Chem C (2011) Press release
Bibliometric links
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